Day 2: Iron Curtain Memorial and Fertő–Hanság National Park

The next morning, we had breakfast at the guesthouse. It was a buffet with both hot and cold treats—and, of course, Hungarian salami.

Afterwards, we set off for the "Iron Curtain Memorial."

It is located in the Neusiedler See National Park between Fertőrákos and Hegykő and commemorates one of the most significant events in recent European history: the fall of the Iron Curtain and the opening of the borders of the communist states.

An original piece of the border fence and information boards that tell the events leading to the fall of communism in chronological order really bring history to life.

From a former watchtower, you can enjoy a wonderful view of the surrounding area.

The memorial is located in a picturesque spot in the reed belt of Lake Neusiedl. The area features numerous cycling and hiking trails, some of which now connect Austria and Hungary.

We continued deeper into the national park, passing the fringes of the lake and towering reeds, surrounded by breathtaking nature. The landscape is flat, and the view stretches all the way to the horizon.

There is also a visitor center in the park, but unfortunately, it was closed that day.

Eventually, we reached the small village of Fertőújlak, which we had discovered many years ago during a bike tour around Lake Neusiedl. You can still get there by car, but beyond that point, the road is only accessible by bike.

From there, it’s just a few kilometers to the Austrian town of Pamhagen.

We fell in love with this idyllic village and its pretty church back then and keep coming back.

Another reason is the local inn, where you can enjoy wonderful home-cooked food beneath sprawling trees. Time seems to stand still here.

Since we weren’t hungry yet after the big breakfast, we just ordered drinks. And of course, a coffee.

Our journey then continued to Fertőszéplak, where we wanted to visit the open-air museum. Unfortunately, it was closed.

However, we could at least peek through the gate and catch a glimpse of the interesting buildings that tell the story of everyday life in times past.

Then it was time to return to the spa, where we had a massage appointment.

The massage lasted an hour and felt incredibly good. I rarely feel this relaxed.

We spent the rest of the afternoon soaking in the various pools and letting ourselves float in the warm water.

Then we got ready for the evening. We had booked a table at our favorite restaurant. The food was as excellent as always. We shared a fish platter for two, accompanied by a bottle of wonderful rosé wine.

Happy and relaxed, we fell asleep that night.