"Villány is the eponymous and dominant village of the historic wine region. Archaeological finds here tell the story of its ancient viticulture.The village became known mainly for its wines
The vineyards were destroyed during the 150 years of Turkish rule and the final battles against them in 1687. At that time Serbians settled here, establishing modern-day viticulture with the introduction of the Kadarka grape to the area.
From 1770, the ethnic structure of the population changed fundamentally with the arrival of German settlers. The German vintners brought with them their favourite variety, the Blue Oporto grape.
By 1895, the village already had 340 acres of vineyards, but the 19th-century Europe-wide phylloxera epidemic swept through, destroying all of them. Local winegrower Zsigmond Teleki worked on grape improvement and succeeded in developing those hardy varieties facilitating re-establishment of vineyards all over Europe.
Recent decades have brought far-reaching changes in the region's wine production. Among the first in Hungary to practise viniculture at European standards, Villány vintners developed wine cellars using the latest technology.
Villány can also be fascinating for those interested in fossils. The matchless wealth of species of the local ammonite fauna is noted across Europe.
How to get there:
By public transport, trains run to Villány from Pécs; there also are Volán coaches available from Budapest, Pécs, Mohács, Bóly, and Harkány. By car look for Villány southeast of the city of Pécs."
Source: hungarystartshere.com
To rent a car to visit Villány we recommend Fox Autorent
17.01.2008