Fenékpusztai Estate
The Fenékpusztai Estate is an experience and cultural centre established on the site of a historically significant 19th-century Festetics stud farm, located just 6 km from Keszthely. The estate was purchased by the Festetics family in 1739 and soon became one of the region's prominent centres for Hungarian horse breeding and equestrian sports. The estate played a key role in the development of domestic racehorse breeding, and the horses bred here gained international fame during the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.
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The estate buildings — the small manor house, stables, Calf and Herd Stables — were built at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, and the estate operated as an agricultural unit for several decades. Horse breeding continued until 1938, after which industrial and agricultural functions (e.g., a hemp factory, cooperative farm) followed one another, leading to the site being neglected for a long time.
The current exhibition site opened at the end of 2023. As a result, interactive exhibitions, event spaces, and community venues have been made available to visitors, where they can relive the history of the Festetics family and horse breeding, as well as the site's former economic, social, and sporting life in an authentic setting.
On the ground floor of the small manor house, a permanent exhibition showcases the relationship between the Festetics family and horse breeding, while the upper floor features the "Count's Room," displaying portraits of several generations of the family. The Calf and Herd Stables house interactive exhibitions and museum spaces where the history of horse racing and the stud farm's past come to life. Additionally, the complex includes multifunctional community spaces, cultural programmes, events, equestrian camp facilities, and a café, offering a rich experience for families, school groups, and individual visitors alike.
The History of the Estate
The site of the estate was once a base for the Spanish Riding School of the Viennese court. The Festetics family purchased the area in 1739 with the aim of establishing a stud farm of European renown. The estate's golden age was at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, during the time of Count Tasziló II Festetics: the stables and servant quarters were built during this period, and by 1820, the small manor house, which still stands today, was completed. In 1894, the Pine Avenue was created, allowing the Festetics family to travel directly by carriage from the Keszthely castle to the small manor house in Fenékpuszta. Horse breeding continued on the estate until 1938, after which industrial and agricultural functions alternated, including a flax factory, a hemp factory, and later a cooperative farm.
The Festetics Route – Historic Estates and Cultural Attractions in the Keszthely Area
The Fenékpusztai Estate is one of the key stops on the Festetics Route, a cultural-tourism network that connects the Festetics family's Transdanubian estates and heritage sites into a unified narrative. At the heart of the route is the Keszthely castle and its associated economic, educational, and recreational sites, showcasing the complex estate system where aristocratic representation, modern farming, and knowledge-based development were closely intertwined. Within this system, the Fenékpusztai Estate stands out as a key location for practical economic activities and horse breeding, complementing the aristocratic world of the castles in a vivid way. The Festetics Route thus links not isolated attractions but a historically authentic, spatially navigable heritage network, offering visitors a comprehensive view of the family's multi-generational cultural, economic, and societal impact.
Sustainable Visits to the Fenékpusztai Estate – Responsible Travel in the Western Balaton Region
Visiting the Fenékpusztai Estate aligns well with the sustainable tourism approach of the Lake Balaton region. The site is easily accessible by bicycle via the BalatonBike365 network, which offers well-signposted and safe routes around the lake, making cycling both an environmentally friendly and enjoyable way to arrive.
If you do arrive by car, it is worth combining a visit to the estate with nearby attractions in a single programme to reduce travel and your ecological footprint. It pairs well with the Kis-Balaton Visitor Centre, as well as the museums, exhibition spaces, and historic districts of Keszthely. On-site water bottle refilling is available, and the visitor experience promotes conscious resource use and encourages responsible, "slower" exploration.
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Sustainability status report
The values shown here come from I-DEST's internal self-assessment system, which shows the progress of a service provider or location in various areas of sustainability. These are not rating scores, but rather informative feedback to support improvement.
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