Esztergályhorváti: Lakes, Vineyards and Cycling Routes

Esztergályhorváti lies in the southeastern part of the Zala Hills, west of the Zala River and at the northern gateway to Kis-Balaton. Lakes, vineyards and a new cycling link give visitors several possible areas of focus: nature watching, cycling and local history. If you are looking for a holiday rental, consider which of these themes you would like to shape your stay most.

Lakes, vineyards and viewpoints

The two lakes are considered attractions of Esztergályhorváti. In the 1970s, two water reservoirs were created on a stream that runs between the two settlements. Grey herons, herons and swans can be seen at the lakes; many other waterbirds also live there. This makes the lakes a specific destination for anyone who enjoys spending time observing nature.

A concrete path alongside the lakes leads to the Esztergályhorváti vineyard. The Gellért-hegy is home to vineyards and old wine cellars; several cellars have dates from the 19th century on their façades. The large stone cross offers a beautiful panoramic view; those who reach it arrive at the community cellar of Esztergályhorváti. The lakes, vineyard, cellars and viewpoint offer different points of reference, without needing to be combined into a single circular route.

Cycling with specific connections between settlements

A report dated 28 August 2026 stated that the new, almost 4.7-kilometre-long cycling route connecting Garabonc, Nagyrada, Zalaszabar and Esztergályhorváti has been completed. The route includes three new cycling bridges. The named settlements and bridges make cycling a clear theme for holiday planning.

There is a bicycle service point and a rest area for cyclists at the event venue. If you would like to include these facilities in your tour, check their current availability in advance. When choosing accommodation, it may be helpful to weigh the cycling route as a focus against the lakes and the settlement’s historical connections.

Local history and harvest festival

Present-day Esztergályhorváti was formed in 1966 through the merger of Esztergályhorváti, Nagyhorváti and Esztergály. The site of a medieval church is also part of the settlement’s history. In Nagyhorváti, a part of Esztergályhorváti, the small church was built in 1903. These dates provide several historical perspectives on the settlement and its districts.

The harvest festival’s cooking competition features ragout soup, bean goulash, pork goulash, game goulash, beef goulash with porcini mushrooms, catfish paprikash and dödölle. These dishes are part of the festival programme and do not indicate that a restaurant offering them is available year-round. Anyone interested in local food culture will find another aspect of community life here, alongside the landscape, cycling and history.

Zala as a wider landscape and wine context

In the wider destination of Zala, Kis-Balaton is the largest water area. It is strictly protected and covers 14,745 hectares. The landscape is also the setting for István Fekete’s classic novels Tüskevár and Téli berek. This regional context complements the description of Esztergályhorváti’s location without conflating the features of the larger area with those of the settlement.

The Zalai Borvidék wine region is also part of the wider destination of Zala. It developed on the slopes and plateaus of the Zalai-dombság and on the northwestern slopes of the Keszthelyi-hegység, and comprises two wine-growing districts and 38 settlements. This allows the local vineyard and cellar tradition to be considered alongside the wider regional wine context, without conflating them into a single place or offering.

Choose the right focus for your stay

A simple comparison can help with your planning: would you like the lakes and waterbirds, the cycling route, or local history and the vineyard to be at the centre of your stay? Depending on your priorities, you can assess the specific location of a holiday rental according to the aspects of your stay that matter to you. The settlement description offers several distinct points of reference rather than prescribing a single style of holiday.

Discover more destinations: Karmacs, Vonyarcvashegy, Gyenesdias, Balatongyörök, Keszthely, Vindornyalak, Zalaszántó, Zalavár.

See the wider travel guide: Keszthelyi.