Benedictine Monastery Hronský Beňadik

Benedictine monastery in Hronský Beňadik consists of a set of fortified sacral buildings in the village Hronský Beňadik in the district of Žarnovica in Banská Bystrica region. The monastic complex its stunning visitors with contemporary monumentality is a unique combination of sacred buildings and fortification as well as the symbiosis of different building styles - Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. The complex of buildings even today seems to be as a guardian of the crossroads.

Benedictine Abbey in Hronský Beňadik was solemnly consecrated in 1075 in the presence of the founder of the monastery, the Hungarian King Géza I. Archaeological research has proven that this place was inhabited already in the Great Moravian period. From the initial Romanesque complex it has been preserved very little. The construction of today's buildings complex took place during the reign of King Louis I - the Great of Anjou in the years 1345 - 1350.

Since the earliest days the monastery besides disseminating spiritual words became famous as an important centre of medieval culture and education as well as technical progress. Significant monuments of fine art, liturgy, music and theological works had their origin just inside the walls of the Benedictine monastery. The Nitra codex, Latin Gospel and the oldest text written in Latin in Slovakia come from the monastery.

It was also one of the so-called authoritative sites. His responsibilities included the issuance, validation and verification of relevant documents and papers, at the local convent people applied for proposal to solve disputes in property matters. The monastery was the place for storing archives and valuables at the same time.

The July 21, 1881 became the tragic day for the monastery, when the buildings the monastery seized by a great fire. Reconstruction in neo-gothic style, however, was a further decline until relatively preserved part of the monastery. Preserved Gothic monuments found their new location in the Diocesan Museum of Esztergom.

The central part of the monastery complex consists of the so-called Court of Paradise surrounded by a cloister with arcades.

Monastery buildings stand around the court and space is completed by the dominant Temple Church of Our Lady and St. Benedict standing on the north side.

A rich history, a rare work of architecture as well as the local existence of the oldest Benedictine monastery in Slovakia was inspiration for including the monastic complex of Hronský Beňadik in April 24th 1970 in the list of national cultural heritage.

At present, after leaving the Order of the Salesians, who were here from 1927, with interruptions, until 1999, Pallottines operates in the monastery. The monastery is used as a charity home as well as place for a short stay.

Opening hours

June to September

Tour (organized tours) you can reserve (a few days in advance) on phone numbers.