Get to know the millennial Hungarian abbey Pannonhalma

The Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma has been standing on top of the Saint Martin Hill for more than a thousand years. It is one of the oldest historical monuments in Hungary and a must-visit destination for those who want to be part of something special, learn about the Benedictine values, or just admire the beautiful environment.

According to turista-szalami.blog.hu, the Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma stands on top of the Saint Martin hill. Legend has it that the saint used to pray on the hill every day when he was young. After his death, the hill became a cultic spot, which played an important role in Géza, Grand Prince of the Hungarians’ choice, who settled the Benedictine monks and founded a monastery for them there in 996.

The hill can be found in the Little Hungarian Plain, close to Győr. This is why Pannonhalma was called Győrszentmárton (Győr Saint Martin) until 1965.

The Benedictines

So the first Benedictine monks arrived at the invitation of Géza, Grand Prince of the Hungarians, and their task was to spread Christianity among Hungarians. Due to the death of Géza, the construction of the monastery was finished by his son, King Stephen, who was also the one to hand over the foundation charter in 1002.

The Benedictines are a so called working order, so they traditionally make a living by their own activities. For instance, they grow herbs and teach. The Benedictine High School, founded in 1950, is one of the best high schools in Hungary.

The abbey has an incredible library, where thousands of scientific works and documents are kept. It is the first and oldest library in Hungary, which was founded in 1820, and is currently the home of more than 400 thousand books. These include scientific documents, religious writings, herbal recipes, personal memoirs. And there’s also a 200-years-old globe, which is a beloved photo topic.