Herend Attractions

This small town (310m (1017ft) a.s.l.; pop. 2920) in the Bakony, about 15km ( 9mi.) northwest of Veszprém, is famous for its porcelain of the same name. The firm was established in 1826 and taken over by Mór Fischer in 1839 who made its products famous throughout the world within a few decades. In 1851 he took his porcelain to the World Exhibition where it attracted a lot of attention. Queen Victoria ordered a Herend dinner service decorated with butterflies and flowers, inspired by Chinese porcelain painting. This pattern has since carried the name Victoria. Hand-decorated porcelain is still produced in Herend (factory visits by arrangement with the tourist office at Veszprém). A visit to the museum in the old main factory building is recommended. Selected pieces illustrate the 150-year-old history of the firm and the changing shapes of its products.