Bélapátfalva

Bélapátfalva is a town in Heves county, in Hungary, located north of the city of Eger. The town is located inside the Eger-river valley at an altitude of 311 meters above sea-level. Facing the town is the Bél-kő mountain which rises 811 meters and is one of the highest peaks of the Bükk mountains.

The town is the site of the best preserved Romanesque church building in Hungary, formerly part of a Cistercian abbey. The church was built after 1232 and later modified in Gothic style. The main façade is notable for its Romanesque portal and the interplay between grey and reddish stone rows. The abbey to the South of the church was destroyed in the 16th century, and only its ruins remain.

References

• Gervers-Molnár, V. (1972): A középkori Magyarország rotundái. (Rotunda in the Medieval Hungary). Akadémiai, Budapest
• Gerevich T. (1938): Magyarország románkori emlékei. (Die romanische Denkmäler Ungarns.) Egyetemi nyomda. Budapest
• Gerő, L. (1984): Magyar műemléki ABC. (Hungarian Architectural Heritage ABC.) Budapest
• Henszlmann, I. (1876): Magyarország ó-keresztyén, román és átmeneti stylü mű-emlékeinek rövid ismertetése, (Old-Christian, Romanesque and Transitional Style Architecture in Hungary). Királyi Magyar Egyetemi Nyomda, Budapest
• Szőnyi O. (É.n.): Régi magyar templomok. Alte Ungarische Kirchen. Anciennes églises Hongroises. Hungarian Churches of Yore. A Műemlékek Országos Bizottsága. Mirályi Magyar Egyetemi Nyomda, Budapest.
• Dercsényi D. (1972): Románkori építészet Magyarországon. Corvina, Budapest

External links

• Official site
• Aerial photographs: Bélapátfalva
• Panorama photographs: Bélapátfalva Cistercian abbey