A great historical site, need a half day at least to visit it. It is on top of a hill, be prepared to walk and climb a little.Old abbey,church, closter, the library is totally amazing.
If you're not Catholic or Christian you may not enjoy this specific stopover but it is definitely an interesting historical spot if you find yourself in Hungary on the way to Budapest. The over 1,000 year old Benedictine abbey is situated on top of a hill and offers a breathtaking vista of the horizon and the surrounding village. Our abbey guide was also very knowledgeable of the rich history of the abbey. We were lucky to visit the abbey when there was an exhibit of sacred relics. The abbey also has an interesting shop since they have a lavender plantation and their own winery. The Viator restaurant which is at the base of the abbey is also a must-do! Be sure to plan ahead though since getting to the abbey and having a meal prior to your tour will take time and your guide will be under a strict schedule.
Very lovely and nice part of Hungary. You can take a light trip around the abbey, after that taste it Hungarian cuisine in Viator restaurant.
Lookds like it has recently had upgrades done to the facilities and that there is still on-going construction on the Winery and Chapel. The audio tour was very good and you could replay everything so long as you did not get to the end. Easy to reach by public bus from Gyor
I visited the Pannonhalma Abbey on a Sunday, leaving from Győr in the morning on the 8:00 am bus and arriving around 8:50 am (see below for more bus information). I attended the mass at 10am that lasted an hour. Then I completed an audio guided tour, had a delicious lunch at the onsite restaurant, quickly visited the lavender distillery, and enjoyed a winery tour and tasting. Just a note, tours aren't allowed in the chapel before and during mass, so if you want to see it and are there on a Sunday, make sure you time your visit for after the mass. The Abbey and its surrounds are beautiful. Everything is well organized, and people were helpful whenever I had questions. It's worth spending the day and exploring all that the Abbey has to offer. I couldn't find the official bus schedule anywhere before my visit, although I continually read about a bus that leaves Győr and goes straight to the Abbey (instead of dropping you in the town of Pannonhalma and making you walk uphill for a couple of kilometers). The only place I could find any bus information online was the Abbey's website. Attached is a picture of the schedule I took at the bus depot (at Stand #11). See the "Pannonhalma, vár főkapu" schedule. The first column is during the week (Monday-Friday), the second is for Saturday, and the third is Sunday. The bus also picks you up at the Abbey and returns to Győr. Very convenient and only 465 HUF each way.
We have been there with some friends and relatives, I have enjoyed every minute of our visit to the Abbey.The place is totally refurbishedAfter the visit we have tried the local vines, and bought some presents ( local made, like chocolate and vine ) in the gift shop to other friends.
I had read one review on TripAdvisor saying Pannonhalma's Abbey isn't that bit a deal unless you're really into old monasteries. That's true, but kind of like saying the Louvre isn't that big a deal unless you like art. The history makes Pannonhalma pretty exciting, and the basilica is interesting. The real attraction, though is the library, which is breathtakingly beautiful. Check out the images of the library. On top of all that, there is a very modern restaurant just below the abbey with stunning views. It offered the best meal of a two-week trip through the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. They offer a snap pea soup that's unlike any normal split pea soup, much sweeter and lighter. The prawn pasta was pretty impressive too. Well worth a day trip from Budapest, which we did by train and local bus.
As with most UNESCO heritage listed sites, Pannonhalma Archabbey does not disappoint. Perched on a hill, the views from the abbey are panoramic & is best visited on a clear sunny day. It is not a long drive from Budapest either (approx. 1.5hr by car) so is great for a day-trip.The entrance fee is reasonable and comes with written guides (in most languages) as well as audio guides. There is plenty to see and discover at the abbey which is still a working abbey and school for Benedictine monks. It is in fact, the cradle of Christianity in Hungary with its impressive Library boasting almost 300 ancient printings and over 400,000 books. It is truly something worth seeing. The grounds of the abbey are massive, with an arboretum and botanical garden to wonder through as well as a winery.We would definitely recommend this to anyone interested in history, Christianity and UNESCO Heritage sites.
Very interesting place. Abbey is very old and full of heritage. The library is amazing, you have to see it. Gardens are OK but I come from a village myself so maybe that’s why they don’t impress me. Wine yard is really modern with interesting design (way its work rather than looks).
The place is on the World Heritage List, is really very nicely renovated. There is a nice modern restaurant with lovely view to the valley. We had a very good time.