Zamárdi

Zamárdi
Town
Descending, from top:Virgin Mary Roman Catholic Church, Strand Festival, Zamárdi Belvedere, Szamárkő (English: Donkey Rock), Balaton Sound, beach at Lake Balaton
Flag Coat of arms
Zamárdi Location of Zamárdi
Coordinates: 46.88434°N 17.95051°E / 46.88434; 17.95051
Country	Hungary
Region	Southern Transdanubia
County	Somogy
District	Siófok
RC Diocese	Kaposvár
Area
• Total	45.15 km2 (17.43 sq mi)
Population  (2017)
• Total	2,440
Demonym	zamárdi
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	8621
Area code	(+36) 84
Patron Saint	Holy Mary
Motorways	M7
Distance from Budapest	113 km (70 mi) Northeast
NUTS 3 code	HU232
MP	Mihály Witzmann (Fidesz)
Website	Zamárdi Online

Zamárdi is a famous holiday town in Somogy County, Hungary known for its beaches at Lake Balaton and for its music festivals during the summer (e.g. Strand Festival, Balaton Sound etc.).

The settlement is part of the Balatonboglár wine region.

Etymology

There are several explanations of the origin of the name of Zamárdi.

• According to one theory the village was called before the Mongol invasion Kis Szent Mártir which later changed to Zamárdi. However there is no proof for that.
• The older part of the village is on the hill, so the residents brought water on the back of donkeys. Therefore the village was called Szamárd after szamár (English: donkey) and -d suffix.
• The most accepted theory states that the name derives from a person name Zamar or Somar. He could be the first owner of the village.

History

Before the arrival of the Hungarians at the turn of the 9th and 10th centuries, the area was populated by Avars. In 1972, a large Avaric cemetery was discovered in the village.

Residents

• Zoltán Kocsis, Hungarian virtuoso pianist, conductor, and composer

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Hungary

Twin towns — Sister cities

Zamárdi is twinned with:

Ustrzyki Dolne, Poland

External links

• Official homepage
• Street map (Hungarian)