A cottage with a view
“...Beauty, liberty, trust, joy, truth, love... he is saying his creed (...) he is declaring the eternal YES...”
(A Room with a Wiew, 1985.)
A place to stay in Zalaszántó
Our house, situated in the midst of orchards, vineyards, and meadows, offers a quiet place to withdraw, where one does not have to forgo modern and refined comfort.
The landscape reveals a different face in every season, and the house is available for booking year-round. For those who simply seek tranquility, there is no need to leave; the sun circles the building, allowing one to endlessly admire the beauty of the surroundings and the view.
The 40 m² house feels spacious due to its interconnected spaces; from the entrance hall, there is access to the large bathroom on one side and the living-dining area, which leads to the bedroom, on the other.
The terraces on the east and west sides allow you to enjoy your coffee in the shade (or in the sun) at any time.
The house can be approached from Zalaszántó via Faképi Road to the Szent Donát Chapel, and from there, a well-traveled dirt road.
Within walking distance, there are numerous natural beauties and cultural attractions, while the number of hiking opportunities multiplies if you go by car.
Look around inside!
Equipment
- House
- The 40 m² house consists of a living room-kitchen area, a bedroom, and a bathroom, complemented by two terraces.
- The house can be used year-round, with heating provided by infrared panels, air conditioning, a wood stove, and underfloor heating in the bathroom.
- Internet access is available via Wi-Fi.
- Bedroom
- 160 x 200 cm bed
- Air conditioning
- Reading corner with armchairs
- Books, maps, and everything needed for exploring the area
- Kitchen
- Electric stove with oven and extractor hood
- Toaster, kettle, food processor, blender
- Senseo pod coffee maker
- Coffee, tea, salt, sugar, oil
- Pots, pans, glasses
- Microwave
- Bathroom
- Bathtub and shower cabin
- Underfloor heating
- Towel dryer
- Hairdryer
- Organic shower gel, hand soap, and soap
- Towels
- Outdoor
- Two terraces
- Pallet sun lounger (for stargazing at night)
- Deck chairs, hammock
- Other
- Binoculars
- Flashlight
- Umbrella
- Drying rack
Permaculture Garden
Just a few steps from the house, the LiSa-Hegy permaculture farm operates on nearly one hectare of land. We can provide our guests with fresh breakfast and dinner from here, and there is also the possibility to visit the farm.
Permaculture gardening imitates ecological, natural processes in the garden, with ecological garden design as its foundation.
The diversity of plant species in the garden greatly enhances soil health and fertility, as well as the growth of individual plant species.
A common prejudice against permaculture gardens is that they seem somewhat untidy and wild, which may arise from the frequent use of polyculture, many perennial plants, and self-seeding plants. These practices offer numerous benefits and simplify the work.
Whether a garden appears orderly or untidy is not inherently related to permaculture. Permaculture gardens have a more natural appearance.
Such a garden is characterized by global thinking.
In permaculture, the aim is to solve things using locally or nearby produced materials. It is much more about DIY and, above all, short transport routes, with the awareness that long transport routes have harmful, environmentally damaging effects.
Visit to the Permaculture Farm Lili Magyar: +36 70 397 2656
Our Delicacies
- Breakfast / Dinner for 2 People
A basket prepared for the requested time to the house contains:
- Freshly baked homemade bread or rolls from the Várvölgyi Bakery
- 1 jar of jam from the LiSa-Hegy selection
- Fresh seasonal vegetables from the permaculture garden
- 6 eggs from the farm’s chickens
- Meat products from Farm 54 in Várvölgy
- Cheese from Gyürkice Farm in Zalavár
Price: 8,000 HUF for 2 people per day
- Vegetable Basket
Every week, LiSa-Hegy delivers a vegetable basket to its customers, a selection of fresh, seasonal vegetables and fruits from the garden.
Our guests can also order this at the following phone number:
Lili Magyar: +36 70 397 2656
Our Prices and Booking
Booking information
- The rental fee for the house:
Weekend (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday): 44,000 HUF/night
Weekdays (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday): 35,000 HUF/night
Tourist tax: 300 HUF/person/night for those over 18 years old
- Our prices are in forints, per night, and apply to the entire house for two adults.
- Prices include VAT
- Bookings are possible for a minimum of 2 nights.
- For 1-night bookings, a surcharge of HUF 12,000 is payable from April 1 to September 30, and HUF 16,000 from October 1 to March 31.
Booking Conditions
- The booking becomes final upon payment of the full accommodation fee
- After confirmation of the booking, you have 72 hours to pay the full accommodation fee + tourist tax by bank transfer; otherwise, the booking will be canceled!
- By making a booking, the guest accepts the General Terms and Conditions and House Rules.
- Booking is possible via email at koczi19@gmail.com.
Please send the necessary booking information to koczi19@gmail.com, including: full name, address (postal code, city, street, and house number), phone number, arrival and departure dates.
