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Zsámbék (German: Schambeck) is a town in Pest County. It is located 30 km (19 mi) west of Budapest in the Zsámbék Basin.

Understand[edit]

Zsámbék has been inhabited since Paleolithic times. It has seen Celtic, Roman and Avar populations throughout its history, according to archaeological finds. A Celtic coach's remains were found there as well as a bronze trumpet.

In the 1180s Béla III of Hungary, granted land around the village to a knight named Aynard. Aynard's family built the Premonstratensian church beginning in 1220.

The church was destroyed in 1241 during the Mongolian invasions. Following the destruction, during the reign of Béla IV of Hungary, the church and monastery were rebuilt. Positioned at an important merchant route — halfway between Esztergom and Székesfehérvár and near Buda — the village underwent rapid growth.

An earthquake in 1763 ruined the church once again. It was not reconstructed after this horrific event. Settlers from Germany, who came to live in the abandoned village after the Turkish occupation, took the stones from the church and used them for building houses and fences. Many of the church's stones are still present in the walls of older houses.

Get in[edit]

By bus[edit]

From Budapest to Zsámbék: regional buses from Széll Kálmán tér  M2  are available in every 30 minutes. The journey takes 48 minutes and costs 560 Ft.

Regional bus line network map of Southwest Pest County.

Get around[edit]

There is no local public transport service. You can use the regional buses operated by Volánbusz.

See[edit]

Zsámbék[edit]

Ruins of Premontre Church in Zsámbék
Ruins of Premontre Church in Zsámbék
  • 1 Ruins of Premontre Monastery and Church (Premontrei kolostor és templom romjai), Corvin János utca, +36 20 501-6407. Mar 15–Oct 23: Tu–Su 10:00–18:00; Oct 24–Mar 14: 10:00–16:00. Museum and lapidary. The construction of the Romanesque church started in 1220 as a part of a Premonstratensian monastery. It was the third consecutive church standing at the same site. The construction was completed in the 13th century. The church was a three-nave basilica; the cloister was attached to one of the sides. The church and the monastery were subsequently rebuilt in the Gothic style. The monastery was badly damaged during Turkish rule in Hungary. On June 28, 1736, the church collapsed as a result of an earthquake, and since then has been deserted. Adult: 800 Ft; senior, student: 400 Ft. Zsámbék Premontre monastery church (Q1240173) on Wikidata Premontre monastery church of Zsámbék on Wikipedia
  • 2 Lamp Museum (Lámpamúzeum), Magyar utca 18, +36 20 502-6682, . Mar 15–Oct 23: Tu–Su 10:00–18:00; Oct 24–Mar 14: 10:00–16:00. The private collection of Ferenc Borus, opened in 1979, shows around 1200 lighting devices from the 1750s; from candlesticks to kerosene lamps from quite a few world-famous porcelain factories. The collection was added to the Guinness Book of Records in 1995. Adult: 800 Ft; senior, student: 400 Ft.
  • 3 Swabian Heritage Museum (Sváb tájház), Bicskei utca 12, +36 23 341-831. Mar 15–Oct 23: Sa Su 10:00–18:00; Oct 24–Mar 14: Sa Su 10:00–16:00; only on second weekend in every month, and on appointment. It was built by Melchior Keller, a famous livestock farmer, around 1740. There is a local history exhibition, along with a collection of painted German peasant furniture. Adult: 400 Ft; senior, student: 200 Ft.
  • 4 Firefighter Exhibition (Tűzoltó kiállítás), Petőfi Sándor utca 110, +36 30 914-2116, . Only by appointment. Free entrance.
  • 5 Convent Garden (Zárdakert), Akadémia utca. It became the property of the Christian Sisters in 1908. The park, surrounded by a wall of ponds, trees and winding paths, was the prayer area for the nun candidates and the place for their health walks. Free to visit.
  • 6 Turkish Well (Török-kút), Táncsics Mihály utca. A two-story 'dripping' well built in the 16th century. Its water does not freeze in he coldest time so when around 1900 covered the well the lower part started using as a bath. The drinking water of the village was transported from here until the end of the 1960s. Now feeding the pond in Convent Garden (next to it) after the pond where leave the city converge to Békás stream. Over 120 m2 (1,300 ft²) size. The barrier walls circa 1 m (3.3 ft) high.
  • 7 Roman Catholic Church of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist (Keresztelő Szent János születése római katolikus templom), Magyar utca. With the financial help of Miklós Zichy, a one-nave Baroque church was built in 1752.
  • 8 Zichy Mansion (Zichy-kastély), Zichy Miklós tér 3. It was built in the place of a medieval castle in the 1690s.
  • 9 Saint Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Chapel (Szent Ferenc római katolikus kápolna). Built in 1740 in Baroque style. Memorial chapel to Mária Jozefa, who was the only child of Miklós Zrínyi and died in 1839 in plague.
  • 10 Józsefváros Cellar Area (Józsefvárosi pinceterület). Heritage and nature conservation area. Cellars, wine press houses, thatched roof dwelling buildings, old water wells.

