Tihany Abbey

The Benedictine Abbey of Tihany was founded by King Andrew I in 1055. The monastery remained miraculously intact throughout the Middle Ages, but an unexpected fire in 1683 destroyed the monastery buildings. Reconstruction began in 1719 according to the plans of the Carmelite architect Márton Wittwer. The medieval buildings were demolished and in more than three decades, in 1754, the large baroque church with two towers was rebuilt. In 1889, during a major renovation of the church, it was decided to decorate the square with wall paintings. In 1950, following the dissolution of the monastic orders by the state, the Benedictines had to leave the monastery again (they had to leave it briefly from 1786 to 1802 following a decree of Joseph II). The parish survived, the monastery first became a social centre and then a museum was set up there. The Benedictines were able to return to Tihany in 1990, but the convent complex was not returned to the state until 1994.