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

Valter Ilona: A magyarországi szerzetesrendi építészet kutatása

The Research of Monastic Architecture in Hungary Ilona Valter The research of mediaeval architecture in Hungary began during the 1840s. János Erdy started the archaeological excavation of the Székesfehérvár Cathedral in 1848. The Archaeological Committee was founded in 1860, and in 1872 the National Committee for Monuments in Hungary was established. Eminent historians, art historians, architects and archaeologists took part in the work. The time preceding the Celebrations of the Millenneum of the Hungarian Invasion was mainly used for the representative restoration of the existing monuments. The most important monastic churches and monasteries were restored one after the other. Major monographs were written. After the First World War the emphasis was shifted to the research work. Sándor Garády's excavations in Budapest formed a transition between the architectural and the art historical research work in the 1930s and 1940s. From Hungary's distinctive historical and geographical position followed the extraordinary scale of destruction of ist monuments, thus necessitating major efforts in the excavation and restoration of mediaeval monuments. It was hardly a coincidence, therefore, that a unique method of combining the meticulous and all-encompassing analysis of the archaeological layers with a simultaneous study of monuments was developed precisely here, in Hungary. This is accompanied by research of the buildings to uncover former rebuildings and alterations. As a result of the regular efforts in the past forty years, Hungary can show spectacular achievements in the area of studying and restoring religious monuments, and monastic architecture in particular. There have been new results in the study of Benedictine monasteries founded by the Kings (Pécsvárad, Szekszárd, Tihany, Somogyvár), and in the research work at Feldebrő, Abasár and Dömös. The research of monasteries owned by the clans began with one of their earliest example, the Monastery of Zselicszentjakab (Kaposszentjakab), followed by the, similarly important Monasteries of Nagyecsed, Sárvár, Pusztaszer and the Csolt Monastery at Vésztő. The excavation of the Benedictine convent once standing on the Esztergom Island also brought interesting results, as did the research of the Benedectine Abbey of Bátmonostor. The research work on the ruins at Herpály was followed by their restoration. A rotunda and a complete monastery were excavated near the Benedictine Abbey of Boldva. The research work on the Monastery of Vértesszentkereszt is also very important from an art historical point of view. There has also been a major breakthrough in the research of Cistercian abbeys. The entire layout of the Monastery of Bélapátfalva has been excavated, together with the destroyed monasteries of Pásztó, Szentgotthárd and Pilis. Our knowledge about the architecture of the Premonstratensian Monasteries (Jánoshida, Gyulafirátót, Majk) has also become deeper and more complex. The research of the Provostship of Ocsa, Zsámbék and Garáb is in process. A work listing the Pauline monasteries was published in 1975, and the research and restoration of a number of important Pauline monuments (Budaszentlörinc, Pécs Jakabhegy, Ege r-Alm ár völgy, Nagyvázsony, Salföld) is under way. After the publication of the excavation results it will be possible to draw the connections and write up the summary.