Zalaszántó: Basalt, Architecture and Waterwheel
Accommodation in Zalaszántó
Zalaszántó brings together medieval architecture, a distinctive basalt landscape and routes offering varied impressions. In the village center is the Gersei-Pethő manor house; the village is also home to the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian. On the edge of the village is Bazaltutca on Kovácsi Hill. Other attractions include the Kotsy Water Mill, the Szent-Donát Vineyard Chapel on Derék Hill, and the routes to the Béke Stupa and the ruins of Tátika Castle. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, consider whether architectural history, geology or the scenery along the routes should shape your stay.
Der buddhistische Friedensstupa oberhalb von Zalaszántó am Kovácsi-hegy.
Photo: SamuT via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Architectural history in the village
The Gersei-Pethő manor house is a locally protected medieval monument. It recalls the period when the Gersei-Pethő family held the village and Tátika Castle as their estate. The Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian is a single-nave Gothic building. Its tower stands at the western end; to the east is the polygonal chancel, supported by buttresses. “Single-nave” describes a church with one nave, while “polygonal” means having a many-sided ground plan. A church in the village dedicated to Saints Cosmas and Damian is already mentioned in a document from 1236.
Waterwheel and mill relics
The Kotsy Water Mill features a 390-centimeter overshot waterwheel powered by water. In an overshot wheel, water strikes the wheel from above. Mill relics are also displayed there, and the mill has a gift shop. Together, the waterwheel and relics add a focus on technology alongside the village’s architectural history. Check the current opening hours before your visit.
Geology on the edge of the village, panorama on Derék Hill
On the edge of the village is Bazaltutca on Kovácsi Hill, a rare and diverse geological formation about 200 meters long. It includes basalt walls, polygonal basalt columns, cavities, caves and other volcanic forms. “Polygonal” means many-sided: alongside the walls, individual columns and cavities also shape the appearance of the formation. Bazaltutca adds a focus on geology alongside the village’s historic buildings. The Szent-Donát Vineyard Chapel on Derék Hill was built at a spot regarded as having the hill’s most beautiful panorama.
Two routes, different landscape impressions
The route from Zalaszántó to the Béke Stupa passes through vineyards and by weekend houses; it is mostly paved. From Zalaszántó, an approximately half-hour forest trail leads to the nearby ruins of Tátika Castle, which lie at an elevation of 412 meters. The forest area along the trail features wild garlic and other forest plants. For planning your day, you can choose between a mostly paved route through vineyards and a forest trail that takes about half an hour. Which route better suits your interests depends on whether you prefer a vineyard or forest setting.
Find the right location for your holiday apartment
When looking for a holiday apartment, the different locations can offer a useful starting point: the manor house is in the village center, while Bazaltutca is on the edge of the village. If village history is your priority, the center can be a point of reference; if you are particularly interested in geology, keep the formation’s location on the village outskirts in mind. The destinations along the routes also offer different landscape impressions, which you can weigh up when planning your days.
Discover more destinations: Esztergályhorváti, Várvölgy, Keszthely, Karmacs, Vonyarcvashegy, Vindornyalak, Balatongyörök, Gyenesdias.
Go to the main travel overview: Keszthelyi.
