Balatonújlak: Vineyards, wine presses and local history
Accommodation in Balatonújlak
Balatonújlak combines an extensive wine-growing area with distinctive wine presses; a church built in 1980 and Roman grave finds also shape the character of the village.
Balatonújlak at a glance
- The vineyard belonging to the village is part of the South Balaton wine region; the extensive wine-growing area is also called Zártkert.
- Numerous wine presses and wine-press buildings in Szőlőhegy are locally protected structures.
- The Rózsafüzér királynéja Church was built in 1980 with public donations.
- Today, Balatonújlak lies just over three kilometres from Lake Balaton.
What makes the vineyard and its wine presses distinctive?
Balatonújlak has an extensive wine-growing area, also known as Zártkert. The vineyard belonging to the village is part of the South Balaton wine region. Numerous wine presses and wine-press buildings in Szőlőhegy are locally protected structures. Most of the wine presses there are log buildings with roofs made of reed or natural-coloured tiles.
For an initial overview, it is helpful to consider two scales: the wine-growing area describes the landscape, while the building form and roofing are specific features of the wine presses. This makes it possible to understand Balatonújlak both as a wine-growing area and through its rural architectural heritage.
What architectural forms define the village?
The Roman Catholic Rózsafüzér királynéja Church in Balatonújlak was built in 1980 with public donations. It has a single nave, a simple chancel and an altar. Its design preserves the forms of traditional churches while also incorporating some modern elements.
Only a few traditional houses known as kontyos houses remain in the village today. This offers a comparison between different aspects of the local architectural heritage: the small number of kontyos houses stands out, while the church is notable for combining traditional forms with modern elements.
What do the Roman finds tell us?
Roman graves made of stone slabs were excavated in the eastern part of Balatonújlak. Based on these finds and other excavations, a researcher suspects that a larger Roman settlement may have stood here. The graves have been excavated; the larger settlement remains a possible historical interpretation. The village’s Roman past therefore includes both an archaeological find and a clearly tentative hypothesis.
What does the location mean for choosing accommodation?
Balatonújlak was once a settlement by the water, and the municipal boundary extended to Lake Balaton. Today, the village lies just over three kilometres from the lake.
The transport perspective is also worth considering: the construction of the M7 motorway improved access to Balatonújlak and the Marcali region. Together with the distance from the lake, this helps you consider location and travel access as separate aspects of your planning.
Discover more destinations: Gadány, Balatonberény, Balatonkeresztur, Kéthely, Balatonszentgyörgy, Böhönye, Kelevíz, Táska.
FAQ
How far is Balatonújlak from Lake Balaton today?
The village lies just over three kilometres from the lake. In the past, the municipal boundary extended to Lake Balaton.
What are the features of the wine presses in Szőlőhegy?
Numerous wine presses and wine-press buildings are locally protected structures. Most of the wine presses are log buildings with roofs made of reed or natural-coloured tiles.
What is known about a Roman settlement in Balatonújlak?
Roman graves made of stone slabs were excavated in the east of the village. Based on these finds and other excavations, a researcher suspects that a larger Roman settlement may have stood here.
For the wider travel guide: Marcali.
