TIHANY ABBEY (TIHANYI APÁTSÁG)

Founded in 1055 by King André ^I, the Benedictine Abbey of Tihany is one of Hungary's most important spiritual and historical sites. The sovereign built the monastery on the peninsula to ensure perpetual prayers for himself and his lineage. The foundation charter, written in Latin, includes over 70 words in Hungarian, making it the very first written document to contain elements of the Hungarian language, and a veritable treasure of national heritage. The original Romanesque church was largely destroyed over the centuries, notably during the Ottoman invasions. It was replaced between 1719 and 1754 by a superb Baroque church with two bulbous bell towers overlooking the lake. The interior is adorned with carved woodwork, delicate frescoes and a remarkable pulpit decorated with a statue of Saint Jerome. The medieval crypt is the only intact vestige of the ^11th century. It houses the tomb of the founding king. The church faces east-west, allowing the faithful to face the rising sun. The raised choir conceals the crypt, accessible via two side staircases. Abandoned in the ^16th century, the monastery was rebuilt and enlarged in the ^18th century, only to be deserted again under Communism. In 1921, Charles IV, the last King of Hungary, was briefly detained here before his exile to Madeira. Now a museum, the site was returned to the Benedictines in 1994. Today, the abbey welcomes visitors, concerts and monks, true to its original vocation.