Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Hidden treasures, no more,in enchanting Hungary

 

"We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us” – Anonymous

 

There simply is no way to tour Europe & not be awestruck by its natural beauty, epic history & dazzling artistic & culinary diversity. Once you have ticked off the great Museums, panoramic vistas & energetic nightlife, what's left? A chance to indulge in a culinary adventure to beat all others, that's what!

 

Central Europe, natural & refined, folksy & cultured, the combination of mountain rusticity & old-world style with its teutonic half-timbered villages, graffiti-decorated Renaissance Squares, medieval walled towns,captivates those looking for old-world appeal,

 

The word is out: as far as off-the-beaten-path destinations go. Hungary has always marched to a different drummer - speaking a unique language, preparing dishes & drinking wines like no others - Europe at its most exotic Stunning architecture, vital Folk Art, Thermal Spas & Europe's most exciting capital after dark are Hungary's major drawing cards. More than ever, intrepid travellers are making their way to the region & there is little wonder why. Come……experience Hungary with us………

 

Europe’s almost unmanageable wealth of attractions is its biggest single draw: the birthplace of democracy in Athens, the Renaissance art of Florence, the graceful canals of Venice, the Napoleonic splendour of Paris & the multilayered historical & cultural canvas of London.

 

Less obvious but no less impressive attractions include Moorish Palaces in Andalucía, the fascinating East-meets-West brew of İstanbul in Turkey, the majesty of meticulously restored imperial Palaces in Russia's former capital St Petersburg & the ongoing project of Gaudí's La Sagrada Família in Barcelona.

 

There is a huge diversity of natural scenery: rugged Scottish Highlands with glens & lochs; Norway's fabulous fjords, seemingly chipped to jagged perfection by giants; the vine-raked valleys of the Loire & the steppe-like plains of central Spain. If you are looking for beaches, a circuit of the Mediterranean's northern coast reveals one gem after another. Or strike out to lesser known, yet beautiful coastal regions such as the Baltic & Black Seas. Mountain lovers should head to the Alps: they march across central Europe taking in France, Switzerland, Austria, northern Italy & tiny Liechtenstein.

 

Once you have ticked off the great Museums, panoramic vistas & energetic nightlife, what is left? A chance to indulge in a culinary adventure to beat all others, that is what! Who wouldn't want to snack on pizza in Naples, souvlaki in Santorini or even haggis in Scotland? But did you also know that Britain has some of the best Indian restaurants in the world; that Turkey's doner kebab is a key part of contemporary German food culture; and that in the Netherlands you can gorge on an Indonesian rijsttafel (rice table)? Once again Europe's diversity and global reach is its trump card.

 

Europe has some of the best nightlife in the world. Globally famous DJs keep the party going in London, Berlin & Paris, all of which also offer top-class entertainment, especially theatre and live music. Other key locations for high-energy nightlife include Moscow, Belgrade, Budapest & Madrid, while those hankering for something cosier can add Dublin's pubs or Vienna's Cafes to their itinerary. Continue to party on the Continent's streets at a multiplicity of Festivals, from city Parades attended by thousands to intimate Concerts in an ancient Amphitheatre.

 

Central Europe - it is at once natural & refined, folksy & cultured: the combination of mountain rusticity with old-world style captivates. Teutonic half-timbered villages, graffiti-decorated Renaissance Squares, medieval walled towns…if you are looking for old-world appeal, this is the right place.

 

Nourishing yourself is more fun in a great atmosphere & Central Europe's abundance of outdoor Cafes & Coffee Houses offer just that. When the temperatures rise in spring, outdoor tables proliferate along with the daffodils & tulips.

 

Beer Gardens across the region offer an opportunity to enjoy hearty food, a convivial atmosphere & a good brew alfresco. Once the weather cools, move inside to a boisterous Beer Halls. Or, for something a little sweeter, try a cake at a Coffee House or Pastry Cafe. The most famous are in Vienna & Budapest, but there are many options - & other interesting places to eat & drink - all across the region. Enjoy a plate of pasta while admiring the Slovenian coast, nosh pierogi (dumplings) on a Polish cobblestone street or dip into fondue lakeside in Switzerland.

