Tihany-The echo and the archabbey
The Tihany peninsula is unique in several apects, not just in Hungary, but also in Europe. Its special geographical position, the uniqueness of its formation, the appearance of today's scenery, the geological and historical relics along with its rare plants and wildlife all enhance its status as one of our most beautiful and most valued treasures. Natural historians and nature preservationists have been familliar with the treasures of the Tihany peninsula for a long time. The first nature preservation area in Hungary was developed here in 1952.
The Landscape Protection Area of Tihany later expanded to the north and in 1997 became part of the then forming Balaton-Highland National Park. Its natural treasures were Europe-wide acknowledged by 2003 when the Council of Europe awarded the peninsula with the European Diploma of nature reserves. The rewarded reserves are revised every five years; previous winners were the Szénás Hills Highly Protected Area and the Fossil Remnants of Ipolytarnóc Landscape Protection Area – the list of other European prize winners contains equally prestigious areas. Acting as warden for the area is the Directorate of the Balaton-Highland National Park (Balatoni Nemzeti Park Igazgatóság ). The objective is twofold: to show and to protect. The contradiction can be resolved, the solution is with You. Please follow the restrictions described in this publication!
The baroque church, built under supervision of abbot Ágoston Lécs, is 46m long, 16m wide and has two towers of 34.5m height which puts it among the medium-sized churches of Hungary. Its interior decoration was constructed by wood-carver and cabinet-maker Sebastion Stulhoff between 1754 and 1779.
Tihany is famous for the echo, existing since the 18th century. There were poems written for this echo, like by Mihály Csokonai Vitéz and Mihály Vörösmarty, but the most famous is by János Garay, summing up the legend of the place. The echo has since abated, due to changes in the landscape. The other part of the legend concerns with the "goats' nails", washed ashore from Balaton, which are in fact corners of prehistoric clams. According to the story, there was a princess with golden-haired goats, but she was too proud and hard of heart and was punished (cursed by the king of the lake): her goats were lost in Balaton, only their nails remained, and she was obliged to answer to every passers-by. A stone, remembering the Shouting Girl, is still to be seen near the village.
