PHOTOS: Beautiful, antique Hungarian church restored

Architect Márton Sarkadi, project manager of the Diocese of Szombathely has announced the completion of the restoration of St. George’s Church in Ják. The next potential phase involves constructing a visitor centre with plans already prepared for the project.

The architect Márton Sarkadi has announced the successful completion of the comprehensive restoration efforts for both the interior and exterior of St. George’s Chruch in Ják. With the interior renovation finalised in 2022, subsequent work was focused on the exterior, including the restoration of the iconic western gate of the Ják church, Turizmus.com reports.

Sarkadi noted additional enhancements to the churchyard such as renovated walkways and upgraded lighting. Moreover, Sarkadi highlighted the thorough restoration of the 13th-century St. James Chapel as part of the renovation project. Plans are underway for the potential construction of a visitor centre, leveraging pre-existing designs for this next phase of development.

In preparation for the construction of a visitor centre and exhibition space connected to the church in Ják, Márton Sarkadi disclosed that the original apostles’ statues adorning the abbey church’s gate were relocated from the Savaria Museum on Friday.

While three statues will be temporarily showcased in a tourist pavilion adjacent to the church, the remaining pieces will be housed in the artefact warehouse of the Szombathely Diocese until the completion of the visitor centre. Sarkadi emphasised that this step aims to underscore the comprehensive tourist appeal of Ják, highlighting not only the Romanesque church itself but also the archaeological discoveries and artefacts showcasing its rich history and cultural significance.