Gönyű

Gönyű lies 15 km east of Győr, along Main Road 1. Motorway M1 runs in a distance of less than 10 km from the settlement. The history of Gönyű has always been closely related to River Danube. In the Roman era a watch-tower was standing on the bank of the Danube as part of the limes. In the Middle Ages the village belonged to the estate of Pannonhalmi Apátság (Arch-abbey of Pannonhalma) and its inhabitants paid the tax in fish. Its stagecoach station was an important stop of the route between Budapest and Győr. Its port was developed at the beginning of the steam-boat traffic on the Danube and was considered quite busy at that time but after World War 2 its significance dropped. Since the 1990's continuous developments have been made to restore the former position of Győr-Gönyű Nemzetközi Közforgalmú Kikötő (Győr-Gönyű International Public Port) .

Erebe-szigetek (Erebe Islands) belonging to the settlement have a particularly high natural value. In the untouched island qualified to be a forest reserve several protected species of animals, e.g. beavers and otters, and different species of birds (kingfishers, bank-martins and mallards) can be found. Excursions are frequently organised to the island that can only be approached by boat. The settlement is a significant water-tour station. At its banks suitable for landing the participants of both the Danube and Raba tours can be seen. The Hajósmúzeum (Ship Museum), commemorating the sailors of the village, can be found in the centre of the settlement, on the bank of the Danube. The 15-m-high mast standing in front of it indicates the place of the museum for visitors already from far away. The exhibition can only be visited based on preliminary announcement.

Sources: http://www.gonyu.hu/, http://hu.wikipedia.org/, Vendégváró Útikönyv, Látnivalók Győr-Moson-Sopron Megyében. Főszerkesztő: Dr. Bedécs Gyula. Well Press, Debrecen, 1996.