Böhönye – Memorial Sites and Churches

Several historical themes come together in Böhönye: the military cemetery on the southern edge of the village, the history of the Reformed congregation and a Baroque chapel with its own dedication. The Reformed Church stands set back within the village; Szent-Illés Church, also known as the Festetics Chapel, is in the western part. The village’s history thus offers different points of connection for remembrance and architectural history.

Military Cemetery and Memorial

Böhönye Military Cemetery lies on the southern edge of the village, at the intersection of main roads 61 and 68. It is the Volksbund’s collection and burial cemetery in Somogy County; more than 2,000 dead from the Second World War were laid to rest there.

At the far end, granite crosses mark the burial sites. Two names of those buried there are inscribed on each side of the crosses; the graves of unknown war dead are also marked with crosses. Granite slabs at the memorial and along the cemetery path bear the names of soldiers whose remains can no longer be recovered. In the middle of the cemetery are a flower bed and a stone monument with a bilingual inscription. Grave markers, memorial plaques bearing names and the monument thus stand side by side as different forms of remembrance.

The military cemetery opened to the public on 2 October 1993. If you are considering a visit, check the current access arrangements in advance.

Reformed Church and Festetics Chapel

In 1787, Lajos Festetics initiated and funded the construction of a stone church for the local Reformed congregation. Böhönye Reformed Church stands set back from the settlement’s main road, within a block of houses. Its ceiling has a blue base and is painted with golden-yellow stars.

The locations can therefore be distinguished: the military cemetery lies at a road intersection on the southern edge of the village, while the Reformed Church stands set back within a block of houses along the settlement’s main road.

Szent-Illés Church, also known as the Festetics Chapel, lies on the grounds of the former Illés-major, in the western part of Böhönye. Between 1760 and 1765, the Festetics family had a Baroque chapel built at Illésmajor in honor of the Prophet Elijah. The chapel is no longer in use. Compared with the stone church built for the Reformed congregation in 1787, it is an older building with its own religious dedication.

Regional natural context within the wider destination of Southern Balaton

The wider destination of Southern Balaton includes, among other places in Somogy County, Kis-Balaton, Zselici Tájvédelmi Körzet, Barcsi Ősborókás and Babócsai Basakert. In 2009, Zselici Tájvédelmi Körzet received the designation of International Dark Sky Park because of its low light pollution; Zselici Csillagpark was established in the heart of the protected area.

The regional Dráva network for active tourism includes water-tourism stopping points along its stretch in Somogy County. Individual facilities may change during development. Baláta lies between Kaszó and Szenta and is considered one of Somogy’s most highly valued natural assets.

Discover more destinations: Táska, Balatonszentgyörgy, Balatonkeresztur, Balatonberény, Vörs, Gadány, Varászló, Balatonmariafürdö.

For the wider travel guide: Marcali.