Hegyeshalom

Description

Situated in Győr-Moson-Sopron County is the village of Hegyeshalom. The village is located on the border with Austria and less than 15 kilometres from the border of Slovakia. Hegyeshalom was an important border crossing and control point between Hungary, Austria and Slovakia, until December 2007, when Austria and Hungary both became part of the Schengen zone, which meant that border controls were no longer needed. Hegyeshalom also has the Hungarian M1 motorway passing through it and connecting with the A4 motorway in Austria. It is also a railway border crossing point. It is therefore said to be Hungary’s most famous border station by road and by rail. The town was affected severely by World War II and is currently said to have only about 3600 inhabitants. Muslim visitors will find it difficult to locate Halal-friendly facilities such as prayer areas and Halal food in Hegyeshalom.

*There is not much to do in Hegyeshalom. Those visiting the village are simply passing through. There are however a couple of attractions in Hegyeshalom worth mentioning. Lake Stettni is a fishing pond located behind the village’s Catholic Church. It is visited by locals and tourists as it is rich in fish and its shores are ideal for those looking to relax as well as for those seeking to partake in outdoor activities. The area is used for events, held on open-air stages, during the summer.

Mine pond stretches around an area of about 100 hectares. Located on the southern border of the village, this area is still an active mining site. Mine pond is visited by divers who drive several hours to dive in the 40-50 metre deep pond. It is also ideal in the summer for swimming, surfing and angling.

There is also a Catholic church from the Árpág Age and a Lutheran church that are visited by those touring the village. On the eastern side of the Catholic Church is a gothic tower said to be built in the 18^th century.

Since the Hungarian M1 motorway connects with the Austrian A4 motorway, tourists visiting Hegyeshalom are also known to drive into the village of Nickelsdorf in Austria for a bit of exploration.

Nearby Airports

The closest major international airport to Hegyeshalom is Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, which is located in Budapest and is around 166 kilometers away. The airport is quite easily accessible and therefore those visiting can reach it by public and private transport.

Halal Restaurants

There are no known Halal restaurants in Hegyeshalom. Muslim visitors, who have the facilities to prepare their own meals, can ask the locals for information on shops that sell Halal items. They can also dine at local seafood or vegetarian restaurants after making sure the dishes served do not consist of any non-Halal items. Tourists should be aware that restaurants in Hegyeshalom do serve alcohol.

Mosques

There are no known Islamic Centers or mosques in Hegyeshalom, and therefore Muslim travelers will find it difficult to locate prayer facilities in the city. The best option is to offer their prayers in the privacy of their hotel room or to simply enquire with locals for a private area in the vicinity that can be made use of when traveling outdoors.

Things to Do and See in Hegyeshalom

• Lake Stettni
• Mine pond
• Outdoor activities
• Cross over to Austria