Cistercian Abbey

In the inner area of Pásztó rises the baroque‑style monastery building, and beside it, in a nicely landscaped setting, the foundation walls of the medieval monastery church and part of the monastery can be seen.

History of the monastery

The Benedictine abbey was probably founded by the Rátót kindred before 1134, in honor of Saint Nicholas. In 1191 King Béla III settled Cistercian monks in the monastery.

Monastic life in Pásztó ceased before 1544, because the monastery was converted into a fortification due to the Turkish threat. In 1551 the withdrawing Christian troops set it on fire. After that the church and monastery stood in ruins for a century and a half.

Architecture of the church

The church was originally built with a three‑aisled, straight‑ended main sanctuary and semicircular side sanctuaries. Its length was 38.4 m, its width 21.8 m. Around 1230 it burned down, after which a polygonal‑ended main sanctuary was built (its length increased to 45.6 m). The western façade had two entrances, the vaults of the aisles were supported by five pillars each. From the south a U‑shaped monastery was attached to the church, i.e., the quadrangular monastery building was never completed in full.

Besides the medieval church and monastery foundation walls, a rectangular‑plan, multi‑storey building rises. It was erected on medieval foundations, reusing medieval walls, at the site of the monastery’s eastern wing after the monks returned (1698) (1715–1717). Its ground floor is vaulted, the upper floor has a flat ceiling.

The monastery today

The restoration of the ruins and the monastery building took place in 1987–1989. The Pásztó Museum was placed in the former monastery building.