Introduction
This article is about the city. For culture of the ancient Roman district, see Keszthely culture. Town in Western Transdanubia, HungaryKeszthelyTownFestetics Palace in Keszthely FlagCoat of armsInteractive map of KeszthelyKeszthelyLocation of KeszthelyCoordinates: 46°46′11″N 17°14′53″E / 46.76965°N 17.24813°E / 46.76965; 17.24813Country HungaryRegionWestern TransdanubiaCountyZalaDistrictKeszthelyGovernment • MayorGergely Tóth (VÁRTAK)Area • Total75.98 km2 (29.34 sq mi)Population (2017) • Total19,652 • Density258.65/km2 (669.9/sq mi)DemonymkeszthelyiPopulation by ethnicity • Hungarians83.6% • Germans2.1% • Romani0.6% • Croats0.2% • Poles0.1% • Slovaks0.1% • Romanians0.1% • Ukrainians0.1% • Others0.7%Population by religion • Roman Catholic54.5% • Greek Catholic0.2% • Calvinists3.2% • Lutherans1.6% • Jews0.1% • Other1.2% • Non-religious11.6% • Unknown27.6%Time zoneUTC+1 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)Postal code8360Area code(+36) 83MotorwaysM76 Motorway (planned)NUTS 3 codeHU223Distance from Budapest187 km (116 mi) SouthwestInternational airportsHévíz–Balaton Airport (SOB) previously Sármellék International AirportMPJenő Manninger (Fidesz)Websitewww.keszthely.hu Keszthely (Hungarian pronunciation: [ˈkɛsthɛj]; also known by alternative names) is a Hungarian city of 20,895 inhabitants located on the western shore of Lake Balaton. It is the second largest city by the lake and one of the more important cultural, educational and economic hubs in the region. Due to its favorable location and accessibility by both road and rail, Keszthely and the surrounding area is a preferred holiday destination. From the middle of the 5th century until the middle of the 7th century the Keszthely Culture flourished in the area. The Faculty for Agriculture of University of Pannonia is located in Keszthely. George Fejer, Hungarian author and librarian at the University of Pest, was born in Keszthely in 1766.