Haris Andrea szerk.: Koldulórendi építészet a középkori Magyarországon Tanulmányok (Művészettörténet - műemlékvédelem 7. Országos Műemlékvédelmi Hivatal,)

Németh Péter – Balázsik Tamás: A nyírbátori ferences templom

The Franciscan Monastery of Nyírbátor Péter Németh - Tamás Balázsik By the end of the 13th century the mediaeval town of Nyírbátor became one of the most important market-towns in the country. Market-towns in general provided ideal conditions for the settlement of mendicant orders. In spite of this, there is no mention of monasteries in Nyírbátor in any of the mediaeval documents concerning the town. The Franciscan Church is mentioned in a document written in 1499. However, judging from the style of some details of the building, it could have been built as early as the first third of the 15th century. According to a 17th century source, this church was the burial place of the Báthori family; István Báthori, the voivode of Transylvania who died in 1493, was buried in the crypt of the church. His tomb made of red marble was later moved to the Calvinist Church. In 1988 the survey of the demolished eastern wing revealed no evidence dating from before the 15th century. The wing, which was built of bricks with stone mouldings, consisted of a larger room next to the tower (probably a vestry) and several smaller cells. As a result of the spread of Reformation, the monastery gradually became deserted; then, in 1587, it was raided and looted by Vlachian troops. Later another room, a vestry, was built next to the tower, irrespective of the former arrangement but using some of the earlier walls. In the 18th century a new monastery was built on top of the mediaeval foundation, but its eastern wing was not completed. Here temporary buildings were erected, which were also mentioned in the sources. The floor was covered with bricks, their demolition was evidenced by the layer of charcoal and rubble of wattle and daub structures. The majority of the finds consist of Modern ceramics, fragments of glazed and painted pottery, glass and animal bones. Illustration 1. The eastern wing, viewed from the south 2. An open flue in the wall of room No. 5. 3. The remains of a room added to the monastery later 4. The 18th century floor level 5. The Franciscan Monastery of Nyírbátor 6. The Franciscan Monastery of Kőröshegy 7. The Franciscan Monastery in Farkas Street in Kolozsvár (Cluj Napoca) 8. The Franciscan Monastery of Tövis (Teiu§)