Balatonfüred is a popular resort town in Hungary with a population of thirteen thousand on the north coast of Lake Balaton. It has two marinas, a string of carbonated mineral water springs, beautiful listed buildings from the middle of the 18th and the 19th centuries, fine restaurants, modern hotels and guest-houses to accomodate about fifty thousand visitors in the summer. People come here to enjoy the mild micro-climate, beautiful scenery, famous local wine, sailing and swimming facilities as well as to revive two-centuries old tradition in socialising around spas, bathing and vacationing. The main events of the two month long holiday season include a ball for first-time ballers with a beauty contest and a wine-tasting festivity, both in August. It has a number of conference halls, a large clinic for heart-patients, a camping site on the lakeshore, and a number of wine cellars that sell white house wine in the vineyards on the hillside overlooking the town on the lake. In winter the lake may freeze up for weeks so that skaters and speed sailboats on edges can take over the place for sailing on ice or winter cruising.
