Pannonhalma History

History

The monastery was founded by monks from Venice and Prague with the assistance of Prince Géza. The Benedictines were considered a militant order, and Géza's son, King Stephen, used them to help convert the Magyars to Christianity.

The abbey and associated buildings have been razed, rebuilt and restored many times over the centuries; it escaped damage during the Turkish occupation when it was used as a mosque. As a result, the complex is a patchwork of architectural styles.