A House to Fall in Love With in the Nivegy Valley

At the edge of Balatoncsicsó, on the last plot of a quiet little street, stands this old stone house surrounded by rolling vineyards and gentle hills.

From the highest point of the garden, you can sometimes catch a glimpse of Lake Balaton. Mature cherry and walnut trees provide generous shade, and the setting feels wonderfully peaceful and close to nature. Yet the village itself is far from sleepy – it has an active community, local events, and a genuine village life that is increasingly hard to find.

Zánka and the lakeshore are just a 10-minute drive away, or an easy 8 km bike ride. The area is rich in wineries, hiking trails, historic sites, and beautiful landscapes. The Nivegy Valley and its small villages rival the beauty of the famous Káli Basin – only without the crowds. And then there are the neighbours: the kind of warm, welcoming, genuinely helpful people everyone hopes to have but rarely does.

This is not a traditional farmhouse, yet it carries much of that character and charm. A little oasis at the end of the village.

That is exactly why we fell in love with it. We saw it as a place with the potential to become something truly special: unique, personal, and full of warmth.
Next to the main house stands a separate summer kitchen, which could easily be reimagined as a guest house, studio, covered terrace, or an independent tiny home.

The house does require renovation, but we have already cleared and cleaned almost everything, making its qualities and possibilities much easier to see. One of us is an architect, and our intention was always to preserve as many original features as possible while giving them a new life. We have prepared initial concept designs, which are shown in the attached floor plans and visualisations.

Should you wish, the project can come with an architect as well. Through our practice, Konkrét Studio, we would be happy to continue with the detailed design phase. We would be especially delighted to see the renovation carried out using natural materials and an environmentally conscious approach.

The property sits on a 1,622 m² plot. The main house offers 94 m² of living space, with the attic also suitable for conversion. The summer kitchen is 12 m², and there is a 12 m² cellar beneath the house.

Structurally, the building is sound and dry. Part of the house retains its healthy original timber ceiling structure, while another section has reinforced concrete beams. In the central part of the building, the deteriorated ceiling covering has already been removed. The plot is fully serviced with water, gas, electricity (including off-peak supply), while wastewater management is handled through individual treatment systems, as is standard throughout the village.

After our initial enthusiasm and plans, life eventually took us in a different direction. We are therefore looking for a new owner who will see the same potential in this place that we once did.

If you are searching for a home, holiday retreat, or creative project in the Balaton Highlands — somewhere peaceful yet inspiring, secluded yet well connected to the surrounding area — this house is well worth a visit.

We are happy to provide additional photographs, plans, and further information upon request.