Balatonújlak: Winegrowing, Press Houses and Village History

Balatonújlak combines an extensive wine-growing area with traces of the past. When choosing a place to stay, its present-day location also matters: the village is just over three kilometres from Lake Balaton. When selecting accommodation, you can consider winegrowing and local history separately from how close you want to be to the water.

Local History and Present-Day Location

In the past, Balatonújlak was a settlement by the water, and its municipal boundary extended as far as Lake Balaton. Today, the village is just over three kilometres from the lake. Its former lakeside location is therefore a historical reference, while the present-day distance describes its current geographical situation. This change between two points in time helps put Balatonújlak’s relationship with the lake into context without equating its history with its present-day location.

Winegrowing and Architectural Styles

Balatonújlak’s extensive wine-growing area is also called Zártkert. The vineyard belonging to Balatonújlak is part of the South Balaton wine region. Numerous press houses and press-house buildings in Szőlőhegy are listed as locally protected structures. Most of the press houses there are log buildings, roofed with reeds or natural-coloured tiles. Winegrowing and these distinctive buildings together define this part of the village.

Church, Houses and Roman History

The Roman Catholic Church of the Queen of the Rosary (Rózsafüzér királynéja) in Balatonújlak was built in 1980 using public donations. It has a single nave, a simple sanctuary and an altar. Its design preserves the architectural language of traditional churches while also incorporating some modern elements. Today, only a few of Balatonújlak’s traditional so-called kontyos houses remain. Together, these buildings reveal different facets of the village’s history: a church that combines traditional and modern design, and a house type that survives only in isolated examples.

Traces of Balatonújlak’s Roman past are also part of its history. Roman graves built from stone slabs were excavated in the eastern part of the village. Based on these finds and other excavations, one researcher believes that a larger Roman settlement may have been located in Balatonújlak. The graves are an archaeological find; the larger settlement remains a possibility.

Accessibility and Choosing a Location

The construction of the M7 motorway improved access to Balatonújlak and the Marcali region. When choosing a location, you can weigh several different factors: the present-day distance from Lake Balaton, regional accessibility, and local themes such as winegrowing, architecture and history. Which of these matters most for your stay depends on whether you choose your accommodation primarily for its desired proximity to the water or for the character of the village.

Nature in the Wider Lake Balaton – South Destination

The Zselici Tájvédelmi Körzet (Zselic Landscape Protection Area) is also part of the regional nature experience in the wider Lake Balaton – South destination. In 2009, it received the title of International Dark Sky Park because of its low light pollution; the Zselici Csillagpark (Zselic Star Park) was established in the heart of the protected area. Somogy County includes, among other places, Kis-Balaton, the Zselici Tájvédelmi Körzet, Barcsi Ősborókás and Babócsai Basakert. On its route through Somogy County, the cross-regional Dráva active tourism network includes stops for water tourism. Individual facilities may change as development continues.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Vonyarcvashegy, Balatonendréd, Balatonőszöd, Taliándörögd, Köveskál, Siofok, Várvölgy, Balatonvilágos.