About The Koppany Valley
Koppany Valley Nature Park
A protected and underdeveloped area of rural Hungary, the Koppany Valley offers a rare view into wildlife, flora and fauna. The southern shore of Lake Balaton is only 30 kilometers away from the Valley which brings together the most underdeveloped small villages where, lack of investment and development has meant , the rich local heritage survived.
There are nearly 100 kilometers of hiking trails (Koppány Valley Trail) which are connected by a foot, by bicycle (fitness required) and horse to explore.
Koppanyszanto – Our Village
…is a tate of ‘REAL HUNGARY’ with a chance to see wine press houses amongst the vineyards, the local apiary, houses hung with paprika and the passing horse and carts, Koppanyszanto almost feels like it’s part of a bygone age.
Koppanyszanto offers:-
-
Local shop
-
Butchers Van (once a week)
-
Kocsma (pub)/pizzeria – The landlord is from Nottingham, UK!
-
Playground
-
Picnic Area
-
Football Field
-
Public Transport
The church stand proud on the top of the hill overlooking the village and is definitely worth a visit. The local bus will take you to nearby Tamasi to wander round the Deer Park, explore the town or visit the Thermal Baths or to Lake Balaton.
There are several villages festivals over the year where villagers come together and prepare food, eat, parade, dance, wear traditional outfits and drink wine. It is often possible to buy the wine direct from the farmers or the traditional hungarian palinka
SHOPPING
There is a small shop in the village as well as mobile shops for ice-creams, butcher and gas (who sells potatoes!). A shop, bakers, post office and cashpoint in Törökkoppány. There is a larger supermarket at Nagykónyi. For Aldi and Spar will need to drive or take the bus to Tamasi. There is also a large Tescos at Dombovar.
RESTAURANTS & BARS
Aside from the Tea House on site, there is the pizzeria/bar in the village, then you have another bar at Törökkoppány which is a good walk along the Koppany Trails and a new fish and chip bar in the next village. There are also a number of restaurants serving traditional hungarian fare within a 20 minute drive. A favourite of ours is the restaurant Radpuszta with it’s great wine cellar.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Buses run from the village to Tamasi, or from the neighbouring village you are able to use the bus to reach Tab, Lake Balaton and from Lake Balaton it is possible to take the train to Budapest.
MARKETS
There are local markets at Törökkoppány and Nagykónyi, the next villages. Larger markets are at Tamasi and Tab, the Tab market has livestock the first Wednesday of each month. There is a huge market at Fonyod with everything you could possibly think of!
Other villages of the Koppany Valley
Thermal Spas of the Koppany Valley
Thermal spa experiences have a long history, dating back to Ancient Roman times. The combination of therapies involving hot and cold treatments are renowned for relieving muscular aches and pains, detoxing skin, improving body metabolism and increasing circulation.
While the word “spa” can conjure images of being pampered in a luxurious setting, in Hungary it’s quite different. The key to Hungary’s thermal culture is its location on the Carpathian Basin. The earth’s crust is very thin here, allowing water to rise easily to the surface.
Being landlocked, Hungary, has an abundant supply of thermal water springs, it’s an immersion of thermal wellness. These water sources are rich in dissolved minerals, with the exact mineral content varying depending on the location. Therefore, the mineral content of all Hungarian spas is not the same. Some spas have water that is rich in calcium, magnesium, and hydro-carbonate, which is best for treating joint diseases, arthritis, and orthopedic problems . Other spas have water that is sulfurous-smelling, salty, or has other special properties, and is recommended for healing certain health conditions
The salty medicinal waters of Tamási have a mucus dissolving effect, it makes the stomach produce more gastric acid, and it is recommended to be used for treating locomotor disorders and chronic gynaecological diseases. Salty medicinal water strengthens the immune system when one has psoriasis. The medicinal water mustn’t be used for treating patients suffering from a high blood pressure or oedema.
The main tourist attraction in Tamási is the spa and open-air bath which is one of the most attended country spas in Hungary. It is known for its excellent natural environment, the health-providing quality of the water, and the superb surroundings. The thermal water has a temperature of 52 degrees Celsius and is considered very healthy. The special health-improving qualities of the water are due to its high sodium, calcium, and potassium concentration. The seven hectare woodland of the bath is open all year round, featuring open-air pools, stretched-surface water pools, and a separate children’s pool.
The 81 °C thermal water with declared healing power comes from 651 m deep, and it has an extremly high dissolved mineral content (10.358 mg/litre), which has been considered among the best ones in Europe for the last 50 years. It is confirmed by those satisfied guests who found healing here for hopeless conditions, recovered after an accident or could conceive a baby as a result of the beneficial effects of the Igal thermal water.
Igal is the small town fully living by its spas. Its friendly atmosphere, historic monuments, hospitable people make it a popular destination among tourists who wish to get healing and relaxation. The Igal Thermal Bath is one of the oldest baths in the South Transdanubian region.The amusement outdoor area is pleasant, especially great for children, open in summer. There are medical thermal pools of various temperature inside and out, just great, fully compared to the best ones in Budapest. Cleanliness, large dressing rooms, nice prices, pensioner (local+EU) discounts, very good buffet and restaurants, relaxing areas, spa treatments/massages, saunas, guarded parking.