The founding of the Pauline monastery
The history of the Sopronbánfalva Monastery dates back to the 10th century when a group of missionaries arrived in the area around Sopron. The memorial site on Kolostor Hill eventually became a place of pilgrimage, where a chapel was built in honor of Saint Farkas. Shortly thereafter, the city of Sopron decided to establish a Pauline monastery and church on the site of the chapel. The sanctuary of the Gothic church can still be admired today, but only fragments remain of the medieval monastery building. Catholicism received a new impetus in the early 17th century, which led the Paulines to begin reorganizing their institutions. In addition to the city of Sopron, significant contributions to the reconstruction costs were made by the ruler as well as noble families living in the area such as the Nádasdy, Esterházy, Széchenyi, and other aristocratic families. During this period, the monastery took on its present form in Baroque style, with a single-story structure surrounded by a closed courtyard.
The golden age of the monastery was between 1643 and 1786 when it served as the novitiate of the Pauline order. In the southeastern wing of the buildings, a separate classroom was built for the training of novice monks, where individuals like Pál Széchényi, later Archbishop of Kalocsa, studied. The 17th-century wooden ceiling found here, with its 14-meter-long carved master beam, is a true rarity in Central Europe. The monastery also owned several land plots for its own upkeep, engaging in significant agricultural production including vineyards. Starting from the 17th century, they began constructing a cellar system for wine storage, which now permeates the entire Kolostor Hill. The Pauline Order was eventually dissolved by the secularization decree of Emperor Joseph II, and shortly thereafter, during the Napoleonic wars, the building was converted into a military hospital.
Carmelite Monastery
The property was purchased by Győr's bishop, János Zalka, in 1887 for the diocese. The members of the Pauline Order lived according to strict rules, avoiding contact with the outside world and minimizing their personal living space. Accordingly, cells in the monastery were converted into small living quarters, and accommodations were arranged in the novitiate as well. During World War II, the cellar system of Kolostor Hill was used as a shelter, providing refuge to many people. However, the religious policies of communism following the war did not spare the monastery: in 1950, the nuns were interned, and the monastery was closed. Subsequent renovation work followed these events. The painter Zoltán Básti, during the Rákosi era, created daring seccos with bold themes on the walls. In a grand allegorical painting, he depicted the buildings of the Basilica of Esztergom and St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, along with Bishop Vilmos Apor of Győr and Pope Pius XIII, the pope of that time.
The most provocative composition, somewhat hidden above the choir, depicts Archangel Michael defeating a devil bearing the facial features of the Soviet dictator Stalin. From a mental institution to Kolostorszálloda (Monastery Hotel) From the late 1950s until the regime change, the monastery operated as a mental institution. During this period, numerous archaeological and heritage conservation studies were conducted, resulting in the restoration of the Gothic sanctuary of the church. With the Law XXXII of 1991 concerning the compensation of churches, the Carmelite Order regained possession of its monastery; however, they lacked the financial resources necessary for restoration. In 2004, Gábor Kovács, a businessman and art collector, purchased the abandoned and dilapidated complex with the intention of preserving its value.
Following strict heritage regulations, renovation began in 2009 with contributions from the Norwegian Fund and Gábor Kovács, concluding about a year and a half later in 2010. The reconstruction of the building attracted the attention of both domestic and international heritage conservation experts. In April 2011, it received the prestigious ICOMOS Award, while in late September, it was honored with the equally prestigious Winkler Oszkár Award by the venerable Soproni Városszépítő Egyesület (Sopron City Beautification Association) for its restoration. In 2011, the monastery opened its doors as a high-quality hotel. From 2015, the complex came under state management and is operated by the Eszterháza Cultural, Research, and Festival Center.
