Balatonfüred és Balatonarács története - A Veszprém Megyei Levéltár Kiadványai 14. (Veszprém, 1999)

XIII. A Savanyúvíztől a világfürdőig (Lichtneckert András)

Summary The latest general work on the local history of Balatonfüred - one of the most significant settlements by the Lake Balaton - was published in 1987. It was "The History of Balatonfüred" by Ferenc Zákonyi, a monumental work focused on the world famous bath (mineral water spring), the outstanding events of our national history of civilization (stone theater, steam navigation, shipbuilding) and on tourism. The History of the Balatonfüred-Csopak wine district by András Lichtneckert was published in 1990. It elaborated the history of the wine district around Balatonfüred from the Roman age to the date of issue and presented the town from a new perspective. Soon after publishing these two books the issue of a new book on the history of Balatonfüred and Balatonarács (annexed in 1954) is useful only if it is different from and is able to supplement the previous ones. Similarly to the authors' other publications on the history of the community, in this book parts of natural sciences and archeology written by experts are followed by ethnographic and historical parts. These proceed parts on history of culture, literature, sports, Calvinist, Roman Catholic, Israelite and Adventist Churches. This book puts emphasis on the history of the old town. Introducing the history of the settlement based on manuscripts it focuses on how Balatonfüred in the shadow of a health-resort - being an insignificant settlement in the 18th century has become the administration centre and a marketing centre organizing the economic life ot the district. This town is now a cultural centre with traditions in schools, associations, culture and sports, in history of literature and theatre. The book examines the history of social strata, self-government and agriculture hidden behind the functions that made Balatonfiired's life and society so colourful. It pays special attention to the history of the peasant society with noble and serf origin. By the beginning ot the 20th century a stratum of middle-class peasant emerged from this society and it was followed by a differentiated stratum of tradesmen, merchants and intellectuals. The introduction of the local society was undertaken by a historian and an ethnographist. The first one deals with political roles, formation of economical organizations and cultural possibilities while the second one shows us the way of life and a traditional popular culture of the local society. Before 1950 Balatonfüred was a large village constituting an administrative division with some features similar to a small town. In 1950 began the suppression of the local society and the stagnation ot the settlement and as a result the inhabitants also took part in the revolution in 1956. For the leader groups of the society but also for all the inhabitants the years of affliction meant the cancellation of the Balatonfüred district (1956) and the enforced organization of farmers' cooperative (1959). Becoming an independent wine district centre (1959), gaining the status of town (1971) and as a result getting the economical and cultural functions back, these mean the rehabilitation of Balatonfüred. In 1988 on the basis of its excellent wine culture and wine growing the settlement won the title "International Town of Grapes and Wine". In consequence of the hospital for heart diseases and