Zalaszentgrót: Thermal Baths, Kőhíd and History

Zalaszentgrót brings together several clearly distinct themes for travel planning: a historic stone bridge, an exhibition featuring archaeological and historical content, and thermal baths with various types of pools. For planning your visit, you can easily weigh these highlights: the Kőhíd represents architectural history, the exhibition spans a long period of history, and the Szent Gróth Termálfürdő complements the cultural offerings with a diverse selection of pools.

Kőhíd and the Exhibition

The Kőhíd in Zalaszentgrót was built in 1854. It is a four-arched stone bridge with brick vaulting. Its year of construction, number of arches and material give the structure a distinctive architectural profile.

The exhibition “Központ a Zala völgyében” presents archaeological and historical overviews, finds, photographs and documents relating to events from prehistoric times to the mid-20th century. It was set up in 2002 in three rooms of the former steward’s house with an arcaded passageway, next to the Baroque Batthyány-kastély. This brings two distinct historical perspectives into focus: the bridge offers a glimpse of a specific year of construction, while the exhibition covers a broad span of time. Check the exhibition’s opening hours before visiting.

Thermal Baths and Recreation

The Szent Gróth Termálfürdő has four outdoor pools, four indoor pools and a leisure pool with a slide. When planning a visit, you can consider which type of pool interests you most: the outdoor and indoor pools offer different experiences, while the leisure pool adds a slide. Check the seasonal opening schedule with the operator before your visit. The grounds also include three fishing lakes for active recreation.

In the wider destination of Zala

The wider destination of Zala also has its own cultural and landscape highlights. At the Kotsy-vízimalom in Zalaszántó, you can see a working 390 cm overshot waterwheel mechanism. The Zalai Borvidék developed on the slopes and plateaus of the Zalai-dombság and on the northwestern slopes of the Keszthelyi-hegység. It comprises two wine-growing districts and 38 settlements. These regional themes are distinct from the attractions in Zalaszentgrót.

The 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.” This part of the Zala region thus combines a specific description of the landscape with a literary connection.

At the Kápolnapuszta Bivalyreservátum, you can explore a 1.5-kilometre walking trail with rest areas and viewpoints. The Water Buffalo Festival is held there every year in May or June; dates may vary from year to year. During opening hours, visitors may pet the tame animals. If you are planning a visit around the festival, check the dates for the relevant year.

Discover more destinations: Zalacsány, Nagygörbő, Vindornyaszolos, Sénye, Zalaszentlászló, Kehidakustány, Zalabér, Kallósd.

Back to the wider travel overview: Zalaszentgrót.