Horvátzsidány: Pilgrimage Site, Churches and Culture

• The Peruska-Mária Chapel is a pilgrimage site in the forest above Horvátzsidány.
• A pedunculate oak more than 300 years old is the landmark of the pilgrimage site.
• A permanent Croatian ethnographic exhibition from the collection of Lajos Brigovich can be seen at Fő utca 6.
• The Church of St. John the Baptist was mentioned in 1622 and has been a parish church since 1788.

The Peruska-Mária Chapel is a pilgrimage site in the forest above Horvátzsidány; it is also located in the forest between Horvátzsidány and Kőszeg. A pedunculate oak more than 300 years old is its landmark. There is also a sculpture park with more than 20 statues by the chapel. They depict patron saints of crafts, and more than 20 crafts are represented. Religious imagery and depictions of craftsmanship thus stand side by side at this site.

Three historical details about the Church of St. John the Baptist can be distinguished: it was mentioned as early as 1622; it has been a parish church since 1788, after the parish separated from Peresznye. In 1875, the building was extensively renovated, and its orientation was reversed. The dates therefore mark different chapters: its early mention, the start of its status as a parish church and a later renovation.

The church’s design is also specifically described. It has a single nave; its choir is narrower than the nave and has a flat end. This architectural form adds a tangible feature of the building to its historical sequence.

The Mária Út reaches the Mária Chapel on the road between Kőszeg and Horvátzsidány. Its route runs from Rőtfalva via Kőszeg and the Peruska-Mária pilgrimage site in Horvátzsidány to Csepreg. The route description thus places the chapel in a sequence of several locations.

The alpannonia® Hard hike is described differently: it starts in Horvátzsidány and returns to its starting point on Tömördi Street. This distinction is useful for orientation: the Mária Út is outlined through its stops and route, while the hike is described by its start and return in Horvátzsidány. Before making specific plans, check the current waymarks and conditions for the route in question.

A permanent Croatian ethnographic exhibition from the collection of Lajos Brigovich can be seen at Fő utca 6 in Horvátzsidány. Its focus differs from that of the church history: Croatian ethnography is at its heart. If you plan to visit the exhibition, check the specific visiting time in advance.

The village is also home to the statue “Népek barátsága,” a work by Sándor Várady from 1985. Together with the exhibition and churches, it broadens the historical and cultural themes to discover in Horvátzsidány.

Discover more destinations: Velem, Gyöngyösfalu, Cák, Ólmod, Bozsok, Nemescsó, Kőszeg, Lukácsháza.

Where is the Peruska-Mária Chapel?

It is a pilgrimage site in the forest above Horvátzsidány and is also located between Horvátzsidány and Kőszeg.

Which hike starts in Horvátzsidány?

The alpannonia® Hard hike starts in the village and returns to its starting point on Tömördi Street.

Where is the Croatian ethnographic exhibition?

The permanent exhibition from the collection of Lajos Brigovich can be seen at Fő utca 6 in Horvátzsidány. Check the visiting time in advance.

For the broader travel overview: Kőszegi.