Filip Lučin

Here we go,  here is a third part of my blog dedicated to trip to Hungary. The trip was on this date last month, so it’s a kind of a anniversary. Today I’ll write mostly about castle of count Festetics in town on Kestzhely on western bank of lake Balaton. First, few facts about town it self. Although with population of only 21 000, it’s a town rich with museums. There are as many as 9 of them! Historical facts show that this part of world was inhabited by Romans, but the town it self is first mentioned in 1247. It was in year 1421. that Kestehely become market town.

Castle Festetics, panorama.

Construction of castle was started by Kristóf Festetics,  in 1769. Today appearance is from years between 1883 and 1887. There are 101 rooms in the castle!

Even the entrance is showing how big everything is!

There is an interesting about today’s owner of the castle. It’s a Hungarian state. So, whats the story? Last living Festetics was born little before end of WW2. So, the Festetics’s fled to Austria form communist that were  coming from the east. In Austria they lived as normal people, not aristocrats.

After ww2 ended the castle was nationalized until the democratic change in the 90′. After the change Hungary returned the castle to it’s owner. But last  Festetics is a bank clerk in the Austria and couldn’t afford to become owner of the castle with 101 room. So, he decided to give it back to Hungary and he kept only one room for himself ,  so he can come and go as he wants.

I should mention that in the castle there is unique library with as much as 90 000 volumes! Encyclopedias, belletristic literature from the enlightenment period, technical books and scientific journals. There is an museum in the castle as well, with different exhibitions.

I don’t know if weddings are taking place in the castle, but there are sure many couples being photographed in and around the castle. We were there in a period of maybe one hour, and I so at least three couples, and I’m sure there were more. On my photo is colleague from my photo club with his wife.

I have plenty photos from around the castle, so I’ll finish with this monument. I do have photos from the town and from the Balaton lake!

There is a pretty promenade in Kestzehely, full of coffee shops, pizzerias, souvenir shops, etc. Unfortunately there wasn’t enough time to sit and have a drink, our schedule was tight and we were rushed by our hosts. Naturally, we would probably be in the town until 5 o clock.

Interesting house.

Promenade.

Colleaguefrom Hungary, Kristzian is waiting for the group. So we don’t get lost!

And finally,  Balaton lake!

Kestzehely stayed in my warmest memory, and I would definitely encourage a visit there. If you’re near, do drop by. It’s well worth!

I’ll leave you a location of the town on the map, and announce next blog, that will be about visit to nature reserve of buffaloes. Until than,thank you for your visit!

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As I wrote in previous blog, next stop on our trip in Hungary was star fortress, unique in Europe! It’s nearby Balaton lake, near the place named Balatonszentgyörgy. There are plenty rural and historical elements around the fortress. If I got it right, this museum should picture way of life in and around the fortress in time that Hungarians (and rest of Europe) fought Ottoman invasion. That was in 16th and 17th century.

Let me start with the fortress, and I’ll show you around later.

From the picture, you can see why it’s called star fortress. It’s not a single story building, it has rooms in the attic and in the basement. In each of nine rooms there are full sized human models to show the way of living of that particular individuals. Captains quoter, torture room, kitchen, etc.

I didn’t take many photos inside, so just a few details.

Interesting device.

Model of fortress.

On the attic there is exhibition of this figures dressed in historical uniforms of Hungarian soldiers. Figures are about 30, 40 cm tall.

In basement, something completely different! Exhibition of dolls and teddy bears! It seams little grotesque to me to have teddy bears under the torture room, but who am I to judge.

Teddy bears.

I think this is self explanatory?

Let’s call this an artistic try to depict round staircase that goes from basement to the attic.

After the fort, I’ve took a stroll trough the courtyard.

I’ve found this model of sailboat interesting. If my memory serves me well, it’s the model of first sailboat that sailed on Balaton lake, couple of hundred years ago. The lake is only not far from the castle, so it makes sense that this model is here.

One can eat and drink on this nice terrace. I didn’t eat, but I did have a drink.

Behind the fortress there are animals such as goats, horses, ducks, etc.

There is more to see in courtyard, things such as old kitchen accessories, tools, old wine press, model of older buildings that were excavated around the castle, and lot more! If you are nearby, take a visit!

Here, take a look on the map. So you don’t wonder around.
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That’s all for this post. Next time, I’m, taking you to beautiful castle in town of Kestzehely on the shore of Balaton lake.

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Trough international cooperation of photo clubs from Croatia, Slovenia and Hungary, on May. 29. I was on a trip that our Hungarian colleagues organized. It was very interesting trip with following locations: buffalo reservation, visit to Keszthely, town on a southern edge of Balaton lake, the Hungarian sea. We also visited star fortress in Balatonszentgyörgy and of course, a stroll trough town of Nagykanizsa. Today, I write about that stroll.

I have to write about the weather.

This was the start of the day as seen on Gorican border crossing from Croatia to Hungary. It has somehow become a tradition that weather is at least not favorable when we in photo club Cakovec have scheduled trip. As you can see, morning was showing signs that tradition will continue. But, as the trip took a lot of time and effort to organize, there was no way it to be canceled.

