Page 45 - Eastern Europe
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 Downtown
Providing Fascinating Travel Experiences
  Budapest
Budapest has architectural gems in spades, but the limestone plateau that dominates the west bank of the Danube is the Hungarian capital's most spectacular site. Within the castle walls, various attractions vie for your attention, from the Great Throne Hall and the Budapest History Museum, to the Castle Labyrinth, and the view of Parliament across the river f rom the Bastion des fishermen.
Lake Balaton
The Hungarian "sea" (and mainland Europe's largest lake) is where the populace go in summer. The quieter side of Lake Balaton mixes sizzling beaches and water activities with historic waterfront towns like Keszthely and Balatonfüred. Tihany, a 30-meter-tall peninsula that juts out into the lake for 4 km, is home to a magnificent abbey, and Badacsony draws crowds with its convenient lakeside location. Hungarian wine
Few people know the Hungarian wine tradition. Which doesn't mean that their wines aren't excellent. Thanks to an ideal weather for viticul- ture, the country has been making wine since the Roman Empire. Perhaps one of the reasons why Hungarian wine is not known is because of their names: the country's most famous red wine is called Egri Bikavér, which means bull's blood.
Paprika and Hungarian cuisine
Almost inevitably including a soup to start the meal, Hungarian cuisine is quite varied: stewed meat such as goulash, Viennese cutlet or more generally paprika-based dishes. This Hungarian spice, derived from peppers, indeed accompanies many meals in Hungary.
Szeged
The cultural capital of Alföld (Great Plain), and the third largest city in Hungary, Szeged is filled with Art Nouveau masterpieces, cafes and green spaces, straddling the Tisza River. Classical and popular music performances abound, especially at the Szeged Open-Air Festival in summer. Szeged is also famous for its delicacies, including a paprika- based fish soup and Pick, the best Hungarian salami.
The thermal baths
There are over 300 thermal springs in use within Hungary. Some of the thermal baths, like Rudas and Kiraly in Budapest and part of the Turkish bath in Eger, date from the 16th century. Increasingly popular, these “water parks” are of interest to a wider audience. Try floating on a thermal lake in Heviz or entering hot water at a Gyula Castle.
  Why Hungary?
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