SURROUNDINGS AND DAY TRIPS
Miklósi and surroundings
Somogy
Our village is located in the province of Somogy, twenty kilometres south of the beautiful Lake Balaton. The shallow water on the southern side is ideal for families with children. The beaches that merge into each other can entertain young and old. The greatest attraction of this area is the untouched nature. The forests invite you to take a walk, bike ride or horse ride.
Miklósi (pronounced: Miekloosjie) is a small village south of Lake Balaton. It is very quiet and the people are very friendly. Our former Swabian farm is located on a side street of the main street.
Our street goes up to the beautifully plastered church (RC). In consultation with the Pastor, this can be visited. On Sundays you are welcome to attend Holy Mass. Past the church you come to the hills with the vineyards. The inhabitants of Miklósi used to have their own vineyard with a house where the equipment for making the wine is kept. The houses are located with their backs against the hill where the wine cellar is located. In the vineyards they grow the grapes from which the house wine is made in the traditional way. Each household has its own varieties of grape vines so that each wine is unique. Unfortunately, more and more of these cute houses were empty and fell into disrepair. Three of them were worth saving. I have now renovated them, one of which still had the original vineyard, very neglected but intact. With hard work I have made it completely healthy again and now 3 beautiful prize-winning wines come from it! The red Othelló, the white Olasz Rízling and the Kis csillag rosé. Our guests are very welcome to help and taste of course. The three cottages are also available for our guests to completely unwind and be immersed in the beautiful nature.
Despite the small number of inhabitants, Miklósi has a flourishing association life. Every summer in July there is the Village Day. From early in the morning, cooking takes place in the cooking pots in the park: pörkölt (in the Netherlands it is usually called Goelash, but in Hungary Gulash is the well-known soup, confusing indeed). Every year there is a different version of this and in a friendly competition form a real jury decides who makes the best. At twelve o'clock all villagers eat together at long tables, nowadays also with our guests haha, and in the afternoon there is a cozy program with Hungarian dance by various dance groups from the region and of course a performance by the Miklósi Swabian dance group.
The surrounding villages also all have a Village Day, traditionally a custom to bring young people together. Of course with a ball in the evening so that the lovers could dance … and then hope that a wedding would come out of it! Now it is pure nostalgia, but the young people still enjoy it to the fullest. And who knows, maybe there will still be weddings from it now and then…
At the end of September the Grape Festival starts again and the one in Miklósi is of course always the most beautiful and that was especially true when Anne was the bride in 2010! It became a fun mix (at the request of the Hungarians) of Hungarian and Dutch customs during weddings. There is a carriage ride through the village with the bride and groom in a beautiful carriage and then a lot of tractors and self-built vehicles behind them. Wine and palinka are also handed out along the route. In the past, the Grape Festival was the crowning achievement for bringing in the grape harvest. Everyone was relieved that the hard work of the season was over and the harvest was safely in. So: reason for a party! A bridal couple was sought who would really get married in the spring and then had a kind of dress rehearsal for the real wedding. In the past, there were a few young people who got married every year but now (unfortunately) the couple has to be put together for this day.
Depending on the season, you can see fields of corn, grain and other produce on the hills. There are also fields full of beautiful sunflowers. There are beautiful walks to the other villages through the hills. Route descriptions and picnic backpacks are available from us.
The village has shops for daily groceries such as bread and milk. For larger purchases Tab (10 min. by car) is the nearest town. There is also a direct bus connection with Tab. Every Wednesday there is a market and every first Wednesday of the month there is a large regional market where piglets, poultry etc. are also for sale to rear for slaughter in November/December.
Active in Miklósi and surroundings
For the active people there is also plenty to do. How about quad biking in Som or mountain biking/cycling with our own Krisztian, horse riding, exploring various hiking trails that run through the area, in short too much to mention. Summer and winter there are many festivals and village festivals. The wine festivals in October are also worth experiencing! Eating out is also fun in Hungary! For a few euros you can eat deliciously in the various csardas.
Kaposvar
This beautiful Neo-Baroque city has all the shops you could possibly need. Enjoy a beautiful view from a terrace on the large square or walk along the beautiful buildings that have been renovated in recent years and restored to their former glory. The pictures say more than words…
Tihany
From Szantod a ferry goes to the other side of Lake Balaton. There lies the picturesque Tihany in the hills. The peninsula did not get the name “pearl of Lake Balaton” for nothing. A monastery and a church were built on the smaller hill nine centuries ago. The royal decree with which the construction was ordered, the foundation act from 1055, is the oldest document that, in a Latin context, contains Hungarian words. The entire peninsula is a protected landscape. Special sights are the inland lake (very suitable for fishing), the spring built above geysers, the Golden House, and the lavender fields. Of course the beautiful parks and church are also worth a visit. And why Hungary is the country of peppers, you will discover in the paprika house. From a distance you can see and smell the peppers! Of course you can also buy a supply for home. Did you know that the use of spicy paprika powder can be indirectly traced back to Napoleon? England tried to bring it to its knees by means of a blockade at the beginning of the nineteenth century. As a result, pepper no longer reached the European market. Then the Hungarians replaced the pepper with dried and ground paprika, the hallmark of Hungarian cuisine. If you park your car on our side of the lake, you can take the little train to the village for a few forints per person and back to the ferry at any time. Very nice, especially with children!
Budapest and Pécs
These beautiful cities, each with their own charm, need no introduction. Both about an hour's drive from Miklósi, are very worthwhile! Budapest with its rich history and beautiful buildings, parks and unique bridges is a "must" for tourists of course. Jump on the "hop on, hop off bus" and let yourself be driven along the most beautiful sights! Pécs is of course smaller but with a friendly Mediterranean appearance and a special mix of architecture: Because this city was not strategically important, all building styles have been preserved from, among others, the Roman, Turkish and Austrian times and that makes a visit to this city also very worthwhile! Every Sunday there is a MEGA market at the sports fields and every first Sunday of the month an antique/curio market until about 12 noon.
Medicinal baths
The area around Lake Balaton has many springs. Over time, the Hungarians discovered their healing properties and built beautiful baths there. Sulphurous springs are said to be good for muscle problems and rheumatic conditions. The springs of Hévíz are without a doubt the most famous. Another famous spring is in Balatonfüred. These carbonated springs are now often visited by heart patients. The thermal baths that are close to Miklósi are located in Igal and Tamási, among others.
Nearby is Lake Balaton, also known as the Hungarian Sea. The seaside resort of Siófok is located directly on the lake. There are several sandy beaches here. After bathing, guests are tempted by many events. It is not without reason that Siófok is called “The capital of the Hungarian summer”! This is where Imre Kalman, the world-famous operetta composer, was born. Every summer, operetta galas are organised here for two months. In October, there is a three-day party during the Tójasfesztival, where eggs are the centre of attention. Siófok is ideal for going out for a nice meal and for strolling along the lake. Here you can also do your big shopping in supermarkets that are in no way inferior to the French Super-U.