Monastery

The ruins of Bokod monastery, which belong to the village of Oroszlány, are situated in the Vértes Mountains. Although its name ‘Vértesszentkereszt’ originates to the 19th century, medieval sources referred to the place as ‘SzentKereszt, Udvarhely, Keresztur’. The church is a three-nave Romanesque basilica with a cross nave, exceptional three lobed apse, with original carved details, and it has two towers on the West. The monastery is connected to the Basilica from the north. The ruins of the first church, which is believed to have been built at the beginning of the 12^th century, can be found north from this area. The first mention of the monastery dates back to 1146. In the 13th century, the area belonged to genus Csák, who probably built a bigger church, dedicated to the Holy Cross, and related buildings. The monastery was fortified, with a rampart and ditch in front of it.  After the crisis and wars between King Charles I and the oligarchs, the Csák family lost its power, and many of their castles and estates including Vértesszentkereszt became a possession of the king. During the 14^th and 15^th century, the monastery had a few owners, and was desolated in 1478 until King Mathias I allowed the Dominicans to take over. In 1543, all the monks deserted the Monastery in fear, and never returned, as the area and the Castle Tata became part of Turk occupation. As a result the monastic complex was severely damaged. The devoured site was left until the 18^th century, when the Esterházy family (a Noble Hungarian family of high-status at that time) used what was left of it for constructions. For example, in the park of the Tata castle, where more than 20 carved capitals were placed and built. Today, the artefacts and carved stones that were found during the excavations of the ruins in 1964-1971, are represented in an exhibition of the KunyDomonkos Museum.