Travel Guide Siófok

The Romans settled in Siófok already in the th Century BC. From the middle of the th century, during the Ottoman reign, Siófok became a Turkish military port protected by a fortress built on Granadium Hill. The small town, victim, during this period, of many battles, ended up completely devastated and dépeuplée. The repeuplement again from 1717. In the th century, before the blotting paper was invented, the fine sand of Siófok was used as a powder to dry ink. Many young girls and women in the region were engaged in the collection of sand. The community began to develop in the th century. Beginning in 1810, Diligence Transylvania-Adria passed through Siófok. In 1863, the construction of the station was completed. The following year, the port, protected by two piers, was opened. Siófok as a seaside resort was born. In 1878, there was a bathing facility called Magyar Tenger (Hungarian Sea) on the plans of Swiss company Neuschlass, followed by other establishments. A hippodrome, opened in 1900 and seating up to 1 500 people, also served as an arrival gallery for the traditional crossing of the Balaton. Annual tennis and swimming competitions were the highlights of many summer activities. Siófok quickly became very popular in the intellectual, artistic and easy environments of Budapest. At the end of the Second World War, the station was severely damaged, with the front line remaining for two months. In 1948, with the beginning of the Communist era, Siófok took a new direction and became a holiday resort organized by the communities. The hotels were rebuilt in socialist style. It was only in 1958, following the development of tourism promotion, that foreign visitors reappeared. In 1960, the «Hotel des Journalistes Internationale» was inaugurated, a jewel of the «silver coast», followed by the construction of new hotels, complemented by all the services necessary for the animation of a modern seaside resort.