Discover Lovászi in the Kerka Valley

Lovászi lies in the southwest of Zala County, in the Kerka Valley. The town is on the right bank of the river and along the road between Lenti and Letenye. This clearly locates Lovászi geographically. The town’s points of interest include the history of the oil industry and the legacy of the Cold War. These can be explored at various sights and along a thematically wide-ranging educational trail.

Vasfüggöny Museum and Légópince

The Vasfüggöny Museum focuses on the Cold War era. It displays contemporary gas masks and other objects, as well as archival footage about Lovászi’s past. A siren that once stood on the bunker roof is located beside the building. A visit to the museum thus combines objects and archival images with a striking outdoor exhibit. When visiting the Vasfüggöny Museum and Légópince, you can also see a renovated, interactive command room and a first-aid room. Visits with a guide are available by prior appointment. Arrange your tour in advance and check the current visiting procedures before you travel.

Kútfeji Chapel and local history

The chapel known as Kútfeji-kápolna was built in 1949 in connection with the new oil workers’ settlement. In 1998–1999, it was extended with a chancel and bell tower. These two dates mark distinct phases of construction and link the chapel to the development of the oil workers’ settlement. It therefore complements the perspective offered by the museum: while the museum focuses on the Cold War era, the chapel’s building history leads to the history of the oil workers’ settlement. Those interested in the town’s development will find two distinct historical points of reference here.

Kankalin Educational Trail and Kerkaland Tour

The Kankalin Educational Trail runs around Lovászi and provides information about the town’s natural surroundings, folk traditions, vernacular architecture, plant and animal life, and the history of the oil industry. Its subject matter thus ranges from nature and landscape to culture and local history. The Kerkaland Tour also passes through Lovászi. The routes differ: the educational trail goes around the town, while the Kerkaland Tour route goes through it. For cycling travellers, the tour offers another point of reference when choosing which aspects of Lovászi to explore.

Zala as a wider regional setting

The wider destination of Zala offers further landscape and cultural highlights. The Zalai Borvidék wine region developed on the slopes and plateaus of the Zalai-dombság hills, as well as on the northwestern slopes of the Keszthelyi-hegység mountains. It comprises two wine-growing districts and 38 settlements. Kis-Balaton is Zala’s largest body of water, strictly protected and covering 14,745 hectares; it is also the setting for István Fekete’s classic novels Tüskevár and Téli berek. A different highlight is the Kotsy-vízimalom in Zalaszántó, where a 390-centimetre overshot waterwheel mechanism can be seen in operation. These examples are part of the wider destination of Zala and offer an additional regional perspective alongside the sights you can discover in Lovászi itself.

Discover more destinations: Bödeháza, Felsőszenterzsébet, Gosztola, Tormafölde, Csesztreg, Lenti, Nemesnép, Zalabaksa.

Go to the wider travel overview: Lenti.