Thanks to its geographical location in the heart of Europe and the middle of the Carpathian basin, Hungary is the most pristine Central European country.

With an area of 93,000 sqkm Hungary has the advantage of being a small country, which has a diversified landscape and is very rich in natural resources.

In the country`s nine different nature reservations hills with dense forests can be found. On the neverending plains horses are breeded, while lakes and moorlands alternate in the hilly landscape. One of the bigger lakes is the Balaton, the largest lake with sweet water in Central Europe. Its pleasant water and beaches attract tourists from all over Europe. Due to the fact that North and South meet here, the flora and fauna of Hungary is very diversified, especially in the Hortobágyi National Park or in Gemence.

Hungary is the country of thermal waters: up until today, 1,300 curative springs have been discovered. Isn`t Budapest always being called the capital of thermal waters? The luxurious baths built under Turkish seizure still exist, but you can as well enjoy the bathing and pleasure of other qualitative treatments in one of the modern spas designed to meet all your expectations.

Its capital, BUDAPEST, was founded in 1873, when the 3 towns BUDA, PEST, and ÓBUDA were united. Budapest, the "pearl of the Danube", lies on the two banks of the legendary river which takes its source in Germany and does 2800 km before it flows into the Black Sea.

After the conciliation in 1867, after having been oppressed by the Austrians for 2 centuries, Hungary finally was acknowledged equal on Austria`s side and could reign within the Austrian-Hungarian Monarchy. Besides being one of the defeated powers, Hungary had to suffer from the fact that it had been an ally of Austria and Germany in 1914: it lost at least 1 million inhabitants (area of Austria and Hungary together) and two thirds of its territory. Above all, the loss of Transylvania had the most harrowing effect (peace treaty in Trianon, June 4, 1920). After World War II the country became part of the Soviet Block, out of which it could break out only after 1989, at the same time when the German Wall came down.

Since 1990 Hungary is a parliamentary democracy, which keeps to the laws of the common market. After having joined the NATO in 1998, Hungary is preparing to join the European Union.

Differing from any other country, Hungary, the home of the "magyar", is a pristine spot on Europe`s color palette (Europe`s map).

It is a country always open to all external influences, regardless if they are from the East or the West, which is able to unite the traditions as well as the cultural streams of the nationalities living on its territory. All this shows in its architectural heritage, -- the variegation of the diverse styles, which still does not miss its uniqueness, -- as well as in its gastronomy and folk traditions, which are being kept alive up to today.

Music plays an important role in the life of Hungarians: it is omnipresent, on the streets, in cafes, and in restaurants alike.