Keszthely

Keszthely
Festetics Palace in Keszthely
Festetics Palace in Keszthely
Flag of Keszthely
Coat of Arms of Keszthely
Keszthely is located in Hungary
Keszthely
Keszthely
Location of Keszthely
Coordinates: 46°46′11″N 17°14′53″E / 46.76965°N 17.24813°E / 46.76965; 17.24813
Country Hungary
RegionWestern Transdanubia
CountyZala
DistrictKeszthely
Government
 • MayorJenő Manninger (Fidesz)
Area
 • Total75.98 km2 (29.34 sq mi)
Population
 (2017)
 • Total19,652
 • Density258.65/km2 (669.9/sq mi)
Demonymkeszthelyi
Population by ethnicity
 • Hungarians83.6%
 • Germans2.1%
 • Romani0.6%
 • Croats0.2%
 • Poles0.1%
 • Slovaks0.1%
 • Romanians0.1%
 • Ukrainians0.1%
 • Others0.7%
Population by religion
 • Roman Catholic54.5%
 • Greek Catholic0.2%
 • Calvinists3.2%
 • Lutherans1.6%
 • Jews0.1%
 • Other1.2%
 • Non-religious11.6%
 • Unknown27.6%
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
8360
Area code(+36) 83
MotorwaysM76 Motorway (planned)
NUTS 3 codeHU223
Distance from Budapest187 km (116 mi) Southwest
International airportsHévíz–Balaton Airport (SOB) previously Sármellék International Airport
MPJenő Manninger (Fidesz)
Websitewww.keszthely.hu

Keszthely (Hungarian pronunciation: [ˈkɛsthɛj]; also known by alternative names) is a Hungarian city of 20,895 inhabitants located on the western shore of Lake Balaton. It is the second largest city by the lake and one of the more important cultural, educational and economic hubs in the region. Due to its favorable location and accessibility by both road and rail, Keszthely and the surrounding area is a preferred holiday destination.

From the middle of the 5th century until the middle of the 7th century the Keszthely Culture flourished in the area.

The Faculty for Agriculture of University of Pannonia is located in Keszthely. George Fejer, Hungarian author and librarian at the University of Pest, was born in Keszthely in 1766.