Sights in Keszthely
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Festetics Palace
The Festetics Palace, built in 1745 and extended 150 years later, contains 100 rooms in two sprawling wings. The 19th-century northern wing houses a music school, city library and conference centre; the Helikon Palace Museum (Helikon Kastélymúzeum) and the palace's greatest treasure, the renowned Helikon Library (Helikon Könyvtar) are in the baroque south wing.
The museum's rooms (about a dozen in all, each in a different colour scheme) are full of portraits, bric-a-brac and furniture, much of it brought from England by Mary Hamilton, a duchess who married one of the Festetics men in the 1860s. The library is renowned for its 90,000-volume collection, but just as impre…
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B
Georgikon Farm Museum
The Georgikon Farm Museum is housed in several early-19th-century buildings of what was the Georgikon's experimental farm. It contains exhibits on the history of the college and the later Pannon Agricultural University (now a few blocks to the southeast on the corner of Széchenyi utca and Deák Ferenc utca), viniculture in the Balaton region and traditional farm trades such as those performed by wagon builders, wheelwrights, coopers and blacksmiths.
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Franciscan Church
The church was originally built in the Gothic style in the late 14th century for Franciscan monks, but many alterations were made in subsequent centuries, including the addition of the steeple in 1898. The Gothic rose window above the porch remains, though, as do some faded 15th-century frescoes in the sanctuary and on the southern wall. Count György and other Festetics family members are buried in the crypt below.
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Bird-Ringing Camp
A bird-ringing camp run by the Hungarian Ornithological & Nature Conservation Society in Fenékpuszta near the delta of the Zala River has very knowledgeable staff and can fill you in on bird species on and around the lake. The camp is just one stop on the train heading for Balatonszentgyörgy; if you're driving from Keszthely, the exit is at the 111km stone on Rte 71.
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Buffalo Reserve
At the southern end of Kis-Balaton is a Buffalo Reserve, which is home to some 200 water buffalo; the best time to visit is late afternoon, when the buffalo gather near the reserve headquarters. It's more than a trek to get there by public transport, so the only real option is under your own steam; the reserve is near the tiny village of Kápolnapuszta.
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D
Balaton Museum
The Balaton Museum was purpose-built in 1928 and contains much on the Roman fort at Valcum (Fenékpuszta) and traditional life around Lake Balaton. Also of interest are exhibits depicting the history of navigation on the lake and the photographs of summer frolickers at the start of the 20th century.
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E
Fő tér
Fő tér is a colourful square with some lovely buildings, including the late-baroque Town Hall (northern side of Fő tér) on the northern side, the Trinity Column in the centre and the former Franciscan Church (Ferences templom) in the park to the south.
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Coach Museum
If you have time take a peek at the Coach Museum, attached to the Festetics Palace, with coaches and sleighs fit for royalty. One-hour guided tours are available in one of four languages for an additional cost.
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Balaton Uplands National Park
The Kis-Balaton (Little Balaton) region to the south of Keszthely falls under the protection of the Balaton Uplands National Park and is an excellent place to enjoy the wildlife of the area.
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Helikon Beach
Reedy Helikon Beach (south of Városi Strand) is also okay for swimming and sunbathing. It, along with City Beach has a unique view of both the north and south shores of the lake.
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City Beach
City Beach is okay for swimming or sunbathing, is good for kids and is close to the ferry pier. There's a windsurfing and kitesurfing school here in summer.
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