Pre/Post Conference
We kindly suggest to visit the lovely cities, Keszthely and Hévíz. Vajda János High School (Keszthely) is a member of CEI and also a regular visitor of the Conferences. Bibó István Alternative High School (Hévíz) is the base school of our Foundation (See The Future Foundation). These Schools will guide you during the Conference.
Keszthely - “The Capital of Balaton” - is located on the western shore ofLake Balaton. The city is more than 750 years old now, and offers a wonderful relaxation for the Tourists. One of its main tourist attractions is Festetics Palace, which was built in 1745 in baroque style. The Balaton Museum displays geological and archaeological exhibitions and presents the history of Lake Balaton.
Only 5 miles from Keszthely lies Europe’s largest natural thermal lake, the Lake Hévíz. The waters are reputed to have curative effects, and there is a thriving health tourism industry in the area. The fauna and flora are unique in Lake Hévíz due to the temperature and chemical composition of the water, which is slightly radioactive and contains reduced sulfuric compounds as well as axygen in solution. Several species so far can be found only in this lake.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_H%C3%A9v%C3%ADz
Places you can visit from Keszthely and Hévíz:
Lake Small-Balaton
The Kis-Balaton, as a huge wetland habitat is unique in the whole of Europe, which is why it has always been recorded by international nature conservation. It is famous for its wonderful world of birds. As a result of the reconstruction of the wetlands in the mid 1980s, the waterfowl were able to return to formerly deserted habitats. The areas of favourable foraging and nesting conditions have increased by flooding of the Kis-Balaton Water Reservoir. Birds occupied the new places surprisingly fast even in the first year tens of thousands of migrating birds arrived to have rest or to spend the winter here. In addition to 250 species of birds identified so far, we find several other rare animals and plants here. It is worth mentioning the northern vole, dogfish, pond loach and some rare species of dragonflies among them.
Tapolca and its Lake Cave
Tapolca is a town in Veszprém county, Hungary, close to Lake Balaton. The nearly 300-meter-long cave system, this unique attraction, is situated in the heart of the town. It was opened to the public in 1912 after ten years of its discovery. Small boats can be hired to explore the cave system. Merely 15–20 m below the town a 5 km long cave system criss-crosses the Miocene limestone layers. The mixture of the cold carst water flowing here and the thermal water upsurging from the deep dissolves limestone.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapolca
Tihany and the Tihany Abbey
Tihany is a village on the northern shore of Lake Balaton on the Tihany Peninsula. The center of the district is the Benedictine Abbey, which was founded in 1055 AD by András I., who is buried in the crypt. (The founding charter of this abbey is the first extant record of Hungarian language, preserved in Pannonhalma Benedictine Archabbey.) The church itself was rebuilt in baroque style in 1754. The still functioning abbey is a popular tourist attraction due to its historical and artistic significance. It also has the best view of Lake Balaton.
http://www.tihany.hu/en_muemlekek.htm#
Badacsony
Badacsony is the name of a region on the north shore of Lake Balaton in western Hungary, and a town in that region. The entire area is recognized for its wine, with vineyards dating back to Roman times. The nearby basalt mountains are unique geological relics, and the habitat of many rare plants and animals. These monadnocks are peculiarly shaped results of volcanic activity, formed during the end Pannonia. Badacsony is the central part of the Badacsony wine region.
Lake Balaton
Lake Balaton is a freshwater lake in the Transdanubian region of Hungary. It is the largest lake in Central Europe, and one of its foremost tourist destinations. As Hungary is landlocked, it is often affectionately called the "Hungarian Sea". The Zala River provides the largest inflow of water to the lake, and the canalized Sió is the only outflow.
The mountainous region of the Northern shore is known both for its historic character and as a major wine region, while the flat Southern shore is known for its resort towns. Balatonfüred and Hévíz developed early as resorts for the wealthy, but it wasn't until the late 19th century that landowners, their vines destroyed by lice, began building summer homes to rent out to the burgeoning middle classes.
Budapest - Main Sights
The neo-Gothic Parliament, containing amongst other things the Hungarian Crown Jewels. Saint Stephen's Basilica, where the Holy Right Hand of the founder of Hungary, King Saint Stephen is on display. The Hungarian cuisine and café culture: for example, Gerbeaud Café, and the Százéves, Biarritz, Fortuna, Alabárdos, Arany Szarvas, Kárpátia and the world famous Mátyás Pince Restaurants. There are Roman remains at the Aquincum Museum, and historic furniture at the Nagytétény Castle Museum.
The Castle Hill, the River Danube embankments and the whole of Andrássy út have been officially recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Castle Hill and the Castle District; there are three churches here, six museums, and a host of interesting buildings, streets and squares. The former Royal Palace is one of the symbols of Hungary – and has been the scene of battles and wars ever since the 13th century. Nowadays it houses two impressive museums and the National Széchenyi Library. The nearby Sándor Palace contains the offices and official residence of the President of Hungary. The seven-hundred year-old Matthias Church is one of the jewels of Budapest. Next to it is an equestrian statue of the first king of Hungary, King Saint Stephen, and behind that is the Fisherman's Bastion, from where opens out a panoramic view of the whole city. Statues of the Turul, the mythical guardian bird of Hungary, can be found in both the Castle District and the Twelfth District.
In Pest, arguably the most important sight is Andrássy út. As far as Kodály Körönd and Oktogon both sides are lined with large shops and flats built close together. Between there and Heroes’ Square the houses are detached and altogether grander. Under the whole runs continental Europe’s oldest Underground railway, most of whose stations retain their original appearance. Heroes’ Square is dominated by the Millenary Monument, with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in front. To the sides are the Museum of Fine Arts and the Palace of Arts, and behind City Park opens out, with Vajdahunyad Castle. One of the jewels of Andrássy út is the Hungarian State Opera House. Statue Park, a theme park with striking statues of the Communist era, is located just outside the main city and is accessible by public transport.
The city is home to the largest synagogue in Europe (Dohány Street Synagogue), and second largest working in the World. The synagogue is located in the Jewish district taking up several blocks in central Budapest bordered by Király utca, Wesselényi utca, Grand Boulevard (Budapest) and Bajcsy Zsilinszky road. The city is also proud at the largest medicinal bath in Europe (Széchenyi Medicinal Bath) and the third largest Parliament building in the world, once the largest in the world. The third largest church in Europe (Esztergom Basilica) and the second largest Baroque castle in the world (Gödöllő) are in the vicinity.
Budapest Castle Museum of Fine Arts Széchenyi Chain Bridge Heroes' Square Vigadó Concert Hall
Vajdahunyad Castle The Great Synagogue Museum of Applied Arts New York Café National Museum
Fisherman's Bastion Holy Trinity's Square Andrássy Avenue Buda Castle Heroes' Square
St. Stephen's Basilica St. Elisabeth Church Castle Theatre National Theatre Liberty Bridge Budapest view