Tihany Benedictine Abbey (Tihanyi Apatsag)

The abbey was established by King Andrew I in 1055. The monastery's deed of foundation is the oldest Hungarian linguistic record. In the Romanesque undercroft is the only royal grave in Hungary to have remained at its original site. The new church of the abbey is one of the most attractive examples of Baroque architecture.

The medieval church and monastery were erected in honour of St Anianus and the Virgin Mary. Apart from 16th- and 17th-century pictures, a few stone carvings and the 11th-century undercroft are the only reminders of the original buildings. Built in 1055, the Romanesque three-aisle crypt hall are illuminated by tiny lancet-arch windows. This is where the sarcophagus of King Andrew I (1046-1060) is kept. The grave of the founder of the church is covered by a tombstone ornamented with a carved spiral-notched, long stemmed cross. Crosses of this kind are reserved solely for royal graves.

The monastery's deed of foundation is the oldest Hungarian document preserved in its original form. Though mainly written in Latin, some Hungarian words and expressions are also included and it is thus considered to be the oldest written linguistic record of the Hungarian language. The original is kept in Pannonhalma, but an identical copy is displayed and can be read here. The renovation of the abbey was started in the 1720's and the building complex was given its present form during that process. Although the abbey still has a religious function, some parts of the building complex host a museum. Built between 1719 and 1754, the two-steeple abbey church is a masterpiece of Hungarian Baroque architecture.

Visitors entering the church are welcomed by the characteristic splendour of Baroque. The frescoes and the furnishings were created by outstanding artists. Though the organ chest is nearly 250 years old, the organ itself is new, providing the opportunity for outstanding summer concerts, featuring highly acclaimed artists both from Hungary and abroad.