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Somogy County, with its area of 6,065 square kilometres,

is the largest county in Transdanubia. The literature deal-
ing with the Hungarian folk landscape history also calls
this hilly region, stretching from Lake Balaton to Drava
River, Somogyország (Somogyland) and Somogyság.
Somogy is bordered by Lake Balaton to the north, and
this area is called Outer Somogy. Inner Somogy is located
south of the town of Kaposvár, the Zselic Hills and our
southern region, Drávamente, stretch from the Kapos
River to the Drava River. The architectural traditions of

these four parts are also different, just like their landscapes

and environmental features. In Somogy, we can fi nd na-
ture conservation areas of national importance, such as
Kis-Balaton, the Zselic Landscape Conservation Area, the
Lake Baláta nature conservation area, the ancient juniper
grove of Barcs, and the daffodil meadow of Babócsa.

Our forests rich in wildlife, our excellent wines, our spas
famous far and wide – Barcs, Csokonyavisonta, Csurgó,
Igal, Nagyatád, Kaposvár, Csisztapuszta –, our cultural and
gastronomic traditions are great treasures of our nation.
From the Drava River to Lake Balaton, it is impossible to
count the values that Nature has given to Somogy County,
or the cultural achievements or architectural heritage that

some creator or artist has left for posterity as a lasting mark
Somogy, and legacy. The towns and villages were established in the

former wilderness – which covered the entire county – by
the county deforestation or along the banks of the rivers and streams.
Kaposvár is the only “city” of the county, the other places
are developing small towns: Barcs along the Drava River,
the size of Kadarkút, Csurgó and Nagyatád in Inner Somogy. Mar-
cali, Fonyód, Lengyeltóti, Balatonboglár, Balatonlelle,
Balatonföldvár, Zamárdi, Siófok, Igal and Tab in the Out-
a country er-Somogy region. The proportion of tiny villages is very

significant in the county. Anyone who visits any region,

town or village of Somogy County once will experience
the peace of the villages and towns, and meet hospitable
people, and will most likely wish to return here again and
again.

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