Zirc Cistercian Abbey and Arboretum is open to visitors all year round and is about 18 kilometres from Veszprém.
ARBORETUM
Highest arboretum in Hungary This park, laid out in English parkland style in the historical surroundings of the Zirc Cistercian Abbey, is the highest collection of trees in the country, lying 400 metres above sea level. It is splendid in all seasons and a pleasant place for rest and recreation. In springtime, the ornamental plants and perennial beds besides the fishpond put on a delightful show; in summer, there are a thousand shades of green and the dreamy scent of the lindens besides the chatter of the Cuha stream. In autumn, there is the glory of warm browns and golden yellow to enjoy. In winter, the flower beds are adorned with silver frost or tucked under a blanket of snow, enchanting visitors with a fairytale world. This 20-hectare “woodland garden”, also known as the “English garden” is thought to date back to the second half of the 18th century. You can often encounter characteristic representatives of the Bakony’s beetle and insect populations here in this beautiful natural environment and may even be accompanied by deer or squirrels on your walk through the garden.
BASILICA
This is one of the most beautiful Baroque churches in Hungary. Building was begun in 1732, by Cistercian monks who had come to Hungary from Heinrichau in Silesia. They partly made use of the ruins of the existing medieval building for its construction. The basilica was consecrated in 1752. The main altar is particularly beautiful and of considerable national significance, being the largest Baroque-style altar in Hungary. The basilica also boasts two paintings by one of the most important artists of the time, Franz Anton Maulbertsch. The two organs are also unique: the organ in the sacristy accompanies the monks at prayer, whereas the German Romantic period instrument in the chancel was used during the liturgy, and still is. Following restoration work, the basilica can now be seen in all its original glory. Naturally, the basilica is not only a monument and tourist attraction. The church, which was granted the status of basilica minor in 1982, the 800th anniversary of its foundation, is the liturgical home of a current monastic community and the parish church of the town of Zirc.
EXHIBITION OF ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
Insight into 800 years of daily monastical life in Zirc You can see an exhibition of ecclesiastical history and the history of the monastical order in the abbey’s former orangery. Visitors can gain an insight into the everyday lives, past and present, of the monks living in Zirc, with varying periods of absence, for 800 years. Members of this community have dedicated their lives to their vocation and their duties. Besides the monks’ personal testimonies, the material relics also have something to say. The artefacts and liturgical articles exhibited in the various galleries also tell the tale of life at the abbey over the centuries. You can follow the history of the Cistercian monks from 1182 to the modern day and can see how the activities and duties of the order in Hungary have changed and developed. Visitors can find their way around with the help of the interactive touch information screens and the audio guide.
ABBEY BEER
Genuine abbey beer is made here in authentic setting of the abbey’s brewery, combining manual work with the latest digital technology. The tradition of brewing beer in Zirc stretches back to the 18th century. As from the mid-18th century onwards, there was no longer just a vibrant religious life within the walls of the monastery: on 29 October 1735, the venerable members of the monastery tried their hand at making beer in Zirc for the first time.
More information about the opening hours here.
More information about the ticket prices here.
