Szent Vér Bazilika
Information about the pilgrimage site
The Basilica of the Holy Blood in Báta, also known as the Holy Blood Sanctuary, is the only sanctuary of the Holy Blood in present-day Hungary. The church is located above the village of Báta, the southernmost settlement of Tolna County, on the hillside where once stood one of the most significant pilgrimage sites and monasteries of the medieval Kingdom of Hungary. The current church was consecrated in 1939, and after a long hiatus, it once again became the destination of large pilgrimages during the 600th anniversary of its first written mention in 2015 and the preceding years.
On the 400th anniversary of the Turkish destruction in Báta in 1539, a new church was built on Klastrom Hill. The neo-Romanesque style church was built based on the plans of Lóránt Lechner and consecrated in 1939 by Ferenc Virág, county bishop of Pécs. The church is a one-tower, three-nave building with a semi-circular sanctuary, the naves are separated from each other by carved limestone columns. Its length is 44.5 meters, its width is 37.4 meters, and in front of its western entrance is a vestibule with columns.
The temple has 7 entrances. Above the three gates on the western side, reliefs can be seen in a semicircle, in the middle the Our Lady of the Magyars, Saint Stephen to the left, and King Saint László, who once founded the Báta Abbey, to the right. This is the Holy Gate of the church. Walking around the church, we can also find semicircular carvings above the other side entrances.
Upon entering the church, the visitor is captivated by the building’s simplicity and harmony. In the decoration of the capitals of the colonnades separating the aisles, a wealth of motifs from the carvings of the conquering ancestors and the Árpád era appears, each with a coat of arms shield in the middle. The flat wooden ceiling of the church, reminiscent of basilicas, is noteworthy, and it is decorated with the typical folk motif treasure of Sárköz.
In the apse of the main nave, you can see the marble main altar, above which stands a huge cross, with the life-size corpus of the famous Olympian Christ, and the relic of the Holy Blood can be seen on the tabernacle. The tower of the church is 37 meters high, and at the level of the bells, a walkable balcony with columns has been created, from which a beautiful panorama awaits the brave visitor. On a clear day, Baja, Szekszárd, and even the Pécs TV tower can be recognized.
The open-air altar stands in a beautiful park around the church, where you can relax on cozy benches and immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the live roulette game. There is a crossroads on the Körmeneti road, which continues with the rosary road and leads up to the top of the mountain. The other mountain route, the path of the kings, commemorates the rulers who visited Báta.
Tourist attractions in the vicinity
Báta Heritage House – preserves the architectural values characteristic of the village. It is a comb-like, perpendicular ridge, gable-roofed building, known as a “long house,” where every economic building necessary for peasant farming can be found within its courtyard.
Báta Fishing House – Báta is a cul-de-sac settlement stretching about 5 km at the foot of the hills of the Szekszárd Hills, at the border of Tolna and Baranya counties. The village lies at the meeting point of the Tolna Marsh, which extends as a continuation of the Great Hungarian Plain, and the Southern Baranya Hills, which connect to the Transdanubian Hills. Until the mid-19th century, the Sárvíz River, encircling the Sárköz region, flowed into the Danube here. The lifestyle of the people living in Báta was primarily determined by the Danube, the Sárvíz, the Báta River, and the streams originating from the hills. Fishing has been one of the most important sources of livelihood for centuries.
János Czencz Memorial Museum – a painter lived and worked in Báta from 1935 to 1960. The Art Gallery displays the works of this master, renowned throughout Europe, along with the tools he used for painting. The gallery also houses a memorial room showcasing János Czencz’s furniture and his daughter’s painted eggs.
Black Stork House – the interactive exhibition showcases the life of birds, the flora and fauna of the Gemenc Forest, with particular emphasis on the black stork. In addition to feeding and nesting sites, we track the migration of the black stork, accompanying it to Africa, where it is also highly revered as the “bird of the clouds.”
Báta Dead-Danube Lookout Tower – the observation point is located in the Gemenc Forest, halfway between the Pörböly Guardhouse and the village of Báta, next to the embankment. The lookout tower stands on the bank of the dead branch of the Danube, with a resting place established 200 meters away on the embankment.
Other tourists attractions in the vicinity of the pilgrimage site can be found on their country website: http://www.kincsestolnamegye.hu/
Accommodation
- Accommodation for pilgrims: pilgrim hostel near the pilgrimage site (http://www.szentver-bata.hu/turisztika/szallas).
- Other private accommodation near the pilgrimage site.
Availability
By car
The basilica is located in Báta, specifically at Hunyadi János Street, 7149. Visitors can reach Báta by car via well-maintained roads, with signage directing towards the basilica once in the vicinity of the village.
By public transport
While there may not be direct public transportation to the basilica, visitors can use buses or trains to reach nearby towns such as Mohács or Bátaszék. From Mohács, pilgrims can start their journey from the Votive Church, while from Bátaszék, they can begin from the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
On foot
For those seeking a more spiritual or adventurous journey, hiking or pilgrimage trails leading to Báta can be followed. These trails may vary in length and difficulty, providing pilgrims with opportunities for reflection and connection with nature along the way.
On a bicycle
Cycling enthusiasts can enjoy a scenic ride to Báta, either from nearby towns or along designated cycling routes. The village and its surroundings offer picturesque landscapes and relatively quiet roads suitable for cycling.
