Are you looking for an experience that relieves stress, gets you out of the rat race, is in a beautiful location, and even envelops you in an intoxicating cloud of scents? Here’s a tip for you: head to Tihany on the shores of Lake Balaton, where wonderful lavender fields await.
One of the unadulterated signs of summer is when lavender bushes start to bloom: the fields are canopied in a magical purple colour and a pleasantly intoxicating cloud of scents, which encourages many to walk among the lavender to admire the view, pick a few bouquets of flowers to take home or just to take a few photos. Fortunately Hungary has plenty of options if you’re looking to pick some lavender, the best known of which are the lavender fields in Tihany.
Lavender is the first thing that comes to many people’s minds when they hear the word Tihany. Do you wonder what could be behind this? This flower has long played a prominent role in the life of the Tihany Peninsula: the first lavender field was planted here in the mid-1920s with propagating material straight from France. First, these plants emanated their scent in the area rented from the Tihany Abbey, and then, due to their great popularity, lavender spread to ever larger plantations. The success story of the lavender fields has soared ever since: Every year in Tihany, a ‘pick it yourself’ campaign is organised as part of the Lavender Festival, which always attracts many visitors to the northern shores of Lake Balaton.
In addition to being beautiful and fragrant, lavender is also one of the most versatile plants to use. This has been known as far back as he Antiquity – lavender was the defining plant of cosmetology, hence its name: the word “lavare” means “to wash” in Latin. But let’s not go back so far in time, and instead let’s look at the beneficial effects of lavender.
It has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effects. Used as an essential oil, it is a stress reliever; lavender also alleviates headaches and depressed moods, and helps you fall asleep. Strengthens the immune system and relieves inflammatory and rheumatic muscle pain.
It plays a beneficial role in skin care: it soothes inflamed skin and eczema, and also relieves sunburn. When dropped into bath water, it results in velvety skin. It enhances physical and mental freshness. Lavender helps relieve low blood pressure. It soothes insect bites and accelerates the healing of abrasions. It can also be useful in the case of mental and nervous complaints, such as sleep disorders, headaches and migraines.
Visit Hungary's first large industrial lavender plantation, the lavender fields on the Tihany Peninsula. Allow yourself to be enchanted by the purple flower fields evoking a Provencal atmosphere, sample the delicacies made with lavender, take part in the exciting activities at the Lavender Festival and pick as much lavender as you like. Did you know that Tihany was chosen as the most beautiful renovated settlement in Europe a few years ago? See its beauty with your own eyes; and since you’re already here, check out one of Lake Balaton’s most interesting gems, the Benedictine Abbey in Tihany.