📆 Day 1 | 11 August

📍Route: Balatonberény →  Sármellék → Kányavár sziget → Buffalo reservation → Balatonberény 

🚴‍♀️ Distance cycled: 60,6 km

🏰 Places visited: Kis-Balaton Lake, Sármellék, Kányavári Island

Let the 15 day biketour begin! 

Today marked the beginning our 15 day adventure around the lake Balaton and also of our two-day expedition around Kis-Balaton Lake, a place immortalized in Fekete István’s beloved novel Tüskevár (Thorn Castle). The story follows a 14-year-old boy who spends a transformative summer here, discovering the mysteries of nature, friendship, and adventure. Generations of Hungarians have grown up with both the novel and its famous film adaptation, and now, here we are—pedaling through the same landscapes that inspired them. 

Our journey began in Balatonberény, under a bright summer sky. We set off toward Sármellék, the morning air fresh with the scent of lake reeds and wildflowers. The route wound gently toward Kányavári Island, a jewel in the middle of the lake, where we paused to explore the protected nature reserve. The island’s wooden walkway led us into a realm of herons, dragonflies, and whispering reed beds—it felt like stepping straight into the pages of István’s book. 

From Kányavár, we continued cycling to the buffalo reservation area, an unexpected and powerful sight. The great, dark-eyed animals stood quietly in the marshland, reminders of a slower rhythm of life. The path back to Balatonberény closed our 60 km loop, legs pleasantly tired, hearts light with the day’s discoveries. And we still had time in the evening for a quick spash in the watem lake. 

For the next three days, Balatonberény will be our base as we continue tracing the footsteps of Thorn Castle. Just like the boy in the novel, we’re ready to let this place teach us its quiet secrets.