Religious Sights
BENEDICTINE ABBEY OF PANNONHALMA
The fascinating building complex of the Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma attracts the eye from afar. It’s worth approaching on foot as the upward path offers a singular experience. Hungary’s largest and oldest religious centre has deservedly earned a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Guests can admire the St. Martin Basilica, the medieval main portal or the cloister connecting the gate with the church. Visitors are undoubtedly most fascinated by the 400,000 volume library: everyone feels the urge to immerse themselves in the pages of the ancient tomes. Taking a few steps never hurts, and the church’s 55-metre tower offers a splendid view.
BENEDICTINE ABBEY OF TIHANY
Sometimes, when you visit Lake Balaton, you should say no to freshwater swimming or try resisting lake-side delicacies, as the area offers countless beautiful and enjoyable sights to visit. One town you should definitely have on your list is Tihany, not just because a few years ago it was chosen as Europe's most beautifully renovated settlement, but also because this is where one of the jewels of the Balaton, the Benedictine Abbey of Tihany, can be found. The Benedictine monastery in Tihany was established in 1055 by King Andrew I of Hungary. It was dedicated to the Holy Virgin and to Saint Bishop Aignan of Orleans. The founding charter of the monastery is the oldest Hungarian document preserved in its original form. King Andrew was buried in the church of the monastery in 1060. His tomb in the crypt of the church is the only grave of a medieval King of Hungary which has been preserved up until now.
ESZTERGOM BASILICA
The official title of this church is the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption and Saint Adalbert but the symbol of the city is simply referred to as the Esztergom Basilica. The enormous building standing on the Castle Hill is the largest church in Hungary and the third largest in Europe. The Classicist building has monumental dimensions: it is 118 metres high, 49 metres wide, and its dome is 71,5 metres high in the inside. Its tympanum is supported by eight 22 metres tall columns and the gigantic building rests on 17 metres thick walls. The Basilica housed the Cathedral Treasury which is the largest ecclesiastical treasury in Hungary.
