CHERRY COTTAGE

Cottage for rent on our vineyard on the slopes of historic Csobánc, in the Badacsony area of Lake Balaton, Hungary. A stay at the Cherry Cottage offers an idyllic rough luxe experience!

The beautifully renovated cottage (2008–2009) is a former press house and wine cellar. It is situated in tranquil and lush surroundings in the midst of an active vineyard owned and run by Peter and Aagoth Sándor, a Norwegian/Canadian/ Hungarian couple. A stay provides a green experience, with vines just outside your door, power generated from solar panels, and rainwater harvesting. Guests are welcome to enjoy complimentary wine from our cellars during your stay. The cottage also comes with high-speed wireless Internet. We have many fruit trees on the property in addition to our grapes, such as apricot, peach, nectarine, cherry, plum and fig—something is always in season.

The cottage is fully furnished with modern facilities and antiques, and Aagoth’s handmade quilts and paintings. We have combined the warmth of local Hungarian antiques with a more modern, Scandinavian cool. With a living room, bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom, the cottage is ideal for four people, but an extra bed may be added if needed. The outside area includes a patio for outdoor meals and a large lawn for lounging in the sun.


Off the beaten track
The cottage is located on the slopes of Csobánc (pronounced cho-bants), a little extinct volcano in the Badacsony district of the lake crowned by a medievel castle. The area, also called the Tapolca Basin, is part of the beautiful Balaton Uplands National Park. The property provides beautiful views of the rolling landscape. Wine has been produced on the slopes of these hills since Roman times, due to the rich, volcanic soil that vines love. Csobánc is dotted with small, private vineyards—most of the buildings you see in the landscape around the cottage are wine cellars. Most of Csobánc does not have electricity, which has helped Csobánc stay untouched and authentic, away from the tourist masses you see closer to the lake.

There are two villages nearby, Tapolca-Diszel and Gyulakeszi, which have small grocery stores, a museum, water mills and several churches. The nearest town, Tapolca, is a five minute drive away. Here you can find several large supermarkets, for example Tesco and Spar. The name “Tapolca” has roots in Slavic, meaning “hot springs”—the town boasts a spa hotel which also welcomes day-guests. A twelve minute drive takes you to the sunny beaches of Lake Balaton. Read more about the region, activities and attractions here.


Amenities in brief
Wine from our own cellars (amount within reason)
High-speed wireless Internet/WiFi
Solar energy
Rainwater harvesting
All windows and doors fitted with screens
Living room; dining area and sofa with pull-out double bed
Bedroom with twin beds
Fully equipped kitchen with stove (no oven), refrigerator, cooking utensils and cutlery
Indoor bathroom with shower, sink and flush toilet, warm water
Charming outhouse
Bed linens (changed weekly)
Bathroom towels (changed weekly)
Outdoor patio with table, chairs and BBQ
Lawn with traditional Hungarian garden chairs
A “start up kit” with home essentials such as coffee, tea, sugar, wash-up liquid, spice, kitchen towels


Guests should bring
Flashlights
Beach towels (if you forget to bring them, or do not want to drag the extra weight,
it is possible to rent large, fluffy ones from us for a small fee)


For sale
We sell Aagoth’s paintings and quilts, in addition to her delicious jam made from our own fruit (when/if available).

Wine for drinking during your stay is on the house, but maybe you would like some to take home with you?
We also produce lovely pálinkas from apricots, plums, and grapes.

Contact us the day before your departure if you are interested in taking something home with you!


Getting there & around
Location/map

It takes around two hours to get to Primor Sándor Vineyard from Budapest by car. Trains stop at Tapolca several times a day, but to get around locally you need a car. We will provide more detailed directions when you order your stay. Car rentals are easily available at Ferihegy Airport, Budapest. Let us know if you need assistance with this. We will also be at hand to help you if you encounter problems along the way.


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Design and photography © Claudia C. Sándor