Levander festival in Tihany

Tihany’s serene, traditional streets, the white Baroque towers of the thousandyear old Tihany Abbey, and the legendary echo are the best-known attractions, but lake Balaton’s biggest peninsula has much more to offer.

Try the Hungarian cuisine in one of the praised restaurants, visit the caves used as Monk-homes, enjoy the panorama over the Balaton, hang out with the fishermen or bird-watch near the Inner or Outer lake. However, if you happen to be around during the Levander festival, you are in luck!

Every year during the levander bloom, a festival is held on Tihany peninsula. During this time eveything revolves around the caracteristic-smelling, purple-coloured herb.

The promenade leading to the abbey and overlooking lake Balaton is dotted with tiny tents of the artisan vendors. You may buy sweets, cosmetics, drinks, ice-cream including levander, or pictures, souvenirs, clothing or bags with levander images. The main point is: If it can contain levander it will, but if it can’t, it will have the image of it. 😉

One of the most popular features of the festival is the “Pick Yourself!” programme held approximately 2 kilometers away from the center of Tihany town on a spectacular, spacious levander field. If you would like to bring some bouquets home, you can buy them, but it’s even better to collect it for yourself in the Pick Yourself field (“Szedd magad!” in Hungarian). Here, you are given a pair of scissors (secateurs) and given a short intoduction and you are good to go exploring.

The aromatic field is also a popular photo spot, one of the best istagrammable places around! So even if you don’t feel like labouring, you can definitely shoot some beautiful photos.

And do not forget: Even if you enjoy it immensely, you are not allowed to collect the herbs outside the enclosed field. 😉