First car that we overtook on a ride to Nagykanizsa was this old Lada. That car is not often seen on our streets now days, although there were plenty of them 10 or 15 years ago. Trabants and Wartburgs can still be seen in Hungary, and that firs contact was water on the mill on some stereotypes that I had. I should immediately write that by the end of the day these stereotypes were washed out. I should remember not to form opinions on memories and half information.

Anyway, we were washed twice by rain showers till we got to the Nagykanizsa, but when we finally arrived, sky started to clear, late spring sun came out and we were all full on enthusiasm again. One of many churches:

After everybody gathered on prearranged place, we drove around the town little more, to the another parking place that is free. From there we all went to tour around the center of town, on foot of course. After firs 50 meters, I already liked the town.

Little park with for rows of roses in different colors. As you can see there were blooming and the smell was quite intensive and pleasant. There are busts of famous Hungarians in the park as well.

Monument dedicated to revolution from 1956 which was brought down in blood by Soviets. Here are some more photos from stroll trough the town.

You have to pass trough the doorway to get to this nice looking alley. There are benches, decorative trees, lots of small shops, etc. Most of them are unfortunately closed. Hungary was hit bad by ongoing recession.

Hungarian eagle and emblem. As Croats share centuries of history with Hungarians, similar eagle to this is located in Cakovec, not far away from Zrinski castle. Zrinski were famous nobles from time when Europe fought with the Ottomans  Some of their victories send echoes throughout the Europe, and are celebrated to both nations. I’ve seen lot’s of Hungarian historical flags with Croatian marks, remembrance to times when we were under the crown of Hungarian kings.

Advertisement of some bank, who does not remember this cartoon? For those that do, here is a reminder, and for those that don’t, here, enjoy! The title is La Linea.

As we had more to see, we passed  through the town faster than I would like and headed for marketplace.

Marketplace. As you can see, under the roof, and much bigger than this photo shows. As I’m not fan of street photography, and I didn’t buy anything, I went out quickly. There are more stories in the marketplace, on ground floor there are stands with fruit and vegetables, cheese and meat, as that goes on marketplaces. I did quick math  and found out that prices are in same range as in Croatia, although there would be interesting things to buy.

Well, I did take a photo inside.

After the marketplace we packed back to bus and headed to next destination, Csillagvár museum and fort. Before I finish this blog, few of my impressions about the Nagykanizsa. Well, first few facts that I copied from tourist brochure that our hosts provided. First mention of town was in 1245. AD. It was occupied by Ottomans in medieval, to be liberated after 90 years. As Ottoman threat faded so did the importance of the town. First signs of economical prosperity showed again in 1930 with mixed American and Hungarian oil drilling company, but that didn’t last long. In 1965 Tungsram (light bulbs) company brought some industrial development. In ’90 there was short term economy up rise because people mostly from Croatia went over border to do shopping. At that time prices were sometimes double lower in Hungary than in Croatia. Today town is connected by new motorways and they hope that it will bring prosperity to town. Want to know more? Google it!

OK, my impressions. As I wrote up, many of us went shopping over the border in the 90ties. There was regular bus line from my town to Nagykanizsa just for purpose of shopping. It would drove you to the marketplace on the outskirts of town,  waited couple of hours and drove you back. It’s about one hour ride in one way. My impesisons from the town were mostly from that time. Having that in mind and knowing that Hungarians had more rigid communist regime than we did, I expected Nagykanizsa to be ugly, gray, worn out, full of socialist cubic architecture. Oh, how wrong I was! Photo’s that I’m showing here are probably not enough, but let me say that the town off course has building from communist era, but all that I so are painted in nice colors and that’s immediately changing visual appearance.

But, more important, it’s a nice middle European town with many building from 18th and 19th st. renovated and recolored. Streets are wide, clean, full of greenery,  lots of monuments, parks, churches, etc. If life brings you to this part of world, do spend some time there, it’s well worth.

OK, that’s it for now, see you soon with photos and report from fort and museum Csillagvár.

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Although the summer is just behind the corner, only recently I manged to catch sunny weekend to capture some spring photos. Nothing special, handful of wild flowers, closeup photography. For those of you that like flowers, enjoy, for the rest of you be patient until I release series of blogs from trip to Hungary!

Blue and green.

Even more Blue and more green.

Spider & flower.

Daisy for the end. Enjoy in spring before summer heat kill’s it. Greetings till another blog!

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In Hungary.   I’ve been in neighboring country twice last month. That’s much, considering that last time I’ve been there was about 15 years ago. And that was only to visit marketplace on the outskirts of Nagykaniza where we were buying meat, cheese, clothing, etc. Everything was cheaper than in Croatia at that time. Lot of that changed since then. Hungary is now member of EU, prices are not so affordable any more, and I’m a little bit older now.

OK, that was reminiscent on past time, little about photos now. I went to Hungary with couple of friends from photo club, to the part of country that is bordering with Slovenia. I believe that all of you have seen photos with yellow colza against blue sky with big white clouds. I was hoping to get that kind of photos, but weather didn’t agree. As always… That day was cloudy and gray. I wasn’t that dull gray, a cloud here and there could be seen, so I managed to take few interesting photos.

Bird on the sky.

Lines.

Electric fence.

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