I forgot to write about this place we
were in July. I like to plan one-day long trips here and there around Veszprém
when I have time. I'm too much at home, except when I'm in the sunny-shiny workplace...
and my mom is too much with her thoughts at home so need the fresh air
sometimes to cheer her up and myself as well.
Baláca is a historical Roman Villa, excavated
in 1906 and they finished the renovations about a few years ago. It's near to Veszprém,
about 20 minutes with bus/10 minutes with car and it right after Nemesvámos in the beautiful countryside.
Pannonia [Roman name of the area where
later Hungary evolved] was the 22th province of the Roman Empire in the 1th
century a.d. The line of the Danube was the 'limes', the eastern borderline of
the empire. Main fortresses were at Szőny [Brigetio] and Óbuda [Aquincum, today northern Buda] for
example.
When the Romans came some kind of celtic
people lived here [far before we came] with their own traditions and religions. The Romans
brought themselves their Italian traditions, lifestyles and religious stuffs also so the
two culture merged into one even if the celts were not very happy about it...
Where there weren't military fortresses,
they built villages, towns with temples to their Roman gods and baths of course.
The older soldiers and the civilians [merchants, tradesmen.. etc.] took up their's domicile here with their
families. The Transdanubia, especially the Balaton region was best for growing grape,
the lake was rich in fishes, the clean springs to life, the Bakony was full of
wild animals [yeah WAS, thanks to the Romans too…]. Agricultural holdings were near the Lake Balaton
and Baláca was one of them. Some artifacts were found here and there in the Balaton
region, but this villa is the only resident what was found – more or less – as complete.
Detailed wallpaintings, decorated flooring, mosaics were found, what required
in those times high – Italian - expertise. There were underfloor heating [hypocaustum] as well. The artifacts speaks
about luxury and confort.
Lapidarium
I liked this Goddess Diana relief
It's a pity they stole almost every idea from the Greeks [thinking about Diana/Artemis, Hercules/Heracles too], probably that's why I love the Greeks more than the copycat Romans. But yeah they gave us some new things we must admit it:
This is a double joy, two original Roman ovens. When they hold events there, they bake fresh breads and other bakery products to the audience.
I think my favourite was this botanic
garden. I always wanted even a small one. We only have a small balcony at home,
but I'm planning to make some pottery garden-like thing with basil, sage or medical herbs
or some poisonus plants if they freak me out just one more time in the office… [just kidding…
sadly]
The garden was so chilling to sit a bit.
A big storm came… I love the coming of rain
So we got wet as hell because the bus
station was far and the bus didn't come in time… but I still love rain!! Haha
Some other personal stories about Baláca:
In my 1st year in high
school they organized a Midsummer's Eve performance to the parents with togas,
classic poems, a shorter play or whatever else was there. Half of my class - with my
friends also - were in, I didn't. I was shy among other problems… Sometimes I
just hate that I was a coward bunny. *sniff* When they showed me the photos I
was jealous… It looked great fun. Everyone were laughing in those big
togas and Roman military clothes, the whole villa was cozy in the torch lights,
there were period music and Roman food… I hate myself.
For some years later.. I have a better
memory.
In the beginning of the 2000's I studied
the 'protection of historical monument' thing therefore we had Summer class
works. On the first Summer we had to participate in an archaeological
excavation in/and near Baláca. In those times Baláca still was not renovated
fully, it was under process and near Baláca there were other things too than just Roman
memories in the ground. After Romans, another people lived here, the Avars. Some Eurasian
nomad people, they lived here between the 6th-8th century. Not certain who were
they exactly, but some of them spoke the ancient Hungarian, some of them was
ancient Turkish… We, the Magyars [Not Huns!] started to come in the Pannonian/Carpathian
Basin only in the 8-9th century.
On the excavation we were divided into
small groups so I – the lucky one - was with the head chief archaeologist, an
antisocial, grumpy, children-hater, bossy old bi- … Ööö Well this character can be
me as well… but noooo she was far worse than me, ok?!!!! Hahaha
So my group dig out this Avar handsom…
[who probably died a horrible death]
I named it Chad… because in those times
I was a big fan of Nickelback… no comment.
When my people arrived in the C. Basin,
the Avars all dissapeared/died. Probably from the many Frank attacks. According
to the local archeologists it's quite certain that whole Veszprém built on an
Avar cemetery… Spoookyyy!
When our only McDonald's was built in
the city, they found some Roman bricks in the ground [beside Avar skeletons], so
they built those bricks in the main wall of the restaurant. The only thing what I like in the Veszprém McDo…
The ominous class... seems to me a hundred years ago...
So the villa is fully reconstructed/renovated now
and sometimes they organize historical Roman events, but those for the kids mostly. So if you are into a traditional Roman dinner event with tonnes of food, wine,
much nudity and other racy things go to Rome not Baláca.
How was said in the movie, National Lampoon's
European Vacation:
[Rusty Griswold] Who was it that said when in Rome do as
the Romans do?
[Clark Griswold] That was Rome not Paris. This is Paris
and you're drunk.
Good Day!/Szép napot! ✌
