Text №17. The old city of baturin

If you are looking for the feelings of antiquity, provincial peace and communication with kindly locals, Baturin is the place you need.

Baturin doubly was capital of Levoberezhnaja Ukraine. Today it is the small village arranged in 190 kilometres from Kiev, in picturesque surroundings, which is possible to be contemplated from rather abrupt coast of the river Seym. In Baturin there is a monument to the prominent Ukrainian beekeeper Peter Prokopovich. He first-ever has invented a movable-frame hive.

Inhabitants of Baturin are proud that, their ancestors two centuries lived near the hetmans and their city had the status Magdebourg. From those times the palace of the last hetman Cyril Razumovsky, сreated by the eminent Englishman Cameron, building up half of Petersburg, was saved.

Now the palace is being restored. Further you should be shaded slide for the pointers: a sign even points an oak which hollow was for a letter box for Ivan Mazepy and Motri Kochubey correspondence. Country museum of local lore, history and economy is situated in Vasilj Kochubey’s dwelling, described by Pushkin in "Poltava"

But the main remarkable sight of Baturin is Razumovsky church - tomb. And there is an outlet on a small site from which the view on the river and its inflow is unclosed. To go down to the Seym, you have to descend along the paved cube path.

You will be pleased with the only unique small restaurant under a simple title “Old Baturin” and surprised not only by the prices, but also by the local cuisine. The masters will make you delicious coffee with the all knack of cookery.

You can get there with your friends by car following the highway to Moscow. The local inhabitants like the visitors from the capital, so that you will get accommodation without any problems.

You will not be able to resist local charm of this town.

Text №18. Reasons to visit the balaton

Enchanting landscape. The famous nineteenth-century Hungarian writer Mor Jokay wrote about the Balaton: “The longer one views this land, the prettier it seems, and laugh if you will, but I say the entire landscape is smiling”.

Silky water. The Balaton is the largest freshwater lake in Central Europe. The pleasant warmth of water soothes both body and spirit. The water warms quickly to 20 to 22 degrees, and occasionally reaches even 28 degrees. The southern shore is favoured by families with children.

Siofok. One of the centers of the region, Siofok offers a colorful, rich variety of discos, but lovers of light opera have also come to the right place, as it was the birthplace of Imre Kálmán, composer of The Csardas Queen. A two-month light opera festival is held every summer in his memory.

Active recreation and sport. Of the numerous cross-lake competitions, the swim across the Balaton has grown to become one of Europe’s largest amateur swimming events. Sailing and windsurfing is permitted anywhere, and wake-boarding is possible at a number of points on the lake.

Curative waters. This lake, covered with India red water lilies, is the world’s second-largest thermal lake, with a depth of 36 meters at the crater. The curative water and mud from the lake is excellent for the treatment of motor ailments.

Keszthely - the cultural capital of Balaton. It’s the oldest settlement on the Balaton shore. Everything worth knowing about the Balaton can be found collected at the Balaton Museum.

Treasure peninsula Tihany. Of the Benedictine Abbey founded in Tihany in 1055, the only remains today are the crypt housing the tomb of King Andrew I and the founding charter of the abbey, the earliest surviving document in the Hungarian language.

Wines. Five of Hungary’s 22 wine regions are located around the Balaton.

Wide variety of activities. The number of horse shows, folklore programmes, harvest festivals, exhibitions and concerts is beyond counting, a full listing of everything would be impossible