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The Drava River and its

capital Barcs

The River Drava is one of the last rivers in Europe with a Hungarian section is found in Barcs. The free beach with

natural coastline, and it forms the southern border of So- its park is suitable for sports, cooking, and camping, and
mogyland. Since its section in Somogy, from Őrtilos to offers pleasant recreation to those who like the water of

Barcs, is unregulated, it forms islands and closes backwaters. rivers. After taking a cold bath, we can even visit the home
Its special habitats are home to plant and animal communi- of the thermal waters that springs from the depths of the

ties that do not live anywhere else in Hungary. The fact that earth, the Thermal Spa and Recreation Centre of Barcs,

nearly 150 plant associations and more than 100 protected which is one of the largest complexes in the region with its

plant species were found in this protected area shows the three hectares of area. The spa, operating all year round, is

diversity of the flora, but the rare Kingfisher also lives here. waiting for its guests with six indoor pools and three out-

At the Dráva Gate Exhibition Centre in Drávaszentes, in door pools. The versatile spa is also popular among families,
addition to the native animal species, we can get a glimpse young people, and those wishing to heal and recharge their

into the life of the animals living in the wild. In the vicin- batteries. Lovers of Nature can easily reach the backwater

ity of the blue border, surrounded by forests - including Kis-Bók, the fishing paradise of the River Drava, rich in
the protected ancient juniper grove - Barcs, the southern fish, also known as the island of tranquillity and located

gateway to Hungary, a town of ten thousand people, wel- east of Barcs, either on two wheels or on foot. Th ose who

comes travellers in silence, where the borders disappear, look for a little more active recreation can take an oar and
and Nature and humans can merge into one. The water of participate in one of the regularly organized water tours

the River Drava is perfectly suitable for swimming, how- from Őrtilos to Szentborbás.
ever, the only designated open-water swimming place in its
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