Balatonberény: Beach, Nature and Church History

Balatonberény offers several distinct points of interest to help you plan your stay: the municipal beach with swimming and sports facilities, a naturist beach, the Balaton Cycling Route, the protected Csicsergő Peninsula and a church with religious monuments in its garden. The beach facilities vary; the nature reserve and church sites add natural and cultural themes to the picture.

Swimming facilities at the municipal beach and naturist beach

The municipal beach includes a lido shoreline, a playground and a children's pool. There is also an adults' pool. For exercise, it offers table tennis, street basketball, teqball and sandy sports courts. The children's and adults' pools are distinct parts of the swimming facilities; the sports options add a range of activities.

Balatonberény's naturist beach is considered the only naturist beach on Lake Balaton. It is set in a picturesque, landscaped green space, discreetly surrounded by reeds, and offers a natural bathing spot. It also features a shallow shoreline and Lake Balaton's largest built circular sun terrace. The beach operates seasonally; check the opening dates for your travel dates.

Cycling route, access and bicycle facilities

The municipal beach is next to the Balaton Cycling Route. It can be reached via side road 7119, which branches off main road 7. A sign on the Balaton Cycling Route west of the centre indicates the turnoff to the naturist beach. This makes it easy to distinguish between two separate access points: the approach to the municipal beach and the signposted turnoff to the naturist beach.

Guests at the naturist beach can use a covered bicycle parking area, an e-bike charging station and a bicycle service station free of charge. Electric bicycles can be charged free of charge at the entrance to the municipal beach. Mobile phones can also be charged there free of charge, using three solar-powered lamps along the paved path. The information about bicycle facilities therefore refers to the respective beach grounds, not to shared facilities.

The protected Csicsergő Peninsula

East of Balatonberény lies the 1.55-hectare Csicsergő Peninsula, a locally protected nature reserve. Approximately ten percent of the peninsula is designated as Natura 2000. The area is predominantly characterised by willow-poplar floodplain forest, reeds and grassland. Its size and these landscape features give a concrete impression of the nature reserve, which you can include in your travel plans as a counterpoint to the beach facilities.

The peninsula is a popular destination for amateur and professional photographers, as well as day-trippers. Otters have been repeatedly spotted along its shores. This is a special feature of the area for nature enthusiasts; however, a sighting during any one visit is not guaranteed.

Church and monuments in the garden

The Roman Catholic church in Balatonberény has medieval origins, making it a notable sight for experts and interested visitors alike. A statue of Saint Vendel, the patron saint of shepherds and farmers, stands in the church garden. It was erected in 1793 in fulfilment of a vow.

There is also a Lourdes grotto in the northern part of the garden. Halász Zoltánné had it built in fulfilment of a vow to the Virgin Mary; it was designed by Dragonits Tamás and consecrated in 1993. The statue and the grotto are in the same garden, but have different religious associations and histories. Together, the church sites add a cultural and religious focus to Balatonberény alongside the beach, cycling route and nature reserve.

Discover more destinations: Böhönye, Tikos, Gadány, Somogyszentpál, Kelevíz, Táska, Balatonújlak, Balatonszentgyörgy

For the main travel overview: Marcali.