Monastery

Zalavár Abbey was founded in 1019 by King Saint Stephen in honor of Saint Adrian. It was home to the Benedictines for over 500 years, until in 1541 the monks had to leave the buildings which were then transformed into a stronghold, successfully defending itself against Ottoman occupation. In 1702, the Austrian military office was ordered to demolish the abbey. The villagers used the remains as construction and building materials for new buildings. Only some nicely carved stone elements remained of the medieval monastery (today in the Museum of Keszthely).

In 1715 as Göttweig Abbey received the estates, the Benedictines had to move to the nearby Zalaapáti which belonged to the domain of Zalavár. Until 1777 the estates were used as a manor of Göttweig Abbey, but then the monastery was reestablished. The Baroque church and cloister were built between 1777–1781. The monks had to leave five years later because of the abolition decree of Emperor Joseph II, but they returned in 1802. The abbey was definitely closed in 1948, after the establishment of the communist regime. Today, the church serves as the parish church of Zalaapáti, while the monastery itself is a psychiatric care home and is not open to visitors.