2018. December 13., Luca, Otília
Introduction of the Partners
Somogy County is situated in the south-western part of Hungary; it is bordered by Lake Balaton in the north, and by Croatia along the Dráva River in the south.
The county is frequently called “Somogy Country”, for its area of 6036 km2 represents the fifth largest county in Hungary, counting 322 000 inhabitants.
Due to its settlement structure consisting of small villages, it is one of the most scarcely inhabited counties; the population density takes 53 persons/km2. The county has got 245 settlements, among them 16 towns. The county’s administrative, political, economical, cultural and educational centre is Kaposvár, the county seat and town with county rights, counting 70 000 inhabitants.
Regarding its countryside and natural beauties, Somogy County is one of the most varied regions of Hungary. The most precious natural values of the region include the pleasant climate, the subtle sunshine and clear air, the soft hills dissected by manifold valleys, the spacious plains, the world of forests, the wide array of thermal waters and Lake Balaton.
The county is covered by a forest counting nearly 600 000 ha, which provides favourable conditions for the diverse habitats. The coherent forests accommodate red deer of excellent quality, while the trophy of a fallow deer, roe or wild-boar of Somogy County can also become the pride of a Hungarian or foreign hunter. The county’s famous, forest-related hunting areas are the following: Lábod and vicinity, the forests of Inner/Belső–Somogy, Somogyszob – Kaszó, the hills near Tab – Gamás – Koppányvölgye in Outer/Külső – Somogy, the neighbourhood of Marcali, as well as the Zselic and Nagyberek.
Hungay’s most untouched river, the Dráva represents the southern border of the county. The guided visitors encounter fabulous vegetation in the valley along the European curiosity, i.e. the hardly regulated stream, being part of the Danube-Dráva National Park. The Danube-Dráva National Park supervises the Dráva Basin, two nature reserve sections scattered around the county (Zselic, Boronka-mellék), and further 8 nature reserve areas. The accessibility of these territories and several other, locally protected natural values is promoted by tourist and bicycle trails.
This region is less rich in architectural values. This is due to the fact that this area has always been in need of rock as being a permanent building material, and most of the medieval churches, monasteries and castles were destroyed during the Turkish occupancy. The most famous medieval monuments include the Benedictine Abbey in Somogyvár, and the ruins of the Benedictine Abbey of Kaposszentjakab, founded in 1061, on the Saint Jacob Hill near Kaposvár. The Hungarians converted to Christianity built simple, but splendidly proportioned chapels that vanished through history nearly without traces, though some Romanesque and Gothic style churches – Kőröshegy, Teleki, Szenyér, Buzsák – still preserve the architectural characteristics of the XI-XV. centuries.
Thanks to the settled down ethnic groups, Somogy county preserves many traditions and rich folk art.
On illustrious feasts and events, the embroidered, elaborately sewn many-skirted garments and the richly decorated headdresses turn up in Szenna, where traditions and values of the peasant culture are almost best preserved, and also in the settlements along Koppány stream and Kapos Valley, in Buzsák, or in the Croatians-inhabited Lakócsa and its vicinity, along the Dráva river.
Contacts
Name: Kovácsné Kiss Zita
E-mail: zitagida@gmail.com
Phone: 00 36 20 9318 087