Balatonhenye: Crater Lakes and Architecture

• Balatonhenye has five crater lakes, each with its own water supply.
• The wildflower-rich meadow offers an opportunity to walk through the landscape; stones protruding from the ground are reminders of a former quarry.
• The Church of the Transfiguration of Our Lord (Urunk szineváltozása) stands in the centre of the town and was built by the faithful in 1803.
• The former Kenessey House has a round-arched porch with a balustrade and dwarf columns, built in 1844.

The five crater lakes are a distinctive feature of the town. Each has its own water supply, and the largest covers five hold. These details give each lake its own point of reference rather than treating them as a single body of water.

The wildflower-rich meadow also brings together nature and visible traces of earlier use. You can walk through the landscape there. Only stones protruding from the ground remain as reminders of the former quarry. The meadow thus combines its present-day character with a brief indication of its former use.

Botos-hegy rises north of Balatonhenye. At its summit, tilted rock layers can be seen at a dolomite outcrop, and a panorama opens up from there. The meadow and the hill offer different points of interest: the former invites walks through a wildflower-rich landscape, while the latter offers views of rock formations and a panorama.

The Church of the Transfiguration of Our Lord (Urunk szineváltozása) combines its central location with a clearly recognisable architectural form. It has a single nave and is oriented north–south. Its features also include a façade tower and a polygonal chancel. The faithful had the church built in 1803.

The former Kenessey House, the former Körösényi House and the former Ágoston House offer further insights into local architectural history. The Kenessey House’s round-arched porch, built in 1844, features a balustrade and dwarf columns. The Körösényi House and the Ágoston House are each considered examples of local folk architecture. Together, these houses offer a distinct perspective on the building culture, while the church, with its orientation and chancel described above, provides another point of architectural comparison.

The wider destination of North Balaton offers other landscape and cultural attractions. Boat trips are available in the Tapolcai-tavasbarlang, which also has the guided exhibition “Csodálatos karszt” (“Wonderful Karst”). This combines an underground natural attraction with an exhibition, while Balatonhenye’s local features centre mainly on crater lakes, a meadow and architecture.

Another geological highlight is Hegyestű, a 337-metre-high mountain between Zánka and Monoszló. The interior of a basalt volcano that was active about 8 million years ago is exposed there. At the western edge of the quarry grounds, visitors can use an information board at a viewpoint to identify the surrounding hills; there is also a rock garden featuring characteristic rock types from Transdanubia. The approximate age and location between the two towns help distinguish this as a separate regional highlight.

Badacsony offers another perspective on the wider destination of North Balaton: the volcanic mountain has hiking trails and panoramic views for hikers. Distinctive grapes are grown on its slopes and used to make Badacsony wine.

Discover more destinations: Ábrahámhegy, Nemesgulacs, Tapolca, Badacsonytördemic, Lesencetomaj, Badacsonytomaj, Balatonederics, Kisapáti.

What is known about the crater lakes in Balatonhenye?

There are five crater lakes, each with its own water supply. The largest covers five hold.

What architectural details does the church in the town centre feature?

The Church of the Transfiguration of Our Lord (Urunk szineváltozása) has a single nave, is oriented north–south and features a façade tower and a polygonal chancel. It was built by the faithful in 1803.

What other nature-related attractions are there in the wider destination of North Balaton?

Hegyestű reveals the interior of a basalt volcano that was active about 8 million years ago; at a viewpoint, visitors can use an information board to identify the surrounding hills. Boat trips are available in the Tapolcai-tavasbarlang.

For the wider travel overview: Tapolcai.