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Welcome to Hungary
Known as the land of the gypsies, Hungary is a favorite new travel
destination among many Westerners. It's the land of rich wines,
Baroque cities, charming villages, gypsy music, great plains,
piquant pepper spices, thermal springs, healing waters and idyllic
landscapes along the Danube River.
Located in the heart of Europe, its capital Budapest is an
architectural jewel. It boasts fine museums, historic bookstores,
ancient bridges, cozy cafes, Turkish-style thermal baths and the
medieval Castle Hill. Take a boat tour along the Danube. Chill out
in one of the street restaurants and try the traditional meal called gulyas, a beef soup flavored with onions and potatoes. Or stroll
along the romantic riverfront and shop to your heart’s content in
the city’s fine jewelry stores. Budapest is a cosmopolitan Eastern
European city where you’ll find all the conveniences of the west,
but at half the price.
Even though the country is landlocked, water lovers find plenty of
opportunities to get wet. Hungary has more than 1,000 lakes, the
largest being Lake Balaton, a real visitor’s magnet. It is one of
the biggest lakes in Europe and there are many hotels and resorts,
mainly on its south shore. Lake Heviz, located in the small
picturesque town of the same name, is the largest thermal lake in
the world. Its waters are known to have curative effects.
Hungary is known for its healing waters. The country lies in the
Carpathian Basin where the Earth’s crust is relatively thin. Here
the ground water easily rises to the surface resulting in many hot
springs. There are more than 1,000 all over the country and man-made
spas with this mineral-rich water abound.
In Hungary, nature fans don't miss out, either. The Hortobagy
National Park is a bird watcher’s paradise. More than 310 species of
birds, such as storks, eagles, egrets and the great bustard can be
observed here. The park is huge and if you like, you can do a
horseback ride or carriage tour in order to cover more ground and
reach the hidden spots that only few others see.
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