Discover Somlóvásárhely

A church with Roman and Baroque traces

The Church of Szent István, első vértanú was built between 1788 and 1791 with funds from the Catholic Religious Fund. Its furnishings date from the mid-18th century and are in the Rococo style; the main altar and altarpiece depicting the martyrdom of Saint Stephen are Baroque. Thus, older furnishings and a later church building stand side by side in a single structure.

A Roman tombstone donated by Aurelius Proculinus is visible in the south wall of the choir. It dates from the late 2nd to early 3rd century and is in a secondary location. This Roman trace provides a distinct point of reference alongside the furnishings and church building of the 18th century. Another cultural and historical point of interest is the Chapel of Antiochiai Szent Margit, a protected monument and archaeological site.

Somló Hill: the castle and finding your way around the hill

Nearby Somlóvásárhely, Somló Castle has a history dating back around 900 years. The castle is accessible only on foot or by bicycle through dense forest. The Somló Kapuja Visitor Centre is located at the foot of Somló Hill near Somlóvásárhely, on Route 8, and serves as both a car park and an information point.

From the visitor centre, you can use a map and suggested routes to find your way to the ruins of Somló Castle, the basalt cliffs of volcanic Somló Hill, and the cellars, chapels and vineyards reminiscent of Provence. The castle and visitor centre offer different starting points for planning your day: for the castle, the described route through the forest is relevant; at the visitor centre, parking, information, maps and route ideas are all available together.

The tourism source describes travelling by train to Somlóvásárhely; from there, the route continues towards Somló Hill and along Route 8 to the visitor centre. Check current train connections and the centre’s operating information before setting off.

Which location suits your stay?

When looking for a holiday apartment, it helps to decide in advance what you would like to focus on: do you want the religious buildings and their different historical connections to be the main focus, or are you primarily planning visits to destinations on Somló Hill? If you want to visit the castle, bear in mind that it is accessible only on foot or by bicycle through dense forest. For planning other destinations on the hill, the visitor centre offers maps and suggested routes to help you find your way.

Lake Balaton – North as a wider travel region

The wider travel region of Lake Balaton – North offers independent destinations that complement the attractions around Somlóvásárhely. Boat trips are available in the Tapolca Cave Lake, along with the guided exhibition “Csodálatos karszt” (“Wonderful Karst”). The cave belongs to a system beneath the town, whose explored length to date is 14.6 kilometres.

Hegyestű lies between Zánka and Monoszló and is 337 metres high. There, the inside of a basalt volcano that was active around 8 million years ago has been exposed. At the western edge of the quarry site, visitors can use a panoramic information board to identify the surrounding hills; a rock garden displays characteristic rock types of Transdanubia, the western half of Hungary. Herend offers a different cultural experience: the Herend Porcelain Museum features a permanent exhibition and changing exhibitions on the history of the manufactory. At the Mini-Manufactory, visitors can handle porcelain paste and a brush for painting during workshops.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Városlőd, Halimba, Somlószőlős, Nagyalásony, Magyarpolány, Úrkút, Kislőd, Ajka

To the wider travel overview: Ajkai.