Balatonfüred is one of the oldest historical resorts on the shores of Lake Balaton. With a history that spans centuries and generations, it was the first major domestic centre of waterfront tourism and spiritual enrichment. From the dawn of the last century, the town’s wide range of offers has been a key player in the domestic tourism market, serving as a temporary home, resting place or health resort for prominent personalities and events. We would like to evoke this diversity and vibrant cultural life in an installation within the walls of the former Esterházy Castle Inn.

The castle itself owes its very existence to the appearance of wealthy aristocrats who recognised the beneficial effects of the acidulous waters of Füred. In the 16th century, the Benedictine monks of Tihany, who owned the area, analysed the thermal water of Füred as far as the possibilities of the time allowed, and having discovered its healing properties, and built simple bathhouses with associated catering establishments near the spring.

The boom in tourism has resulted in an increasing demand for accommodation in the municipality. The first exhibition area presents the quaternions that were established in the area, the history of their development and the celebrities who stayed there. You can also meet the staff who looked after the comfort of visitors, take a peek inside rooms and get an idea of how society was once organised in the city.

After checking into the accommodation in Füred, visitors will find themselves in the office of László Écsy, the spa director who ran the spa for 50 years. The office was an essential stop for guests arriving in Füred, as it was partly here that they could buy tickets for the various services, buy their bathing tickets and register themselves in the guest lists. The room has everything you need for an office – a stern desk with chairs on either side, a map wall, a staff table and a ‘corner’ for more light-hearted conversations. You get an idea of the hierarchy of spa staff, a matrix of services is recalled on tickets hung above the desk, and you can get to know the owners of the spa.

Both a precursor and a consequence of the growth in tourism, the infrastructure of Lake Balaton has undergone significant development during this period. The main elements of this development are railways and water transport. The theme of the next exhibition space is shipping, with a model of the Kisfaludy steamship in the centre of the room, in a glass case with drawers displaying plans, drawings and other documents. Another installation shows the steamer’s route, length and other interesting facts by turning the steering wheel, projected on the opposite wall. A separate installation deals with shipbuilding in Balaton.

The room is divided into a land and water section, with the bathhouse in between as a walk-through installation, with the men’s and women’s sides showing the different gendered rules of contemporary bathing customs. The installation on the water side, hanging from the ceiling, evokes a playful sense of being in the water.

Upstairs, we showcase social and entertainment venues and events. The parks and promenades, the local photographer Samu Lengyel, the brief history of the theatre in Füred and the local cuisine are evoked, and then the promenade leads to the scene of the Anna Ball, where visitors can learn about the complex system of written and unwritten rules that governed this nationally known event.

The Anna Ball has been the highlight of the bathing season in Hungary since the reform era. Other bathing resorts (Parád, Pöstyén) have also organised a ball with the same name, but the one in Füred became nationally known and famous. The room is divided into several parts by installations placed in the space, so that the themes are separated in space. The location and characters of the first Anne’s Ball are presented, as well as the exact scenario of the 19th century ball. Although balls were the scene of the marriage market, there were serious rules for socialising. For example, there were strict rules on introductions: either an acquaintance or the organisers of the ball had to ask a young man to introduce a lady.

The Anna Ball, like the drinking cures in Füred, are a great survivor, and their tradition lives on to this day, attracting crowds to the picturesque spa town.