One of the gladdest moments of human life, methinks, is the departure upon a distant journey into unknown lands. Shaking off with one mighty effort the fetters of habit, the leaden weight of routine, the cloak of many cares and the slavery of home, man feels once more happy.
– Richard Burton
The legendary echo of Tihany Peninsula
Have you ever heard about the famous Tihany echo?
This fascinating phenomenon, the echo of Tihany could be observed since restoration of the Tihany Abbey in mid 19th century. Standing on the Visszhang-hill, facing towards the abbey, all words shouted from the Tihany Echo sculpture will travel approximately 700 meters in about two seconds until they get back to their source.
According to the legend, a beautiful but mute princess has been cursed by the God of waves and turned her into a rock on the hill.
The God’s son got sick, and the only cure was the milk of the goats owned by the princess. In return for curing his son, the God gave her voice back. The son inevitably fell in love with the pretty princess. But the haughty princess didn’t even want to talk to him, and only had disdain for him. Unable to bare the rejection, the son died drowning in his sorrow. As punishment, as the consequence of his wrath, the God turned the princess into a rock and cursed her. Now, she has to answer to all who walks along the hill for all eternity. And this is how she became the echo of Tihany.
Photo credit: Antal Ujvari
