Visiting the Archabbey of Pannonhalma from Budapest
Today, the grand religious complex of Pannonhalma Abbey rises from the Hungarian countryside like a beacon of the country’s religious and cultural history.
And for centuries it has been at the centre of some of the most important events in the development of Hungary, from the first writing of the language, to the conversion of the population to Christianity.
A visit to Pannonhalma Abbey is an excellent day trip from Budapest and shows a different side of the country, here at one of Hungary’s World Heritage Sites.the Pompeii will be a highlight of your time in this part of Italy.
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When the Archabbey of Pannonhalma was built more than a thousand years ago, it was the centre of a plan to ‘civilise’ the Hungarians.
Whether they needed civilising, and whether the Christian rulers of Western Europe leading this crusade were actually civilised, is probably a matter of debate. But, regardless, this magnificent complex was the first educational institution in Hungary and still plays that role today.
Set amongst a verdant forest at the top of a hill, you can see its looming shape from almost anywhere in the small town that’s grown around its base in a rural part of northwestern Hungary, about 100 kilometres from Budapest.
A school and a religious centre, it may be, but at first appearances it looks more like a castle or a palace, with thick fortified walls, large wings of buildings, and a soaring central tower.
Visiting Pannonhalma as a day trip from Budapest, as I do, is not just about discovering the heritage of the site, but marvelling at its art collection and treasury of priceless artefacts.
To take the hassle out of your visit, this day tour from Budapest will organise everything and also show you Gyor and Lebeny.
This Hungarian World Heritage Site is also still in use, with the resident monks gathering for prayer three times a day, performing religious ceremonies in the community, and running s social care home. More than 300 people are employed by Pannonhalma Abbey – so no wonder it feels a bit like a small city!
The history of the Archabbey of Pannonhalma
To get the whole picture of the Achabbey of Pannonhalma’s story, you need to go all the way back to the year 996, when monks from the Bohemia region settled on the hill.
They came here to spread Christianity under the patronage of Prince Géza, who ruled the Hungarian tribes at the time. He was…
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