Keszthely | Entertainment

Nowadays it is difficult to imagine that Lake Balaton has not captivated people with its beauty for centuries; what more, from the 18th century, the idea of draining the water body has been raised several times, as it was considered useless. But from the mid-19th century, the modern urban man, whose rhythm of life and conception of time were no longer dictated by the cycles of nature and/or Christian holidays, gave a major role to the desire to be in nature, combined with the emergence of leisure time spent deliberately with relaxation. Balatonfüred met these conditions too, since what put Lake Balaton in a new dimension was not really the water of the lake, but rather the medicinal springs of Füred. The infrastructure (hotels, restaurants, theatres, etc.) was built to provide the expected comfort and even active entertainment for those who enjoyed their healing effects. The change in the attitude towards time, the desire for a temporary break from the familiar surroundings, the lively social life and the variety of services offered by the spa attracted more and more people to the shores of Lake Balaton, who wanted to have a good time. The range of semi-legal and illegal offers for entertainment, far from the disciplining power of everyday environment, also increased the opportunities for a variety of leisure activities. And since the water of the lake itself has become attractive for swimming and boating over time, the whole shoreline of Lake Balaton slowly became a holiday resort. In the 20th century, the range of leisure activities was enhanced too and the same is true today. Why do we set off for Lake Balaton? The beauty of nature attracts us, but even a spring trip, a jazz concert in summer, a boat trip on the lake, an autumn harvest or the opening of a new exhibition in the Vaszary Villa in Füred or in the Lake Balaton Museum in Keszthely in winter can be just as captivating. To make it more personal, I have been raising my beer mug between two history presentations at beer festivals in Alsóörs, Balatonföldvár and Keszthely for about a decade now with audiences starting to fill the venues from the early afternoon hours after the hot summer days have eased and when it is no longer the water they seek refuge in. Afterwards, pints of beer, delicious food, good music, performances and even a glass of wine in order to keep the tradition thus offering an ever greater variety. In short: Lake Balaton is summer itself, but not only summer in itself.