Zalalövő is one of the oldest settlements of the Comitatus Zala. It is located 25 km from Zalaegerszeg in the upper reaches of the Zala, on the edge of Göcsej and at the gateway to the Őrség (in German,Wart). For hundreds of years it was an important transport and trade intersection point and district capital town. A great advantage of its geographical position is the proximity of the Slovenian and Austria borders.
The settlement goes back to Celtic times, but the fi rst written evidence comes from the time of the Romans. Zalalövő soon became a signifi cant settlement because of its position on the Amber route and the River Zala. In the year 124 the Emperoror Hadrian proclaimed it a town and it received the name Municipium Aelium Salla. Proof of this increase in prosperity is to be found in the remains of old stone buildings. According to a document from the 13th century, the king’s bowmen lived here, the word lövő means marksman – hence the name of the town. In the year 2000 Zalalövő was once again granted town status. For the past 25 years or more, a defining element in the cultural life of the town has been the Zala Borderlands Days, always on the second weekend in August. This comprises exhibitions, concerts, markets, sports events and competitions in driving a harnessed team of horses and at the end, a fi rework display on Lake Borostyán. This extensive programme offers guests from at home and abroad numerous entertainment opportunities.
Beech – and some quite extensive pine forests surround Zalalövő. Rare and protected plant species are to be found in this unspoiled countryside, such as cyclamen, snake‘s-head, the tiny wild orchid and dog-tooth lily. In the spring the ground is carpeted with the snowfl ake flower and snowdrops – an early sight that attracts visitors the Macskás valley. The gentle slopes of the Zala hills are a treat for all naturelovers. Lake Borostyán on the edge of the town is an important attraction for visitors. It has excellent water quality, romantically wild surroundings and plenty of opportunities for anglers, sports enthusiasts and passionate swimmers. Borosánvölgy, a place of pilgrimage, is also surrounded by forests. Amongst the places worth seeing in the town there are the cleared Roman buildings, Villa Publica and the Amber Route that can be seen in Salla Museum. Worthy of mention is the tastefully designed, thatched, L-shaped museum of local history that features the home of peasants at the beginning of the 20th century who were then approaching levels of middle-class prosperity.
Further information:
„Salla” Művelődési Központ
8999 Zalalövő, Szabadság tér 2.
Tel./Fax. +36 92/371-004 • E-Mail: telehaz@zalalovo.hu
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