Balaton Tour

Culture, Art, AdventureThose who are on their way to Herend can catch sight of the special, stately building complex – accommodating the Porcelanium Visitor Centre – right from a distance. It goes without saying that the mission of the Herend Porcelain Manufactory is also evident from here: to provide, apart from producing fine porcelain, ideal conditions for popularising this special profession and technology as well as to pass on the tradition of applied arts.Since the year 1999 this has been the home of the Minimanufactory, where the visitors can get an insight into the secrets of porcelain-making. If you would like to become a porcelain maker, even if just for a little time, take the raw porcelain paste or the painting brush into your hands, and the workshops will give your imagination free flight. The Victoria Brand Shop is located in the side-wing opposite the Minimanufactory. The Porcelain Museum offers a permanent exhibition and temporary shows, renewed in every season, to highlight the history of the Manufactory. Coming back from the trip to porcelain world, visitors can take pleasure in the catering facilities offered by the Apicius Restaurant and Café.

History of Tihany Balaton, the largest shallow lake in Central Europe, was formed by tectonic sagging around 25,000 years ago. Tihanyi-félsziget (Tihany peninsula) divides the lake into two basins. The characteristic view of the Mediterranean landscape was formed by volcanic europtions millions of year ago as shown today by two giant calderas. The remains of these craters form two little lakes, without outlet, higher than the water level of Balaton: Belsõ-tó, which is popular with anglers, and Külsõ-tó, a paradise for aquatic birds. As a result of volcanic follow-up activity, thermal springs created more than one hundred geyser hills in the peninsula. The most beautiful one is called Aranyház (Golden House) after the golden lichen covering its rocks. Beside geological features, the peninsula is famous for its exceptional wildlife: the area became the first nature reserve of Hungary in 1952. The archaeological findings of the area show that the peninsula has been inhabited since prehistoric times. People of the Bronze Age, the Iron Age and the Roman Age liked this place. The Romans called Balaton Lacus Pelso and had a ford at Tihany. The ancient Tihany village was founded in the Middle Ages when King Andrew I founded here in 1055 a burial-place for the royal family and built a monastery, where Benedictine monks were settled. The Abbey of Tihany was authorised in the 13 th centur y to issue official deeds (locus authenticus). During the Turkish times, in the 16-17 th centur y, the monasetry, wich had been transformed into a fortress, was demolished. It was rebuilt in baroque style in the 18 th century and became a symbol of Tihany. A few years ago, the Benedictine monks were again put in charge of the monasetry and the Abbey Museum. Tihany is a jewel of not only the Balaton but also Hungary. Since the nineteen sixties masses of tourists, both Hungarians and foreigners, have been visiting the place. Its main assets are the historical and cultural relics related to the monasetry, the unique landscape and the recreational possibilities of Balaton.

The centre of the Laposa Estate is located on the south side of the Badacsony Hill, where the old Bogyai noble estate used to be. Dr. József Laposa and his wife, Eleonóra, who was born in Badacsony are the lovers of the Balaton Uplands, they bought their first lands here in 1990. The Laposa Estates lays on the best sited areas of the volcanic monadnocks, and has become 10 hactares large: on Badacsony Hill 3 hactares, 3.5 hactares on Csobánc, on Köves Hill 1 hactare, on Szent György Hill 0.5 hactare, and on Somló there is 2 hactares owned by the family, planted with their grapes.According to the wine-growing tradition of the region, they only produce white wine, an average of 80 000 bottles of Olaszrizling, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Kéknyelű Juhfark, Muscat Lunel, Furmint and Hárslevelű are made a year.The management of the estate in 2005, was taken over by their son - one of three children-, Bence Laposa, but all family members are actively involved in the life, and development of the business.The Laposa and the Bazaltbor brand name is known since 2000 and the brand is approved and respected in the Hungarian wine market. Over the past 10 years the estate was developed, thanks to the excellent quality and hospitality, many know and like wines produced by the family. The clear, mineral characteristic that shows all the beauty of the basalt hills is the basis of the wine’s popularity.The family believes it is important to preserve tradition, but faces viticulture and wine making with a youthful vigor. The Laposas believe that is essential for development to respect the ancestors, but appropriate innovations and expertise is needed, and to creating such a value that provides a platform for future generations to build on as well. „During making wine there is only one thing worse than trying to copy others, it is if you keep repeating yourself.” Thoughts on wine, scenery, man… We think we have found a miracle in this little corner of the world. The Tapolca Hollow is a special experience even for people who have traveled a lot, but for us it means even more! We would like to make wine here that will never be confused with those from other wine regions. Wines that tell stories -without asking- about where it came from, what's it like in the winter and the summer, how it flourished and how it grew from tender teen to adult. A wine in which all flavors can be found, but none obtrusive, in which the power of nature and the consciousness of the man behind the wine are both noticeable. We want to preserve the values of the wine region, to take advantage of opportunities provided by the area, to maintain and advance Badacsony’s wine’s reputation. Laposa contra Laposa, what's happened between 2009 and 2011? The Laposa family in 2009 began construction of a new winery with an co-investor, which was completed in 2010. The professional manager of the project was Bence Laposa, and after the opening of the plant as head of the winery supplied the wine tasks by the end of 2011. Due to professional and personal reasons, the cooperation came to end. The Laposa is now working in the old cellar of the family. Currently, the investor can use our family and brand name on the labels ... we are confident that it will be not so be long. In the meantime, we ask for patience and understanding from our dear costumers.