Tour description:
Our tour starts in Sopron, collecting the most beautiful sights of the Fertő area into a single spectacular trip.
Crossing the town of Sopron in the Aranyhegy area, we join the cycle path on the south shore of Fertő at Nemeskúti road in the forest, which will lead us eastward. First, Balf, famous of its mineral water, offers a pleasant resting opportunity, and then at Fertődoboz we take a sharp right southward to reach Nagycenk after a short ride.
The palace here encapsulates the memory of the Széchenyi family. The Széchenyi family has given Hungary historic figures, their home, the Széchenyi Palace of Nagycenk became national memorial status in 2016. The palace was designated the permanent residence of the family by the Lord Lieutenant of Somogy County, royal chief chamberlain and of the Order of the Golden Fleece, Ferenc Széchényi. His son, István Széchenyi was a politician, writer, polyhistor, economist, minister for transport of the Batthyány Government. The ‘the Greatest Hungarian’ spent his childhood here. After visiting the building, the beautiful English garden, and the two-kilometer-long row of linden-trees, we bike on to Hegykő.
Hegykő offers another kind of relaxation - a thermal bath for the family. After visiting the village's attractions and having a fine meal, we take the reconstructed cycle path and reach the imposing Eszterházy Castle at Fertőd, which represents a completely different style. Let us spend hours in this castle - the park’s trees are wondrous and their shade is ideal for taking a refreshing break in. After having seen the rooms, we may try out the museum railway. The route leads down a low-traffic road or bicycle paths, which makes it safe for the whole family. In the event the tour needs to be interrupted, you may take a train to Sopron at Fertődoboz or Nagycenk.
Sights:
Lake Fertő
It is the third largest standing water in Central Europe, about 20 thousand years old, and the westernmost of the Asian steppe lakes in Europe. Most of its territory belong to Austria and the rest to Hungary. The Fertő area and the lake itself are part of the world's heritage. The Hungarian shore is Fertő–Hanság National Park, the Austrian is Neusiedler See – Seewinkel National Park. In Central Europe, it is the second most easily heated lake after Lake Balaton. Its temperature often reaches 30°C in the summer.
Nagycenk, Széchenyi Palace
Although the Széchenyi Palace at Nagycenk seems modest compared to the nearby Esterházy Castle at Fertőd, the building is part of our history and commemorates Istvan Széchenyi, known as ’the greatest Hungarian’. The building was built in baroque style in 1750, but it was increasingly marked by neoclassical details in the process of renovation and expansion. Among many other miniatures, the palace is also included in the Miniature County Model Park. The castle museum is free for visits without a tourist guide. It is allowed to shoot and video in the halls with a photo ticket.
Hegykő, Plague Sculpture:
One of the country’s most beautiful baroque memorials for the plague is found at the main square of Hegykő. It was erected in 1711. The Madonna sits at the cushion ornated with vines, Saint Rosalia is laying at the foot of the column, while Saint St. Sebastian and Saint Roch are standing close by in the sculpture. The statue, built around 1720, has a pillar on its base. On its sides, the instruments of the torture of Christ and the Pietà are seen. This is the pillar type of the Vulka valley, which started gaining popularity around 1660.
Fertőd Castle:
The history of Eszterháza begins in the second half of the 18 century. It lays at the border of Süttör, at the shore of Fertő and was founded by Miklós Esterházy (The Extravagant). Based on his ideas and plans, in 1762 the conversion of a decade-earlier hunting castle with the splendor of the main class began. By the time the castle had its roof built in 1766, a village was established in the neighborhood, which got its name from the Esterházy family. It was a single-street, town-like village, with an original English stud farm and the beet sugar factory.