From now on, National Parks will be able to sell their own branded products and may supplement their income through ecotourism activities. Minister for Rural Development Sándor Fazekas announced the amendment of the deed of foundation of the national parks during his visit to the Balaton Highlands National Park. One of the unique summer spectacles of the area is the flowering of the lavender fields, which the Minister invited everyone to visit during his tour of the country's treasures.

Our national parks are of international standard, but are still not sufficiently well known, and so the Minister of Rural Development has launched a campaign to promote our national parks. This year, Minister Sándor Fazekas will be visiting all ten of our national parks and the Balaton Highlands is the thirds stop in his series of high profile visits.

The old lavender fields that spring into flower at around this time of year on the Tihany peninsula are a unique treasure, a real rarity. The planting of lavender was begun in 1924 on the south-facing side of Apáti hill, and the lavender oil produced here was famous throughout Europe, surpassing the quality of French plantation. The Lavender House opened last year in Tihany within the territory of the Balaton Highlands National Park, offering local products to its visitors.

Hungary's first protected conservation area was established on the Tihany peninsula in 1952. It covers an area of 1562 hectares, of which 195 hectares are specially protected. In addition to the Balaton Highlands region, the 57 thousand hectare National Park also includes the area known as Little Balaton. This is one of the country's most significant and frequently visited touristic areas, an area with a unique array of our country's natural beauty. Its greatest attraction and the treasure that makes it famous is Lake Balaton. Many of its unique natural sights, such as the volcanic buttes, are the result of erratic volcanic activity that occurred millions of years ago.

The National Park, which covers a 1-15km wide swathe along the northern bank of Lake Balaton from the Tihany Peninsula to Little Balaton includes parts of five major regions. The sunshine, magnified and yet still tamed by the lake surface, the marshland areas, the plains and valleys, as well as the volcanic soils and the water have brought rise to a rich variety of plant and animal life in the area. Unique animals and plants life in tiny habitats throughout the area and several species of specially protected plants enjoy a safe haven: the extremely rare Notholaena fern, the bird's-eye primrose, Ophrys orchids, the Sword Lily – over 200 plant and several hundred animal species.

The volcanic basalt hills form a unique landscape with their characteristic shape. The Tihany Csúcs (Summit) Hill, the White bank of the Tihany peninsula, the hot spring vents, sinkholes and caves are all well known. The constructed environment and the cultural landscape are also special; Hungarians and tourists have only recently discovered the treasures that the area offers in addition to the bathing areas of Lake Balaton.

(Press Office of the Ministry of Rural Development)