Travelling from Pécs in a north-westerly direction the landscape totally changes. The Mecsek Hills are replaced by the more gentle slopes of the Zselic Hills. Nestling within these we find the town of Kaposvár. József Rippl-Rónai, the outstanding figure of Impressionist painting, was born in the “town of painters”. His villa on Róma Hill is today a museum. János Vaszary, Sándor Galimberti, Lajos Kunffy… all international renowned artists who have strong links to the town and its artistic life of that period. Their works may be seen in the Rippl-Rónai Museum (10 High Street). The emblematic building and the productions of the Csiky Gergely Theatre draw theatre-lovers from afar, just as is true of the Dorottya Days festival, organised during carnival time. Kaposvár’s centre exudes an atmosphere of peace-time promenades and most of the buildings date from around the turn of the 19th and 20th Centuries. The building of the Csiky Gergely Theatre, opened in 1911, the Szivárvány Cinema and Music Hall, the Kaposvár Science and Technology House, some buildings in Ady Endre, Dózsa György, and Kontrássy streets, and the glass windows of Town Hall, are all jewels of Successionist architecture.

In June 2006 Kaposvár’s new adventure pool, the Virág Baths, opened is doors and with a continuous water surface covering 3462m² it is one of the largest in the country. Its name (Virág = flower) derives from the fact that, in aerial view, its enormous pool has the form of the petals of a flower.

We may enjoy a reminder of the traditional peasant way of life on seeing the wood-foundation houses and buildings with smoke kitchens whilst visiting the Europe Nostra prize-winning Open-air Ethnographic Museum at Szenna, close to Kaposvár. The neighbouring cul-de-sac village of Patca is a paradise for children, where everything goes. They may become soldiers defending the walls of the wooden fortress, or cavalrymen in the rising stables, whilst in the romping stable everybody may jump around to their hearts content amongst the straw.

At nearby Kaposmérő on the estate of several-time world champion and Guinness record-holder Lajos Kassai, we may gain an insight into the martial art of mounted archery, with the most authentic of introductions.
In a country house in neighbouring Bárdudvarnok we may find the workshop of the glass artists. Every year on May 1st and August 20th they hold an open day for those interested in glass blowing.
The 90hectare, 18-hole golf course at Hencse, and the five-star Hertelendy Manor at Kutas, both provide exclusive wellness facilities and a five-horseshoe stable for those seeking luxury.