The Legend of the Golden Carriage in the Káli Basin

Somewhere beneath the hills of the Káli Basin, a golden carriage is said to lie buried, filled with treasures that have remained hidden for centuries.

According to one version of the local legend, a bishop fleeing the Ottoman invasion ordered his precious golden carriage to be buried near his residence in Szentbékkálla. The hiding place was so well concealed that the treasure was never recovered.

But the story doesn't end there. Legend has it that every seven years, at dawn, a mysterious blue flame appears above the buried carriage, revealing its location to anyone lucky enough to see it. Despite generations of speculation and treasure hunting, the legendary carriage has never been found.

The story is closely associated with the ruins of Veléte Palace, a medieval episcopal residence just north of Szentbékkálla. The ruins are real, even if the treasure remains a mystery. The surviving stone walls offer a glimpse into the region's medieval past and the stories that have grown around it.

Discover the place behind the legend

Visitors can explore the Veléte Palace ruins on foot from Szentbékkálla. The nearby Szentbékkálla Stone Sea, with its enormous rock formations and remarkable balancing stones, makes this corner of the Balaton Uplands especially memorable.

Whether or not the golden carriage ever existed, the landscape and its history are well worth discovering.