A fishing lake on the site of a former peat mine and a Szent Mihály-templom with a Gothic building history give Zalaszentmihály two distinct local landmarks. They are joined by Millenniumi Park, the chapel on Szőlőhegy and trails to neighboring villages. This lets you tailor the balance between cultural history and outdoor activities to your interests.
Church, Remembrance and Local History
The Szent Mihály-templom was built in the Gothic style in the 14th to 15th centuries. Around 1760, it was remodeled in the Baroque style and also received a tower. The south wall and sanctuary have windows with fish-bladder tracery. This architectural term refers to tracery ornament with shapes resembling fish bladders; in the church, it can be seen in these two areas. The Gothic construction and Baroque alterations took place far apart in time, making the different building phases visible in the same structure.
Millenniumi Park opened in 2000. It contains a monument marking the turn of the millennium and one commemorating those who fell in the Second World War. The hilltop chapel on Szőlőhegy houses a statue of Saint Urban, the patron saint of winegrowers. Local cultural themes thus bring together architecture, remembrance and a specific religious connection.
Fishing Lake, Szőlőhegy and Trails to the Villages
The fishing lake is Zalaszentmihály’s main attraction and was created on the site of a former peat mine. At Szőlőhegy, you can combine a picnic and watching the sunset as two activities during your stay.
From Zalaszentmihály, you can set out on foot or by bicycle to the surrounding villages of Pötréte, Felsőrajk and Pölöske. This gives you three specific destinations and two ways to get around. The “Zala két keréken” cycling route also passes through Zalaszentmihály. If you plan to use this route, it is advisable to check the route conditions before setting out.
More to Explore in the Wider Destination of Zala
The wider destination of Zala opens up a broader landscape and cultural setting. The Zalai Borvidék wine region developed on the slopes and plateaus of the Zalai-dombság and on the northwestern slopes of the Keszthelyi-hegység. It encompasses two wine districts and 38 settlements. Saint Urban in the chapel in Zalaszentmihály is the patron saint of winegrowers; the wine region itself describes a regional landscape with several districts and settlements.
Kis-Balaton is Zala’s largest body of water, strictly protected and covering 14,745 hectares. It is also the setting for István Fekete’s classic novels Tüskevár and Téli berek. Its protected landscape and literary setting give this part of the regional context a different focus from Zalaszentmihály’s architectural and local history.
Another cultural destination in the wider destination of Zala is the Kotsy-vízimalom in Zalaszántó. There, you can see a 390-centimeter overshot waterwheel mechanism in operation. The regional perspective thus extends beyond local attractions to other themes, such as wine country, protected nature and mill technology.
Discover more destinations: Zalaigrice, Misefa, Pölöske, Nagykapornak.
Back to the wider travel overview: Pacsai.