 

With mountains covering so many Central European states, it is no wonder that the outdoors holds such an attraction in the region. The Alps rise to their highest in Switzerland, with jagged, Toblerone-like peaks such as the Matterhorn, & march on through southern Germany, across Austria & south into Slovenia.

 

Wander the darkly Gothic alleyways of Prague, admire the baroque excess of Salzburg or take in the colourful old-Venetian influence on the Slovenian port of Piran. Poland & the Czech Republic seem to have more than their fair share of medieval masterpieces, but you can find narrow lanes and quaint townscapes throughout the region – from Bern, Switzerland to Bardejov, Slovakia. Smaller gems such as Bamberg, Germany are often far from the tourist radar. On mornings when the mists lie heavy & crowds are few, you might imagine yourself in an earlier century.

 

The Alps rise to their highest in Switzerland, with jagged, Toblerone-like peaks such as the Matterhorn & march on through southern Germany, across Austria & south into Slovenia. You can hike, bike, ski or just ride the gondolas & funiculars to enjoy the Alpine views. Other mountains, like the Swiss Jura & the Polish -Slovak Tatras, offer no less adventure. There are also sculptural sandstone 'rock towns' in the Czechia to climb, waterfall-filled gorges in Slovakia & Slovenia to hike and the bucolic Black Forest in Germany to walk.

 

Enough & now let us talk about Hungary, a ‘Wellspring of Wonders’. It is Europe at its most exotic.

 

Historic Overload | Eat & Drink | Folklore & Festivals

Welcome to mesmerizing Hungary. A landlocked beautiful country perched on the easterly fringes of Europe that has a surprising mix of places to explore. Hungary has good reason to be proud of itself, with beautifully preserved town centres, gorgeous landscapes, quality wines.

 

Situated in the low, flat area of the Carpathian Basin, with a gently undulating landscape of hills & plains, it features one of the largest continuous grasslands in Europe.

 

At the eastern edge of Europe, Hungary has been ruled by Romans, Austrian Hapsburgs & Ottoman Turks - to name but a few - & each has left their mark. It is a country at the heart of Europe, but it is certainly different too in so many ways, with a wealth of culture & history, complemented by a language so distinct from its Slavic neighbours that almost no shared words exist! It can be said that it is a land of great contrasts.

 

Hungary’s scenery is more gentle than striking. But you can’t say the same thing about the built environment across the land. Architecturally, Hungary is a treasure trove, with everything from Roman ruins & medieval Townhouses to baroque Churches, neo-classical public buildings & art nouveau Bathhouses & Schools. And we are not just talking about its Capital, Budapest.

 

Even though landlocked like its neighbours Austria, Slovakia & Serbia, it still deserves the nickname "land of waters", as it holds the largest lake in Europe (Lake Balaton) & is crossed by mighty rivers which divide & define its regions. Even the Capital is split by the Danube River, with Buda on the Western side & Pest on the Eastern bank.

 

As well as water to cool off in, Hungary can be the perfect place to keep warm, as it is located over a very active geo-thermic area & has over a 1,000 thermal water springs & the 2^nd largest thermal Lake in the world for bathing (Lake Hevíz). "Taking the waters" supplied by an estimated 300 thermal springs dating back to Roman times since togas were all the rage & Aquincum was the big Smoke, is an important part of the ancient Hungarian culture. They still do - for therapeutic, medicinal & recreational purposes - but the venues have changed somewhat, ranging from authentic Bathhouses dating from the Turkish occupation & art nouveau Palaces to clinical Sanatoriums straight out of a Thomas Mann novel. This is where the older generation like to rejuvenate & catch up on the local gossip. More & more though, you will see clear chlorinated waters in organically-shaped pools that bubble, squirt & spurt at different rhythms & temperatures alongside the requisite Wellness Centre offering a myriad of treatments.

