Városlőd

Városlőd brings together traces of its monastic history, insights into rural domestic life and a wide range of activities at Iglauer Park. These different themes give you several ways to decide what you would like to focus your trip on: historical connections, everyday objects from an earlier era or outdoor activities.

Monastery history in Városlőd

The Carthusian monastery in Városlőd had a library building and workshops where codices were copied and bound. This history also has a literary connection: the Carthusian Anonymous wrote a work in one of the monastery’s cells, preserved in the Lövöld Codex, also known as the Érdy Codex. The library building, skilled craftsmanship and written records show different sides of monastic life.

The Roman Catholic Church of St. Michael is the subject of a local history tour at Iglauer Park. On the square south of the church, parts of the medieval monastery cloister are marked on the ground: the ground plan of the west wing, a small part of the beginning of the east wing, and a wall parallel to the church’s south wall. The lines thus illustrate several features of the former cloister and their position in relation to the church.

Hölgykő and rural domestic life

At the northern edge of the village, the mysterious Hölgykő Castle stands on a wooded promontory. The site dates from the Árpád era. Its location at the edge of the village and its historical connection make it another part of Városlőd’s local history.

The ÁMK Német Nemzetiségi Tájház, also known as the Waschludt Local History Museum, focuses on the interior of a rural farmhouse from around the turn of the century. The objects on display include furniture for the living room and kitchen, as well as everyday items. The focus is therefore on domestic life: the furnishings and household objects give an impression of how different rooms were equipped.

Another historical trace leads to Városlőd majolica. Painted with Hungarian motifs on a white glaze, it developed an exemplary style in the ceramics industry. The factory no longer exists. This story of ceramics complements the monastery’s history and the portrayal of the rural household with its own connection to design and craftsmanship.

Activities at Iglauer Park

Iglauer Park offers organised and self-guided tours, cycling, archery, fishing and craft activities. You can take part in the programmes even if you are not staying overnight at the park. Archery is a specific activity on offer; contact the park directly for current arrangements.

The park also offers a hike to natural attractions in the area around Városlőd. This adds an activity related to the surrounding area to the range of options. Ask the park about current dates and arrangements if you would like to include this hike in your plans.

The themes are easy to distinguish when planning your trip: the church, the cloister depiction and the codex lead to the monastery’s history; the local history museum and majolica offer different perspectives on domestic life and craftsmanship. The programmes at Iglauer Park, in turn, offer organised and self-guided activities that are also open to visitors who are not staying overnight. This can help you decide whether you are especially interested in history, culture or the activities described here.

Discover more destinations: Somlóvásárhely, Magyarpolány, Kislőd, Halimba, Somlószőlős, Nagyalásony, Úrkút, Ajka.

View the wider travel guide: Ajkai.