Lake Balaton

Lake Balaton is Central Europe's largest lake at 598 square kilometres, a shallow freshwater body in western Hungary whose southern shore is lined with sandy beaches and resort towns stretching for 70 kilometres. The northern shore presents a contrasting character of volcanic basalt hills, terraced vineyards, and fishing villages with Calvinist church towers reflected in the lake. Tihany Peninsula, jutting from the northern shore with its twin-towered Benedictine abbey, is the most photographed profile on the lake.