Bank Transfer Information
- Name: Ágnes Koczor
- Account Number: 11773377-06803320
In the reference field, please include the guest’s name and the arrival and departure dates.
Cancellation Policy
- The booking can be canceled free of charge by email up to 10 days before arrival.
- For cancellations via email 9-4 days before arrival, 50% of the booking value is payable.
- For cancellations in writing within 3 days before arrival, 100% of the booking value is payable.
Availability Check
Check available dates!
We look forward to your booking!
Our Story
In Zala, they say:
“We have a hill.”
That means above the village, on the hill, there is a small vineyard or orchard with a little house where the family goes from the village.
Our daughter is a horticultural engineer; she searched for the right place for their permaculture farming, which was her childhood dream. When she found Derékhegy in Zalaszántó, we saw the breathtaking view… 
And that’s how it became “our hill,” Grandma and Grandpa’s house, as our granddaughter says, a house with an endless view.
Come and make it “your hill” for a few days, feel the scents, listen to the sounds of the hill, the rustling of animals, while the starry sky without light pollution covers you…
Long ago, more people lived on the hill than in the former village.
The forest has reclaimed the abandoned vineyards, orchards, and vegetable gardens, while the ruins of scattered small houses, cellars, and former stone houses tell stories of another life. Life is slower here, silence is greater, the air is more fragrant, and the sky is more starry. We hope it remains like this for a long time…
Here, you can still do NOTHING, but if one happens to tire of that, all they need to do is lace up their boots and set off in any direction they please…
Hikes, Adventures, Cities…
The immediate surroundings - a walk from the house
In the bedroom, on the wall, you can admire a picture of the largest and oldest tree in the area, whose trunk perhaps four adults could wrap their arms around. It’s a beautiful sight in every season. You’ll find it along the path leading towards the Stupa, at the edge of the forest.
You can see it from the window facing east. In the early 19th century, the vineyard hill began to be populated, and with the help of the inhabitants of this scattered settlement, through public donations, the chapel was built in 1914 as a vow made after a severe hailstorm. According to tradition in Zalaszántó, the first mass of the vineyard hill was held on April 24th, Saint George’s Day, or the nearest Sunday to it, during the blessing of the wheat. In the past, this occasion also saw the election of hill judges, deputy hill judges, jurors, and hill pastors. On August 7th, Saint Donát’s Day, or the nearest Sunday to it, the feast day mass of the patron saint is held.
In the past, Jewish cemeteries could not be located within the village boundaries. From the window facing south, you can spot a square clearing in the middle of the fields, with a white gate in front of it. It’s worth taking a leisurely walk there.
Of course, everyone thinks of the Stupa first, and that’s perfectly fine… but now you have the opportunity to make the journey to this special place either at twilight or at sunrise. It’s about a 20-25 minute walk from the house. You can be tourists, curious travelers, or open-hearted wanderers; this place offers something to everyone.
The Stupa of Zalaszántó is one of the largest stupas in Europe and chronologically the sixth Buddhist memorial site in Hungary. The sanctuary was erected in the middle of a forest clearing on Kovácsi Hill near Zalaszántó in 1992. The Stupa was consecrated by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama during his visit to Hungary.
Further Hikes, Still on Foot
The first significant attraction in the area is the rocky lookout point of Holló-kő in Zala, offering an amazing panorama of Rezi Castle rising opposite.
“At the edge of the marsh stands a decrepit, ancient old willow tree with a drooping branch, defiantly standing the test of time. Hunters call it the ‘Reaching-to-the-Sky’ or the ‘Thousand-Year-Old Tree.’ In 2019, its trunk circumference measured 10 meters and 35 centimeters. At its base, there’s a hollow large enough that, entering through its largest entrance and standing closely side by side, 7-8 adults could fit inside. (…) Although I haven’t heard the name ‘banyafa’ for this tree, it seems fitting because of the large cavity that also has an upper exit where, at dusk, barn owls or eagle owls transformed into ‘banya’ (crone) creatures can fly in and out. The old tree was nominated for the ‘Tree of the Year’ competition in 2019, where it made it to the prestigious top 16…” (Source: Szádeczky-Kardoss Géza: The Secret of Wild Girls and Fairies in the Balaton Uplands, 2021)
It’s no coincidence they call this place the wonder of Zala… a magical excursion with surprises, stunning beauty, and ancient legends…
Zala County’s wonder, the basalt streets of Kovácsi Hill » KirándulásTippek (kirandulastippek.hu)
The chapel designed by György Vadász was built at the request of István Szilágyi. The view is inspiring, encompassing a forest quarry, the stupa, the ruins of Rezi Castle, and countless hills in a single glance. Yet, we are still in a specific place, amidst meadows, abandoned and still cultivated vineyards, in the outskirts of Sénye. Next to the chapel stands one of Hungary’s largest flags, which is visible from the terrace of our house with the naked eye. The Kemence Chapel can also be reached by car, from Sénye via the mountain road starting at the church.
