Esztergályhorváti: Lakes, Vineyards and Local History

Esztergályhorváti lies in the southeast of the Zala Hills, west of the Zala River and at the northern entrance to Kis-Balaton. Lakes, vineyards, cycling routes and local history offer different highlights within the destination. If you are looking for hotels for a stay, you can take these highlights into account when choosing your destination.

Lakes, Vineyards and Landscape

The two lakes are considered sights in Esztergályhorváti. In the 1970s, two reservoirs were created on the stream running between the two settlements; the lakes thus combine a specific landscape history with a distinct nature theme. Great egrets, herons and swans can be observed there, and numerous waterbirds also live by the lakes. Their origins and birdlife therefore offer two different perspectives on the same bodies of water.

A concrete path beside the lakes leads to the Esztergályhorváti vineyard. There are also vineyards and old wine cellars on Gellért-hegy. Several cellars have façade dates from the 19th century. These historic façade details add a distinct architectural point of reference to the landscape.

Cycling Routes and Encounters

A new cycling route, almost 4.7 kilometers long, connects Esztergályhorváti with Garabonc, Nagyrada and Zalaszabar and includes three new cyclist bridges. The route’s completion was reported on August 28, 2026. Its length, connected towns and bridges give the route a clearly defined profile.

A group cycling tour highlighted another aspect of cycling: residents of Esztergályhorváti, Zalaapáti, Zalaszentmárton and Pacsa set off to get to know one another’s communities and make connections. This tour focused on encounters between the communities, while the new cycling route is described as a connection between four towns.

Local History and Historical Points of Reference

Today’s Esztergályhorváti was formed in 1966 through the unification of Esztergályhorváti, Nagyhorváti and Esztergály. A medieval church site adds an older point of reference to the local history. The small church in Nagyhorváti, a part of Esztergályhorváti, was built in 1903. The church site and the year 1903 mark two clearly distinct points in local history.

The large stone cross offers a beautiful panoramic view; those who reach it arrive at the Esztergályhorváti community cellar. The cross, the view and the cellar form another local landmark.

A Culinary Look at the Town

A harvest festival also offered a distinct culinary highlight: the cooking competition featured ragout soup, bean goulash, pork, game and porcini mushroom beef goulash, catfish paprikash and dödölle. The festival competition thus adds a culinary dimension to the landscape and history themes.

Choosing a Hotel Based on the Focus of Your Stay

The local themes are distinct: the lakes combine the history of the reservoirs with waterbird watching; the cycling route is defined by its length, three bridges and four connected towns. The historical points of reference range from the medieval church site to the building date of 1903.

Discover more destinations: Zalaszántó, Vindornyalak, Zalavár, Karmacs, Balatongyörök, Vonyarcvashegy, Keszthely, Gyenesdias.

For the overview of the wider region: Keszthelyi.