Just as Hungary is rich in rivers, it is also home to several notable lakes. One of the most important is Lake Balaton, also known in earlier times as the Balaton Lake or Pelso. This great lake stretches over a long distance between Veszprém and the River Drava. Along its shores stand several strong forts, which show its strategic value in history.
Lake Balaton once served as a natural barrier against invasion. It stopped the cruelty and destruction of Sultan Suleiman’s soldiers, who had devastated the land from Buda up to the lake itself. Beyond this point, their advance was checked. This shows how natural features often played a key role in protecting the country Roman Power Over the Danube.
Lake Neusiedl and Its Surroundings
Since Lake Balaton lies east of the River Leitha, we may also include the Neusiedler Lake, often called the Neusiedler Sea. This is a pleasant lake, about seven German miles long and three miles wide. It takes its name from Neusiedl, a small town with a single main street, a few houses behind it, and a small square castle on a nearby hill.
From this hill, I enjoyed a wide and clear view of the entire lake. During the uprisings led by Bocskai, fourteen villages around this lake were burned by Turks, Tartars, and rebellious Hajduks. The Hungarians call this lake Fertő, while Pliny referred to it as Peiso. It lies halfway between Vienna and Sabaria, the birthplace of Saint Martin.
Vast Plains of Hungary
Hungary is also famous for its wide and open plains. While many countries have large flat lands, few can compare to those of Hungary. Some plains elsewhere in the world are longer, such as the vast plains of South America, which stretch for thousands of miles. It has been reported by experienced sailors that the land from the River Plate to the middle of the Strait of Magellan is mostly low and flat Private Sofia Tour.
Muscovy and Poland also contain large plains, but many of these are covered with forests and thick trees. In contrast, the plains of Hungary are open, clear, and unobstructed. The largest plains in England, such as Salisbury Plain, Lincolnshire, and Newmarket, appear small when compared to those of Hungary.
Long Journeys Across Flat Land
Even the plains of Austria, which extend from Vienna to Mount Semmering near the border of Styria, are shorter than those of Hungary. Although Upper Hungary is hilly and rich in forests, the lower regions contain vast open plains.
I personally traveled from Vienna to Belgrade, a distance of about four hundred miles, almost entirely across flat land. The plains were continuous and uninterrupted, often resembling the sea, with no visible hills or elevations. Only a few small woods appeared along the way, such as near Bačka and Šilberg beyond Dotiš.
If we consider the full length of this plain, it stretches from Mount Kahlenberg, about two German miles west of Vienna, beyond Belgrade, and further along the northern side of the Danube to the borders of Wallachia. This distance is even greater than the famous long road from Agra to Lahore in India.
Travel Across the Hungarian Plains
The flat nature of the land allows for easy and comfortable travel. Open chariots are commonly used, large enough to carry one or two passengers along with a driver. These chariots are usually drawn by two or three horses, sometimes four, placed side by side. There is enough space inside to lie down during long journeys.
I traveled in this manner from Buda to Belgrade, crossing wide and beautiful plains. Much of the route passed over green grasslands and paths that showed little wear. This was especially noticeable in the county of Sirmium, now called Srem. The smooth land and open space made travel both pleasant and efficient.
Hungary’s lakes and plains are among its greatest natural features. They shaped the country’s history, protected it from invasion, and made travel easier than in many other parts of Europe. Together, they show the unique character and natural strength of the land.
