From Road 76, we pass through Sármellék on our way to Zalavár. One of the most important historical sites in Zala County’s past is located on Vársziget in Zalavár. It was here, around 840, that the easternmost margraviate of the East Frankish Empire was established, organised by Prince Priwina – who had been driven out of Nyitra – and his son Chezil; its centre was named Mosaburg, or Mocsárvár.
The remains of this rich past, unearthed by archaeologists: the ruins of the pilgrimage church of St Adorján, whose foundation walls bear witness to a building of monumental scale with a floor plan unique in our country; and the monuments erected by later generations: the statues of Cyril and Methodius erected by the Slavic peoples, the monument commemorating the Year of St Stephen in 1938, the St Stephen’s Chapel, reconstructed on the foundations of the Árpád-era church, and the Millennium Memorial Building designed by Imre Makovecz. The Memorial Building not only serves as a monument but also hosts countless events and exhibitions, making it well worth a visit from spring to autumn. The Kis-Balaton House, also located here, introduces visitors to the natural environment of Zalavár.
