Alsóújlak: Churches Between Gothic and Baroque

Gothic Origins and Baroque Alterations

The Szent István templom in the village centre has Gothic origins. It was probably built in the Gothic style in the 14th or 15th century and remodelled in the Baroque style in 1775. The date of construction is only presumed, while 1775 is given as the year of the remodelling. The church can therefore be understood as a building with several historical layers: a Gothic beginning and a later Baroque alteration form part of the same architectural history. The description, last updated in 2021, also mentions 18th-century frescoes inside. This adds another aspect of the building’s historic furnishings to the picture.

The Chapel on Szelenkás

The Szent Péter és Pál cemetery chapel stands on Szelenkás Hill, about 1,500 metres southwest of the present-day village, in the middle of the old cemetery. Its setting differs significantly from that of the central Szent István Church: here, the hill and cemetery define its location, while the other church is in the village centre. The approximate distance and direction provide a concrete reference point for planning. You can consider the two buildings as distinct places in the village’s history and decide for yourself whether the central church, the cemetery chapel, or the contrast between them is of greatest interest to you.

Vas County as a Wider Travel Context

The wider destination of Vas County extends the scope beyond the churches of Alsóújlak. Írottkő Nature Park lies in the northwestern part of Vas County and includes the entire 4,303-hectare Kőszeg Landscape Protection Area. This adds a distinct regional landscape focus to the local architectural history.

Cycling and themed routes also offer different points of interest across the wider destination of Vas County. The Termál Kerékpáros Túraút leads to five spa complexes in Vas County and combines cycling with visits to architectural and natural attractions, as well as other spas. The Vulkán Tour leads to Kis-Somlyó, Ság-hegy, and Belső-hegy. At the regional level, there are options for cultural history as well as cycling, landscapes, and spas.

In the cultural sphere of the wider destination of Vas County, the Vasi Skanzen presents the rural way of life and folk architecture of Vas County from the past two centuries. Since opening in 1973, it has rescued and rebuilt 43 buildings from 27 settlements. The Romanesque church of Ják Abbey was consecrated in 1256. Comparing the buildings’ histories reveals different points in time: the Szent István Church in Alsóújlak is thought to have been built in the 14th or 15th century, while 1256 is given as the year the church in Ják was consecrated.

Food and drink are also part of the wider destination of Vas County. The Natúrbolt in Jurisics Castle in Kőszeg showcases and sells Kőszeg wines, especially red wines, Hegyalja rapeseed and chestnut honey, gingerbread, and jams and syrups from Lukácsháza. The Vas County Tourism Association also provides travellers with a gastronomic map and an online search for recommended restaurants and wineries; listings may change.

If you are looking for a holiday rental in Alsóújlak, the churches offer a distinct local cultural focus. If you would also like to explore nature, cycling, museums, or regional cuisine, include these as themes of the wider destination of Vas County in your plans.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Sárfimizdó, Szemenye, Hegyhátszentpéter, Gersekarát, Püspökmolnári, Csehimindszent, Petőmihályfa, Rábahídvég.

Go to the wider travel overview: Vasvári.