What Fejer is known for

Fejér County contains a handful of cultural and historical monuments. Besides that, high diversity and preservation of nature is presumably another reason for its touristic popularity. One among many natural touristic destinations is Lake Velence, situated in the central parts of the region. Lake Velence is the second largest lake in the territory of Hungary, with an area of 26 kilometers squared. Being one of the warmest lakes in Europe, with temperatures of 26 to 28°C, the water is sought after for its medical and healing effects.[4] Velence and Dinnyés Nature Conservation Area is situated in short proximity to the lake itself, where several endangered and protected plant and animal species can be found.[5]

Concerning the history and culture, The Bory Castle belongs among the most prominent castles located in the Fejér territory, situated near the capital of the county, Székesfehérvár. Its construction started in 1912 and was carried almost entirely out by only the owner and architect, Jenő Bory. With the help of some other contractors, the castle was finally built-in 1923. The castle is 30 m high, has seven towers, and is filled with statues, paintings, and antiquities. The castle's exhibition consists of gardens, an art gallery, and a courtyard as well.[6]

Nádasdy Mansion in Nádasdladány is a distinctive neo-Gothic, Tudor-style mansion in Hungary, situated in the central part of the Fejér County. The castle is surrounded by a 24-hectare English garden with rare plants and a pond. The original building was built in 1736 in baroque style. However, between 1873 and 1876, the original baroque building was extended and renovated in neo-gothic Tudor style. Nowadays, the castle is used for wedding ceremonies, dinners, conferences, and literary and musical events.[7]

Regarding natural destinations for hikers, Alcsúti Arboretum Nature Reserves is presumably one of the most popular natural areas among tourists. Alcsúti Arboretum is a former archduke's castle garden in an area of over 40 hectares. The arboretum houses over 300 different plant species. Its vegetation dates back to the 19th century. Nowadays, the Arboretum offers not only walks and light hikes in untouched nature but also hosts numerous events and exhibitions.[8]

Geography

A sizeable proportion of the ecologically valuable areas in Fejér County are concentrated in its northern mountainous forests. Smaller hills in the central and southern regions were for decades utilized for agriculture. For that reason, only a small portion of authentic nature has been preserved in these parts, such as meadow vegetation along the larger watercourses, loess valleys, and sandy vegetation of the southernmost areas. Roughly 0.9% percent of the Fejér County area is protected by local government. The main natural attraction is the Lake Velence - Vértes area. The Velence Lake, which is the second-largest natural lake in Hungary, is also the warmest lake in Europe with a temperature of 26 to 28°C. The lake is reported to provide health benefits due to its high sodium and magnesium content. Another ecologically significant area is the corridor along the Sárvíz, the lakes of Rétszilasi, and the valley of the Bozót stream, featuring highly preserved wild forests and fishing lakes. The region also features wine routes; the largest is in Vértes and around the Velence Lake.[1]

In terms of weather and climate, the county is located in the continental climate area, where the alteration of the four seasons throughout the year is typical. The warmest month is July, with an average daily temperature of 25°C. January is the coldest month, with an average temperature of 2°C. The most precipitation falls during June with an average of 60.0 mm. The driest month is July, with an average of 32.0mm of rainfall.[3]

History

As a result of Fejér County's central location and the inclusion of the Danube waterway, the area has been inhabited since ancient times, as evidenced by numerous archeological sites discovered in the territory. The first settlers that were proven to inhabit this area were Celtic tribes. In the first century, the area became the easternmost part of the Pannonia due to the Roman conquest. The primary purpose of the territory was to provide protection to the Roman Empire, the cities such as Floriana (Csákvár), Osones (Bodajk), and Gorsium (Tác) developed around significant road junctions. Avars united the area, and later it became under the rule of Hungarians, around 895 - 900 a.d. The city of Fehérvár was chosen to establish a fortified accommodation above the swamps of Sárrét for Prince Géza due to its central position. After the Hungarian state was founded, the city became the seat of the royal county organized on a territorial basis under Stephen I until the middle of the century. In 1009, the Fejér County territory also included the Solt-chair area located between the Danube and the Tisza. In the 16th century, Cumans settled in this territory, leading to an increase in population. The development stopped between 1543 and 1688 under Turkish rule, which caused the destruction of villages and material possessions. After the fall of the capital city, Székesfehérvár, the county authorities had to flee the country. During the 16th century, parts of the Fejér areas were added to Veszprém and Komárom counties. In 1692 the county was liberated from Turks, and in 1703 the city of Székesfehérvár regained the status of a free royal city. Hungarian, German, and Slovak settlers repopulated the county. Later, in the years following the World Wars, the Smallholders' Party had a mass base among the parties united in the National Independence Front. However, the Soviet army broke the resistance and took over the Székesfehérvár as well as the county. This led to economic and industrial development, which began in the early 1960s, increasing the population's living standard.[1]