Karoly Eötvös writes in his book titled as Balatoni utazás (travel around the Lake Balaton):"Balaton and its neighbourhood have several marvellous landscape and scenery. The landscape scenery are the most perfect and the beauty of excellent artistic masterpiece are made alive in your soul exactly where they are focused upon a well-defined, more narrow circle, where the joint effect of all the varieties of the entire landscape does not suppress the beauties of the details and the conspicuous proportions of the excellent details do not disturb the general effect". Well, that matches with Csopak perfectly. The writer has discovered the viewpoint on the nearby hill called lovasi, which „ awaits its artist and about which the most beautiful landscape of the world can be created"; however, we, who live here, know that Csopak also has many viewpoints from where virtually unique landscapes burst upon our view. But the lake and the hillside above it enjoying sub-Mediterranean climate, from the blossoming of the almonds to the blazing of sumac and the soft transformation into snow cover, give unparallel beauty not only to the eye throughout the whole year but they also provide a variety of opportunities for active relaxation, for the satisfaction of your quest for culture, for regeneration and for discoveries- be it the sports, hiking, visiting cultural events, enjoying culinary enjoyment and accommodation of high standard.

More than water

Many people limit to enjoy the facilities and opportunities offered by Lake Balaton only for the 3 month bathing season although we are trying to do our best to offer a programme of wide variety to the children, to the adults and to the elderly as well. It is certain that during the warmer months, our well-kept beach with its unique location is the most popular- not only with its bathing, sporting and culinary facilities but also with its varying, entertaining programme-however, the water is at the disposal of the fishers, sailors, hikers, tourists wanting to enjoy boat cruises or wishing to have relaxation, amusement, regeneration or of the ones seeking healing, fresh air or intending to enjoy winter sports for a significantly longer period of time. The range of opportunities and facilities are continuously being widened and being enriched with new content and form.

Active relaxation

The decrease of physical work and as a consequence of this, our lifestyle lacking in sufficient exercise makes it necessary to give a more important role to the various forms of active relaxation. The facilities established in the latest years, e.g.: the bike route around the lake, the new sail ports, and the extension of the old ones, as well as the investment projects being underway are reinforcing his objective but also during the planning of the local programmes this recognition is primarily emphasized, e.g. Hand craft for children, maintenance of tourist routes, etc. All this of course does not necessarily mean that the cultural programmes are decreasing, what's more, the number of different exhibitions, concerts and events have rather increased in the latest years and the artistic, creative camps have also found a home here. In our county, the various forms of active relaxation are at disposal practically throughout the whole year since a range of activity, e.g. hiking; wine tasting coupled with cellar visits, etc. is not confined to one particular season. The opportunities and facilities will certainly be extended.

Discovery tour

There are landscapes you can get used to pretty soon because their look hardly changes but not even the individual who has been living at Lake Balaton is able to give an exact picture about Lake Balaton and its direct neighbourhood. This incessant change, rebirth in the form of thousand faces has certainly fascinated all kinds of nationalities and tribe having lived here in all kinds of ages, e.g. The Celts and the Romans, but also the novels of Mór Jókai or the paintings of Joseph Egri is witnessing all this. On this land, no one can claim that the age of discoveries is gone because here every generation and all the people can discover something new at the lake or on the various landscapes of the highland next to the lake daily or even in every minute. The tempests of history, the mindless and irresponsible destructions of the previous decades have caused painful damage to this landscape as well, however they are on the way of recovery because the protection of the environment is not an empty phrase here any more but a responsibility being carried out in practice as well for our future. We would like our guests to be able to recognise during their excursions in the wild the importance of preserving the wildlife and natural habitat existing here for our upcoming generations as well.

Wine and gastronomy

Csopak and its vicinity, thanks to its pleasant climate and its favourable location, belonged to the most densely populated regions of the county now called as Veszprém in the ancient times. More significant populations have been living in this region since the outspread of agricultural farming practice. (6. Millennium B.C.) The Celts- from the late Iron Age- is the first nation here whose name is already known. Concerning the wine cultivation of the Romans, several findings have already been excavated, e.g. the wine cellar found on the hill called Kõkoporsó (stone tomb). The certificates of the middle age mentioned the name of Kövesd (now called as Csopak) already in 1121 in relation with the grapes. The recessions of the previous decades have left their mark on our historic wine region as well but many have been trying to do his best even nowadays to recover the ancient reputation. The main objective: returning from the quantity approach to the quality approach; restoring the ecological balance and preserving the grape types which have adapted themselves splendidly to the local soil and served as a base for the reputation of the wine region. To make this programme more popular, the first Olaszrizling (dry white wine) apprentice path was established during the fall of 2005 in the cooperation of the self-governments Csopak and Paloznak. On this landscape, the peculiar types of soil leave their trace on the wines having been grown in them, thereby creating a variety of taste which very few other domestic wine region can match or boast with. Especially the feldspars of the dominant, permi red sandstone soil which are rich in flint acid and valuable trace elements give a peculiar fullness, a clearly discernable character and a unique taste and flavour components to all the types of our wines; olaszrizling (dry white wine), tramini, szürkebarát (grey friend), chardonnay, cserszegi fûszeres (spicy sumac), cabernet franc, blue franc, and the like. Wine and food has always gone together well here, so it is no wonder that during the centuries, valuable, local foods specialties have come about here which give unforgettable culinary joy even nowadays to our toothsome guests.

Our values

The destructive mania of the modern age has spared our county from the bigger damages because there have always been and are even nowadays people who think and act with full responsibility and they have saved a number of priceless paintings from destruction. Thanks to this also, our place has preserved a lot from the peculiar buildings of the bygone ages which fit in well even nowadays with the the ancient scenery. The restoration and preservation of the buildings with old style makes it possible for our guests to have an insight into the rich past of our region in this respect as well. Naturally, our rich cultural, folk art traditions and customs also belong to our cherished values which our dance team also preserves and presents in the different countries of the world. It is certain that not only the beauty of the scenery that allures all the famous artists but also the esteem and preservation of our ancient values as well. All this contributes to the visitors being able to reload with creating energy and inspiration. We know that every value we preserve enriches not only us but also our country.

Food and drinks

Csopak is famous for its beautiful grapes and widespread known for its popular wines which are prerequisite accessories to delicious food. The variety is ample: besides the local specialties and that of the Balaton-highland region, the masterpieces of the Mediterranean cuisine can be found here. Who would not start fantasizing after having a light salad, an excellent game or fish course or a duck fried in its own fat, which is completed by a fine glass of olaszrizling from Csopak. Such a gastronomically experience can be the high light of every single day. For every case, the recipe is always the same: good mood, quality, devotion, spiced with a bit of hospitality, which is made complete by the unforgettable wine from Csopak. The small cafés, cafeterias, inns and cellar visits are also widely popular and accepted where the entire world can be saved while sipping a glass of wine.

 

Pictures: Ervin Tamas