Pannonhalma Archabbey

The Benedictine Pannonhalma Archabbey or Territorial Abbey of Pannonhalma is a medieval building in Pannonhalma, one of the oldest historic monuments in Hungary. Founded in 996, it is placed close to the metropolis, on pinnacle of a hill. Saint Martin of Tours is thought to have been born at the foot of this hill, therefore its former name, Mount of Saint Martin, from which the monastery on occasion took the opportunity call of Marton-hegyi Apatsag. This is the second one largest territorial abbey in the international, after the only in Monte Cassino. Its points of interest encompass the Basilica with the Crypt, the Cloisters, the monumental Library with 360,000 volumes, the Baroque Refectory and the Archabbey Collection.

Today there are approximately 50 priests residing in the monastery. The abbey is supplemented with the aid of the Benedictine High School, a boys' boarding college. It changed into based as the first Hungarian Benedictine monastery in 996 by means of Prince Geza, who specified this as an area for the priests to settle, and then it quickly have become the centre of the Benedictine order. The monastery was constructed in honour of Saint Martin of Tours. Geza's son, King Stephen I donated estates and privileges to the monastery. Astrik served as its first abbot.