Further afield[edit]

Gothic Chapel in Budajenő

In Budajenő:

  • 11 Granary (Magtár), Magtár utca 5, Budajenő, +36 70 850-5560, . Tu W 09:00–16:00, Th F 09:00–17:00. It was built in Late-Baroque style at the beginning of the 19th cenury. There is an exhibition about pilgrimages in the Carpathian Basin. Adult: 1000 Ft; senior, student: 600 Ft.
  • 12 Saint Michael Chapel (Szent Mihály-kápolna), Kápolna utca, Budajenő. Gothic-sytle chapel from the 14th century. Cemetery chapel (Q850903) on Wikidata
  • 13 Saint Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church (Szent Péter és Pál római katolikus templom), Kossuth Lajos utca, Budajenő. Built in 1759 in Baroque style.

In Perbál:

  • 14 Local History Exhibition (Helytörténeti kiállítás), Hősök tere 1, Perbál, +36 26 370-350, . On appointment only.
  • 15 Saint Anne Roman Catholic Church (Szent Anna római katolikus templom), Hősök tere, Perbál. Built in 1752.

In Telki:

  • 16 King Saint Stephen Roman Catholic Church (Szent István római katolikus templom), Petőfi Sándor utca, Telki. Built in 1807 in Classicist style. Roman Catholic Church in Telki (Q1317840) on Wikidata
  • 17 Telki Panorama Point (Telki panorámapont), Telki. Nice view to the Zsámbék Basin.

In Tinnye:

  • 18 Lake Garancs (Garancsi-tó), Tinnye. Natural reserve. There is a nature trail around the lake. Free to visit.. Lake Garancsi (Q1008256) on Wikidata Lake Garancsi on Wikipedia
  • 19 Saint Anna Roman Catholic Church (Szent Anna Római katolikus templom), Szabadság tér, Tinnye. It was built in 1797 in late Baroque style with a façade tower. Its tower is covered by a curved helmet. On its main altar, there is an altar picture of Saint Anne and the Child Jesus.

In Tök:

  • 20 Church Ruins (Romtemplom), Tök. Built in the 12th century in Roman style. Free to visit.
  • 21 Heritage House (Tájház), Kútvölgy 2, Tök, +36 70 850-7442. M–F Su 10:00–12:00 16:00–18:00. Free entrance.
  • 22 Reformed Church (Református templom), Táncsics Mihály utca, Tök. Built in 1784 in Baroque style.

Do[edit]

Lapidary in the Premontre Monastery in Zsámbék

Events[edit]

Buy[edit]

Eat[edit]

This page uses the following price ranges for a typical meal for one, including soft drink:
Budget Under 2100 Ft
Mid-range 2100 Ft2600 Ft
Splurge Over 2600 Ft

Budget[edit]

Mid-range[edit]

Swabian Heritage Museum in Zsámbék

Splurge[edit]

Drink[edit]

Cafes[edit]

Zichy Mansion in Zsámbék

Pubs[edit]

Sleep[edit]

This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room:
Budget Under 14,000 Ft
Mid-range 14,000 Ft24,000 Ft
Splurge Over 24,000 Ft

Budget[edit]

Mid-range[edit]

Splurge[edit]

Church of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist in Zsámbék

Connect[edit]

Zsámbék's postal code is H-2072, and its telephone area code is 23.

Go next[edit]

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