Attractions of Zalaszántó
If you take a leisurely stroll through the village, you won’t be bored, as the charming settlement offers a wide range of sights to see…
Nearby Castles
The ruins of Rezi Castle and Tátika Castle can be reached with a full-day round trip hike from the house. Visiting Sümeg and Szigliget requires a car ride, but both are worth a short drive as they have been renovated with great exhibitions showcasing their history, not to mention their unparalleled views…
The outstanding tourist attraction of Rezi is the castle built in the 1300s of whose remains are located a few kilometers northeast of the village on the 418-meter-high dolomite promontory of Meleghegy, rising above the Szántó Basin. From the mountain, you can see the castles of Tátika and Sümeg, as well as Szent György Hill, Gulács, and Badacsony.
The Tátika Castle is a medieval ruin located near Zalaszántó, on one of the 413-meter-high basalt peaks of the Keszthely Plateau. It is likely one of the earliest private castles built in Hungary. Its name may have come from an owner named Tádenka or Tadeuka, who bought the property of the village of Szántó from János of the Kaplony clan and built his castle before the Mongol invasion. However, this castle is not the same as the ruins we see today. Thus, Tátika could be one of the oldest castles in the Balaton region.
The Sümeg Castle is one of the most beautiful medieval fortresses in the country. Defying the vicissitudes of history, it still presents an impressive sight, dominating its surroundings from atop the hill.
The castle of Szigliget, known as the “castle of the Balaton,” has a history spanning 750 years. It is one of the few castles in Hungary that never wore the Ottoman insignia during the Turkish era. Its valiant soldiers maintained its independence for 150 years. It was only destroyed by Habsburg hatred, which blew up its walls. The castle today offers numerous exhibitions, concerts, and a stunning view.
Spas, Towns
The Hévíz Thermal Lake is the emblematic spa of the country.
The peat-bottomed thermal lake is unique worldwide. It’s a truly exceptional natural formation; its sources replenish the lake with 38,000 liters of water daily, completely refreshing its entire water volume twice a week. While visiting, the Árpád-era church in Egregy and the Roman villa are must-see attractions, too.
The Kehida Thermal Spa and Adventure Bath features 2,400 m² of water surface, Mediterranean-style indoor spaces, 13 pools, a 94-meter giant slide, outdoor kamikaze slides, outdoor hot and medicinal pools at temperatures of 34-36 °C, a whirlpool island, a lazy river, and a children’s paddling pool – an excellent program for relaxation and fun.
Keszthely is simply the capital of Lake Balaton. It offers enough to see and do for a week, but our favorites include Libás Beach, the Georgikon Manor Historical Museum, the Palm House and outdoor aquarium of Festetics Palace, the House of Stoves, Helikon Park, the Roman ruins of Fenékpuszta, and of course, the Tulipán pastry shop.
Giant goldfish in the Malom Lake, water lilies, rowing in the Tavasbarlang cave, the statue of Little Princess, lunch on the floating pier on the lake – this is Tapolca for us.
Important information
Our house is most comfortable for 2 people, spending their retreat and time together in harmony. If necessary, an additional bed can be set up on the sofa in the living area.
The keys to the house are kept in a key safe, and we will send you the unique code via email on the day of your arrival.
Check-in: Anytime after 2:00 PM.
Check-out: By 10:00 AM.
Of course, if desired, we are happy to meet with our guests both at check-in and check-out.
Unfortunately, pets are not allowed in our house. We kindly ask for your understanding and acceptance of this policy.
Smoking is strictly prohibited inside the house.
Our kitchen is well-equipped, but if you don’t feel like cooking, we heartily recommend the Turul Restaurant in the village. Our more distant favorites are the Szt. Domonkos Restaurant in Várvölgy and the Gyöngyösi Csárda on the road to Hévíz. (Be sure to check out the mini exhibition here presenting the local outlaw world!)
There’s also an exceptional café in Zalaszántó called Kredenc, known for excellent coffee, pastries, and ice cream.
Please use water sparingly. This is not only an environmental concern but also important due to the house’s septic tank. Also, water here is particularly hard, causing rapid scaling on all surfaces. We would appreciate if you could wipe the water off the shower cabin glass after showering.
There is intentionally no television in the house, but there is internet available in case, instead of stargazing, you would prefer to watch a movie, download a hiking guide, or need further information about the area.
The large shutter in front of the panoramic window in the living room is difficult to move. Please leave its opening and closing to us! The pleated curtain covering the window provides perfect privacy and reflects sunlight.
The other shutters can be freely used for darkening purposes.
Contact and approach
Ágnes Koczor
- 8353 Zalaszántó, Derékhegy, hrsz.: 948/2
- koczi19@gmail.com
- +36 30 508 1044