Szigliget is a village located on the northern shore of Lake Balaton and a member of the Tapolca Multi-Purpose Association. Unfortunately, like most settlements along Lake Balaton, the population of the village (counting permanent residents) is continuously declining. At the same time, the number of people owning holiday properties is increasing. Naturally, we do not have exact figures regarding those staying in holiday homes, but taking everything into account, we can speak of a settlement with a population of around 3,500.
Main road No. 71 passes through the administrative area of Szigliget, yet we feel its disadvantages only to a small extent, as it avoids the densely populated areas and affects the village only over a short stretch (200 metres). The village can be reached from the main road via two roads, and both these roads and the main internal traffic routes within the village are maintained by the state. The municipal roads in Szigliget are typically single-lane, which makes continuous two-way traffic almost impossible. Due to the volume of motor traffic, however, this situation is still manageable. Because of the density of buildings, widening these streets is practically unfeasible. The asphalt roads in our settlement can be considered relatively good, and the roads providing access to residential and holiday properties are all paved. Although Szigliget officially has a railway station, it is not located within our village but within the administrative area of Badacsonytördemic. As a result, Szigliget cannot be reached directly by rail. The local population mainly uses public transport (buses) to travel to Tapolca and Keszthely. The Lake Balaton Cycle Path runs through the administrative area of Szigliget for a length of 5 kilometres, which has significantly improved the safety of pedestrian and cycling traffic between the two neighbouring settlements (Balatonederics and Badacsonytördemic). There is no dedicated cycle path within the built-up area of the village itself. Pedestrian traffic has been made considerably safer by the construction of a pavement connecting the village centre with the beach, providing safe pedestrian access all the way from the Main Square to the harbour. Thanks to the village's building regulations and traditional architectural customs, a uniform architectural style has developed, resulting in single-storey houses — sometimes with a converted attic — built with gardens, whether as family homes or holiday properties.
In terms of settlement structure, Szigliget is divided into three parts. 80% of the permanent population lives in the village centre. Here too, the same process can be observed that began earlier in the other parts of the village: when a house becomes vacant due to the death of its owner, relatives do not move in but instead sell the property, which then becomes a holiday home. In the Old Village (Ófalu) and in the holiday area (the hilly region), the number of permanent residents has become minimal, while the number of holiday home owners increases year by year.
Apart from a few densely built-up areas, Szigliget has a relatively open, spacious layout, which is perhaps one of the reasons why it has such extensive green spaces. Since it is a protected area, strict regulations safeguard its natural assets. Thanks to its large green spaces and, relative to the size of the village, extensive forests, Szigliget is a very popular tourist destination where visitors enjoy hiking. Besides its natural assets, the historical monuments and built heritage that have survived from our past also deserve special mention. The most visited of these is the castle, whose visitor numbers are growing year by year. As mentioned earlier, the permanent population is declining, while at the same time the number of elderly residents is increasing. Unfortunately, this demographic trend is characteristic of the whole country. The age composition of the population is undergoing a complete transformation: the number of people under 18 is significantly decreasing, while the number of pensioners is continuously growing. Unemployment varies depending on the season. Taking the data of the last three years into account, the rate stands at 4.6%, which is no worse than the national figure. The local population typically finds work either locally or in Tapolca. The largest employer in Szigliget is the local municipality, which employs 40 people.
At present, we have basic educational institutions: a kindergarten and a primary school. Children attend these institutions not only from Szigliget itself but also from four other settlements. The utilisation of our institutions does not even reach fifty percent. This situation is beneficial for the children, as they can study in small classes in a family-like atmosphere. For the operators, however, it represents a serious financial burden, raising the possibility that, in the event of further cuts to state funding, we may no longer be able to keep our school running. Unfortunately, local young people do not have a cultural centre available to them. We have tried to reduce this shortcoming by providing a club room for young people. Beyond this, there are several other opportunities for cultured leisure activities. I would like to highlight that we place great emphasis on educating people towards a healthy lifestyle, starting already at school age. Outdoor sports facilities are available both for athletes of the local Balaton SE sports club and for anyone who simply wants to exercise. In winter, many people also enjoy sports that can be practised in the school's hall, such as table tennis or various forms of exercise popular among women.
Throughout the year, we regularly organise cultural events, and the services provided by the library are available to everyone.
As mentioned earlier, our road network is in relatively good condition, with almost all of our roads paved. In terms of public utilities, the village can be considered well supplied. The sewerage network has been built out, with the exception of Ciframajor. Drinking water and electricity supply coverage is 100%. Within the built-up area, gas supply coverage is likewise 100%.
The financial situation of the population can be described as good. The number of people living in below-average financial circumstances is not significant. The municipality, together with specialists from the Red Cross who focus on this area, pay close attention to families living in disadvantaged circumstances due to their lifestyle. The incidence of domestic violence caused by alcoholism is lower than average.
No permanent residents belonging to any minority live in Szigliget. No political parties or local branches are registered here. Our village has one church and two chapels, all built by followers of the Catholic faith. The number of representatives of other religions in Szigliget is almost negligible. A significant proportion of the people living in the village try to contribute to its development, either by carrying out work or by donating towards various development projects. As a result of these contributions and this work, we can point to many tangible achievements. The community spirit is also demonstrated by the fact that the number of associations and civil organisations has grown considerably in recent times. Examples include the Szigliget Women's Association, the Sailing Association, the Szigliget Sailing School, the Szigliget Tennis Association, the Civil Guard Association, and a belly dance group.
To improve public safety, the local community police officer, together with the Tapolca police station and the Szigliget Civil Guard Association, carry out serious work. Over the years, this work has been reflected in a drastic decrease in the number of crimes. Perhaps the greatest recognition the association receives, day after day, comes from property owners, who always welcome the civil guards warmly when they patrol the village. Many people also reward this work with financial support, which is used to fund the operation of the civil guard association. The relationship between the police and the local organisation can be described as good, as has been demonstrated through several joint actions.