 

Walk through the Reok Palace in Szeged or Mosque Church in Pecs or Kecskemet, Debrecen or Sopron & you will discover an architectural gem at virtually every turn. It is almost as if they are afraid these delightful structures will crumble & disappear unless they are regularly drenched in admiring glances.

 

Perhaps equaling these sights, are the wonders awaiting intrepid wonderers in the depths below the country. The very same elemental forces that brought about its ‘famous’ thermal springs, also created hundreds of kilometres of limestone Caves through erosion, a portion of which are ‘now’ navigable with Guides & an even smaller portion that have been fitted with paving & steps for independent viewing.

 

It is not just the architecture & objects from the past, however, that define Hungary. Not only the landscape, it is a land of particularly rich folk heritage & culture, preserved not only in Museums, however.

 

It has some of the strongest folk traditions & regional customs still alive in Europe, developed in all aspects of everyday life from food to music & dance, clothing to décor with its own distinctive style, influenced by the various ethnic groups including the Roma people. With exquisite folk paintings found on the walls & ceilings of the tiny wooden Churches of the Bereg region & the wonderful embroidery that the women of Holloko stitch to decorate smocks, skirts & slippers, this is often where the country comes to the fore artistically.

 

Music of all kinds, from classical to folk, is an important part of everyday life, as is the country's rich literary heritage. Traditional music, played on a 5 tone diatonic scale on a host of unusual instruments, continues to thrive as well, especially at tanchazak (dance houses) – peasant 'raves' where you will hear Hungarian folk music & learn to dance, too.

 

These lifestyles & traditions have been kept alive through the ages in many small villages by local communities, though of course, the modern world & all innovations in communication & conveniences are not lacking here. You may be surprised to see even modern day city dwellers doing their part in keeping the traditions alive. Larger cities & especially the Capital, are powerhouses of new ideas in all aspects of business & even leisure.  

 

Want to hear examples? Well, there is the so-called Busojaras, for a starter. In the carnival season people dressed up in scary costumes & wooden masks roam the streets to scare winter (or the Turks, according to another interpretation) away. At Easter, boys sprinkle girls with perfume while citing one of the funny little poems written for these occasions. According to the tradition, women who are not ‘watered' will fade away - now guys couldn't let that happen, could they? In old times, it used to be a bucket of cold water, however today it is a tamer version that is in use.

 

Hungarian food remains the most sophisticated style of cooking in Eastern Europe. There is a lot more to Hungarian food than goulash & Magyars even go so far as to say there are 3 essential world cuisines: French, Chinese & their own. That may be a bit of an exaggeration, but Hungary's reputation as a food centre dates largely from the late 19^th century & the first half of the 20^th & despite a fallow period under Communism, their cuisine is once again commanding attention. So too, are the nation's world-renowned wines - from the big-bodied reds of Eger & Villany and white olaszrizling from Badacsony to honey-sweet Tokaj.

 

A journey through this amazing kaleidoscope will allow you to enjoy this small landlocked country, also famous for being the birthplace of world famous Inventors, Scientists, Explorers & Composers.

 

Good for the kids, good for the grown-ups, good for the whole family. A journey through the amazing kaleidoscope that is Hungary will allow you to enjoy this small landlocked country in Central Europe, also famous for being the birthplace of world famous inventors, scientists, explorers & composers.

 

Hungary is spectacular & affordable & a unique experience is just the beginning……. take the plunge now & Yep….the Magyars are waiting. A warm welcome awaits you & The Journeys is ready to take you on well, a journey (or journeys) of discovery.

We are in the process of updating our Offerings of experiential journeys to Hungary. Please contact us in the interim if you want to explore options & we will be happy to offer suggestions based on your personal preferences…

 

Come…be inspired & discover the World with us