Nagybajcs

The church of Szent György vitéz és vértanú houses a one-meter-high Pietà carved from wood in the 16th century. The church is said to have been built in either 1862 or 1869; the organ bears the year 1867. Vörösrét lies west of Nagybajcs, near the embankment along the Great Danube.

In Nagybajcs, the Pietà brings together a specific art-historical classification and a traditional attribution: because of its striking resemblance to Michelangelo’s Pietà and the close timing of its creation, it has been linked to that work. This is a reported connection, not a claim about its authorship. Its dimensions and material give the artwork its own scale: it is one meter high and carved from wood.

The building history of the church of Szent György vitéz és vértanú is also not assigned a single year. The church is said to have been built in either 1862 or 1869, while the organ bears the year 1867. Those interested in local history will therefore find several different dates here, each with its own context.

Another cultural feature is the Mária fülke, an unusual shrine in Nagybajcs. Simon Lászlóné Irénke had it built after, according to the traditional story, Jesus appeared beside her bed one night. The story gives the place a religious and personal dimension that differs from the art-historical classification of the Pietà.

Vörösrét lies west of Nagybajcs, near the embankment along the Great Danube. Plants such as the Siberian iris and summer snowflake are typical of its wet meadows. This adds a natural-history perspective to the area’s cultural themes: the focus here is on wet-meadow plants, rather than the church’s furnishings or building history.

The wider destination of Győr-Moson-Sopron County offers further cultural and landscape attractions. Pannonhalma Archabbey was founded in 996. The World Heritage property includes the monastic complex, the basilica, educational buildings, the Chapel of Our Lady, the Millennium Chapel, and botanical and herb gardens. Scheduled buses run daily from Győr bus station to the main entrance of the archabbey; check the timetable before travelling.

The Fertő/Neusiedler See Cultural Landscape offers a different perspective on the landscape. It includes Eurasia’s westernmost steppe lake, as well as wetlands, saline soils, reed beds and lakeshores. Lake Neusiedl is the core of Fertő-Hanság National Park; the Hungarian part of the lake has been protected since 1977. The Fertő-táj Cultural Landscape received UNESCO World Heritage status on 13 December 2001.

Architecture and wildlife watching are also among the wider destination’s attractions: Esterházy Palace in Fertőd is an outstanding example of Hungarian Baroque-Rococo palace architecture. Electric boat tours on Lake Neusiedl travel through reed channels and bays on the western side; birds that can be seen include reed warblers, great egrets, purple herons and various ducks. Tours and booking conditions can change, so checking before making plans is recommended.

Discover more destinations: Nyúl, Öttevény, Pér, Kisbajcs, Abda, Győrzámoly, Gönyű, Töltéstava.

How large and how old is the Pietà in Nagybajcs?

The wooden Pietà was carved in the 16th century and is one meter high.

Is the church’s construction date known for certain?

The church is said to have been built in either 1862 or 1869. The organ bears the year 1867.

Which plants are mentioned for Vörösrét?

Plants typical of the wet meadows around Vörösrét include the Siberian iris and summer snowflake.

To the wider travel guide: Győri.