A NOBLE UNDERTAKING – ARISTROCRACY TOUR

The economic crises, wars and destruction of the 20th century – not to mention the seizure of assets and forced exile – brought the Hungarian aristocracy to its knees. Since the regime change of 1990, many noble families chased from their homeland have either returned or maintained close ties to Hungary. In doing so, they have done much to support the country's development.

Contact Incentives travels with you to Lake Balaton to sample the wines of Count Hunyady and introduce Count Antal Almásy, a close relation to desert explorer Laszló Almásy of The English Patient. You will also be invited into the Castle of Fót for a cup of tea by Count and Countess Károly, who will be delighted to show you the fruits of renovation work that has been ongoing since 1995.

The chain bridge in Budapest

Day 1

BUDAPEST – TOKAJ

Arrival at Budapest Airport, transfer to Tokaj

Evening meal and overnight stay in a Tokaj Hotel

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The landscape of Tokaj

Day 2

TOKAJ: Sárospatak Castle, morning visit to a wine estate

Morning

Contact Incentives takes you to the Sárospatak Castle, seat of the Rákóczi family. The oldest part of the building is the Red Tower, birthplace of St. Elizabeth in 1207, while Franz I. Rákóczi, Prince of Transylvania, was born in 1645 in the renaissance wing of the castle, built in the Italian style.

Afternoon

Since the regime change, private estates, former aristocrats and international wine companies have resumed high-quality wine production in the Tokaj region. Contact Incentives takes you on a tour of the legendary wine estate of István Szepsy, voted among the top five winemakers in the world. Following a visit to the wine cellar and the obligatory wine tasting, you will move onto the aperitif and dessert variations on Szepsy's fabulous white wines.

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The fortress of Sarospatak

Day 3

TOKAJ – HORTOBÁGY PLAINS-KECSKEMÉT – BALATONFÜRED

Morning

Contact Incentives takes you on a tour of the Hortobágy Puszta, the largest continuous natural wetland plains in Europe. Alkaline heaths, meadows and small marshes typify the landscape, providing a habitat for 342 nesting birds, as well as the migratory birds that stop here in autumn. In addition to admiring the racka sheep with their corkscrew horns, the endangered species of grey cattle and, of course, hundreds of horses, tent-dwelling Hungarian cowboys (gulyás) will also be showing off their remarkable horsemanship and hosting you for brunch of soup and salami sandwiches.

Afternoon

You continue on to the famous Zwack Unicum distillery in Kecskemét, the capital of Hungary's fruit-growing region. Here, Contact Incentives shows you just why the Prince of Wales said in 1930 that “In soda it is better than whisky, in tea it is better than rum“. A tour of the old distillery built in the 20s will be followed by a chance to sample these delicious spirits made from all manner of local fruits.

The day culminates with an evening meal and overnight stay in Balatonfüred, the oldest health resort on Lake Balaton.

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Tihany in Hungary

Day 4

TIHANY – SOUTHERN BALATON Count József Hunyady – KESZTHELY

Morning

The beautiful Tihany Peninsular is the site of impressive villas belonging to authors, artists, politicians and other high society, as well as a Benedictine abbey founded by King Andrew I. His crypt, which survived the Turkish occupation of the middle ages, was the foundation stone for the Baroque Church on the site today. The perfectly situated building is home to the frescos of Lotz Károly, whose work also adorns the walls and ceilings of many buildings in Budapest.

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Széchenyi Castle in Hungary

Day 5

VESZPRÉM - HEREND – SOPRON Széchenyi Castle

Morning

We visit the beautiful old town of Veszprém with its Bishop's Palace before advancing to Hungary's capital of white gold. The Herend Factory has been producing luxury porcelain since 1839 and has grown into a brand of great renown, particularly in the US.

Afternoon

Following a coffee break at the Café Rege accompanied by a breathtaking lake view, the ferry will deposit you on the southern show of Lake Balaton. Here, you will be received on the hillsides of Somogy County by József Hunyady. The count, who hails from Switzerland but grew up in Italy, will introduce his outstanding wines in the homely environs of his estate.

The wine-tasting session will be followed by a brief stop at the Festetics Castle in Keszthely, before your return to Balatonfüred for dinner.

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Eszterházy Castle in Hungary

Day 6

ESZTERHÁZY CASTLE– BUDAPEST – City tour

Morning

Prince Nikolaus Eszterházy was reputed to have said “anything the Emporer can do, I can do too“. To prove his point, he had Architect Melchior Hefele build the magnificent rococo palace in Eszterháza in 1762, complete with its own opera house for the performance of compositions by court musician Joseph Haydn. Your visit to the Hungarian Versailles will be followed by the drive to Budapest.

Afternoon

The palaces lining both banks of the Danube and the historical Castle District on the plateau overlooking the river help make up the panorama that has earned Budapest its World Heritage status. Among  the highlights of the city tour is the trip along Andrassy út with its millennium subway line, glorious Heroes' Square and the outstanding architecture of the opera house and the Franz Liszt Music Academy.

This will be followed by a meeting with Count Antal Almásy. The Almásy family left Hungary in the aftermath of the uprising of 1956. Count Antal Almásy was born in Belgium and relocated to Hungary in 1996. One year later, “The English Patient“ won nine Oscars. The film tells the story of the famous desert researcher László Almásy, another direct descendent of the noble family. During your meeting with the count, you will no doubt hear some surprising anecdotes about the remarkable exploits and history of the Almásy family.
Evening meal and overnight stay in a Budapest hotel.

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The “Sisi“ Castle in Hungary

Day 7

FÓT, Károlyi Castle – GÖDÖLLŐ, “Sisi“ Castle – BUDAPEST Parliament and Synagogue, evening at the opera or a concert

Morning

The Károlyi Castle in Fót was built in the mid 19th century according to the plans of Miklós Ybl, but it was looted at the end of WW2. Count László Károlyi returned from exile in 1995 and has been working hard to raise the considerable capital necessary to renovate the castle.

Over a tea or coffee, you will learn all about the foundation the count and countess have set up to achieve their goal.After a short drive, we will arrive at Empress Sisi's favourite residence in Gödöllő, the world's largest remaining baroque castle after Versailles. The main building contains more than 20 faithfully reconstructed rooms, including the living quarters of the royal couple and the baroque theatre.

On your return to Budapest, you will take lunch at Heroes' Square, including an opportunity to dine at the famous Gundel Restaurant. 

Afternoon

Completed in 1896, the Hungarian Parliament was based on the Houses of Parliament in London. The dome room is approached via a breathtaking staircase and contains Hungary's Holy Crown and Royal Coat of Arms. The chambers are decorated with opulent frescos, sculptures and historic relics.
The tour of the parliament will be followed by a visit to the Great Synagogue in Dohány utca. The largest Jewish place of worship in Europe, it is second only to the Emanu-El Temple in New York in terms of its size. Beautifully restored in 1996, highlights of the unusual moorish building include an eight-metre Torah ark adorned with the star of David at its tip.

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The "Hősök tere" in Budapest

Day 8

Free time to explore Budapest as you wish

Transfer to the airport

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Kontakt

We are there for you:

Phone: 0036.30.2125651
Cecilia.Kollar (at) contacttours.hu
www.contact-incentives.hu

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