Újudvar between Johannite history and the Csibiti Valley

Újudvar offers several distinct points of interest: the history of the Order of St. John, historic crosses, the 206-metre-high television tower and the landscape around Lake Csibiti. This means the focus is not on just one theme. You can get to know the town through its architectural and local history, or focus on the connection between the valley, springs and reservoir. If you are planning a holiday that goes beyond Újudvar, you can also explore the different themes of the wider destination of Zala.

The history of the Order of St. John and buildings in Újudvar

The Order of St. John built a monastery and a parish church in Újudvar. The monastery is first documented in a deed from 1236. This date gives the monastery a precise historical reference, while the parish church adds to the architectural context. The Amerikás kereszt is made entirely of sandstone; the Göncz kereszt was erected in the early 19th century. Each of these two crosses has a different feature of interest: the material of the Amerikás kereszt and the date of the Göncz kereszt. Comparing them offers a way to explore local history through specific historical traces. Újudvar’s television tower is 206 metres high. A monastery documented in a deed, two crosses with their own distinctive features and a tall tower thus represent different architectural points of interest.

Lake Csibiti and the valley

Lake Csibiti is an artificial reservoir in the Csibiti Valley, fed by the surrounding springs. Three aspects come together here: the man-made lake, the springs that feed it and the valley as a landscape. Visitors interested in the landscape and how it was formed can focus on this combination. It sets Lake Csibiti apart from Újudvar’s monastery and cross-related points of interest. The lake is therefore a separate focus for planning a trip, alongside the town’s history and its 206-metre-high television tower.

Other points of interest in the wider destination of Zala

In the wider destination of Zala, the Zalai Borvidék (Zala wine region) offers a regional and landscape-related connection to viticulture. It developed on the slopes and uplands of the Zalai-dombság and on the northwestern slopes of the Keszthelyi-hegység. The wine region comprises two wine-growing districts and 38 settlements. These figures give a sense of its regional scale. The Kotsy-vízimalom in Zalaszántó offers a different cultural highlight: visitors can see a working 390 cm overshot waterwheel mechanism there. The range of themes across the wider destination of Zala thus extends from wine country to functioning historic mill technology.

Nature and literature are also part of Zala’s appeal. Kis-Balaton is the largest body of water in the wider destination, is strictly protected and covers 14,745 hectares. It is also the setting for István Fekete’s classic novels Tüskevár and Téli berek. The water buffalo festival takes place every year in May or June at the Kápolnapuszta Bivalyrezervátum; the exact dates may vary from year to year. During opening hours, visitors to the reserve can pet tame animals every day. The grounds can also be explored along a 1.5-kilometre walking trail with rest areas and viewpoints. If you are planning to attend the festival, check the dates for the relevant year.

Choose the focus of your holiday apartment search

When looking for a holiday apartment, you can first decide what you want your trip to focus on: Újudvar’s history of the Order of St. John, its crosses and landscape, or a wider range of themes across the destination of Zala. The local points of interest and regional examples offer different highlights, from architectural history and a reservoir to wine country, a protected area and animal encounters. This distinction can help you tailor your search to your holiday interests.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Pölöskefő, Sormás, Nagykanizsa, Nagybakónak, Nagyrécse and Magyarszerdahely.

Back to the wider travel overview: Nagykanizsai.