The neti neti estate in Csáford, near Zalaszentgrót, Hungary
Because we need places where there is nothing to achieve, nothing to prove and no need to be constantly available.
Places where it is enough simply to arrive. To slow down. To be quiet. To take a walk. To sit by the fire. To find your way back to a pace that everyday life rarely allows.
neti neti exists so that there is a space where attention can turn inward instead of outward. Where nature, silence and simple presence remind us that we don't always need more - sometimes we need less.
neti neti is located in Csáford near Zalaszentgrót: guest houses, the hütte as a community space, garden, walking trails, firepit and planned wellness (sauna, bathing lake, cold plunge, jacuzzi).
THE BEGINNINGS
2005. A summer by Lake Balaton. Drinks with friends, and with friends of friends. One of them mentions that he has a small vineyard he would like to sell. I ask how much it costs. Three hundred thousand forints, he says. I didn't ask where it was, how big it was or whether it bore any fruit - under the influence of the pálinka we had drunk I paid a deposit of twenty thousand forints, and then forgot the whole thing.
Six months later the seller called to ask whether I had been serious about the deal. What deal, I asked. The vineyard in Csáford, of course.
In the spring of 2006 my friend Gábor Lipák and I gave this unknown Zala hillside a chance. We found the vineyard, parked the car, and when we turned towards the valley, this was the view in front of us.
That is where everything began.
At thirty-two I became the enthusiastic owner of a 4198-square-metre "hill" - as they call it in Zala - with an unpromising vineyard and a ruined stable on it.
20 YEARS OF THINKING
From the very first moment, Csáford became a place of retreat.
At first I came here alone, later with a growing family. To rest, to recharge, to build, to make things beautiful. We renovated the first house, then the land grew with the neighbouring plot, and then with the neighbours next to those, with neglected cellars, ruined houses and empty hillsides. And we often talked about how good it would be to show this to others one day. So that someone else could also experience the silence, the calm and the slowness this place gives on its own.
Meanwhile we travelled the world, looking everywhere for what we had in fact already found in Csáford - we just hadn't noticed it yet. As time passed, the land grew, the children grew up, and life closed several important chapters. Family circumstances changed, and the professional CV left a few big stories behind as well.
And then one day there we were: me and Csáford.
And I had to work out what to do with all of it.
About the land
The estate is ten hectares. A piece of rural Hungary near Zalaszentgrót, in Csáford. Forest, meadow, fruit trees, quiet trails. That's it.
The Hütte
The communal heart of the estate: a warm, nature-close gathering space for arriving, eating together, talking and joining programmes. About 50 people fit indoors, with a similarly sized terrace alongside.
The rhythm of the countryside
Time passes differently here. Birdsong in the morning, a long walk in the afternoon, fire in the evening. Not a programme - a mood.
Nature and trails
Walking trails wind across the estate and beyond it. Within minutes you're alone among the trees.
Sustainability, slower life
For us, neti neti's ten hectares are not simply the area around the houses. Forest, meadow, garden and a constantly evolving habitat of which we too are a part. So our goal is not to put every square metre to use. Some things we tend, some we rethink, and some we deliberately leave alone.
We do not treat sustainability as a separate commitment either. Rather, it is many small decisions: what we build and what we don't, where food comes from, what we clean with, how we use water and energy, what we throw away, what we reuse, and how well neti neti can work together with its surroundings.
The retreat mindset
We believe meaningful rest is a question of space and time. neti neti gives both.
Frequently asked
How big is the estate?
Ten hectares of forest, meadow and garden, with eight separate houses and the communal hutte. The houses are placed so that privacy and quiet remain everywhere.
What can we do on the property?
Walk the forest trails, make a fire, read, swim in the pond, cook, or simply do nothing. The estate is designed so that you never have to leave.
What is around the estate?
Zala hills, forests, small villages. Zalaszentgrót is 10 minutes away, the western basin of Lake Balaton about 40 minutes, Hévíz and Keszthely half an hour by car.
How do I get there?
Easiest by car: leaving the M7 at Balatonszentgyörgy, or via main road 76. Parking on site is free.
Is there phone signal and Wi-Fi?
Due to the terrain, mobile signal is strongly limited. Internet is currently only available at the communal space. If you long for a digital detox, it is easy to put the phone down: the place itself does not force online presence.
Is it suitable for families with children?
Yes, several of our houses welcome children. The little ones need constant parental attention, and in return they get plenty of room to roam.
Which season is best to visit?
We are open all year. Blooming meadows in spring, a shady garden in summer, colourful forest in autumn, quiet landscape and well-heated houses in winter.