Description of the attraction
The Cistercian Abbey of Pernau is located in the border region of Austria in the federal state of Burgenland. It is located so close to the Hungarian border that some, distant monastery buildings are already on the territory of Hungary. Now only ruins remain of the abbey, however, they are well preserved.
The monastery itself was founded back in 1219, and Benedictine monks lived here. However, in 1234 it was decided to turn the Abbey of Pernau into a kind of "branch" of the large Cistercian abbey of the city of Szentgothard, founded at the end of the 12th century.
The abbey in Pernau enjoyed the patronage of many noble Hungarian families and even King Charles himself, who ruled at the beginning of the 14th century. In total, six Cistercian monasteries were founded in Hungary, but that very Abbey of Pernau was considered one of the richest and most successful. He owned vast areas of agricultural land, several mills, wineries and small farms, stretching along the banks of a large waterway - the Pinki River.
The decline of the Abbey of Pernau began after 1526, when, due to an attack by Turkish troops, the monks were forced to leave it. Soon it was finally dissolved and lost its sacred purpose. However, the complex of monastic buildings stood in its place for a long time, moreover, in 1552 it was additionally fortified. In 1640 the Jesuits moved here and remained in the abbey until the official abolition of their order in 1773.
After the departure of the Jesuits, the abbey again began to pass from one noble Hungarian family to another, but later it finally fell into disrepair and was partially destroyed. Now, on the territory of the former Cistercian abbey in Pernau, only a small church and the ruins of a monastery farm have been preserved, which are already on Hungarian territory.
