In Horvátzsidány, church architecture and hiking can be combined with a specific pilgrimage destination: the Peruska-Mária Chapel stands in the woods above the village. The Church of St. John the Baptist and a Croatian ethnographic exhibition are also among the cultural attractions. When planning, it is worth distinguishing between the local sites and the different route itineraries.

Chapel, Oak Tree and Sculpture Park

The Peruska-Mária Chapel is a pilgrimage site in the woods above Horvátzsidány, between Horvátzsidány and Kőszeg. An English oak more than 300 years old is the pilgrimage site’s landmark. Near the chapel is a sculpture park with more than 20 statues depicting patron saints of various trades. Here, different aspects of the same place come together: the chapel as a pilgrimage site, the oak as a striking landmark, and the figures’ connection to various trades. Those interested in religious sites can also take a closer look at these depictions; they give the visit an additional cultural focus.

Church History and Architectural Style

The Church of St. John the Baptist in Horvátzsidány was first mentioned as early as 1622. It has been a parish church since 1788, after the church community separated from Peresznye. A major renovation took place in 1875; the orientation of the church was also reversed at that time. These dates mark different chapters in its history: 1788 refers to its status as a parish church, while 1875 marks the structural alteration. Architecturally, the church has a single nave. Its choir is narrower than the nave and has a flat end. These terms provide a clear guide to its architectural form: a single-nave church with a narrower, flat-ended choir.

Ethnographic Exhibition and Statue

A permanent Croatian ethnographic exhibition from the collection of Lajos Brigovich can be seen at Fő utca 6. It adds a different cultural dimension alongside the religious sites. If you would like to visit the exhibition, check the opening hours in advance. The village is also home to the statue “Népek barátsága” (“Friendship of Peoples”), a work by Sándor Várady from 1985. The exhibition and statue offer two distinct points of interest: an ethnographic collection and a named work of art with a known year of creation.

Hiking: Local Start or Route Through Several Places

The alpannonia® Hard hike starts in Horvátzsidány and returns to its starting point on Tömördi Street. The Mária Út (Mary Way) runs from Rőtfalva via Kőszeg and the Peruska-Mária pilgrimage site in Horvátzsidány to Csepreg; at the chapel, it joins the road between Kőszeg and Horvátzsidány. This means you can choose between a route that starts and finishes locally and one that passes through several named places. Before setting out, check the current conditions for the alpannonia® hike and the current waymarking of the Mária Út. This will help you decide which route itinerary suits your plans, without assuming a particular walking time.

Horvátzsidány in the Wider Destination of Vas County

The Írottkő Nature Park is located in the northwestern part of Vas County. The entire 4,303-hectare Kőszeg Landscape Protection Area lies within the nature park. This nature-related context applies to the regional level; in Horvátzsidány itself, the focus is on the chapel, church, exhibition and hiking routes described here.

When looking for accommodation, you can first decide on the scale that suits you: Horvátzsidány if local cultural attractions are your main focus, or the wider destination of Vas County for broader regional planning.

Discover more destinations: Velem, Ólmod, Nemescsó, Bozsok, Kőszeg, Cák, Lukácsháza, Gyöngyösfalu.

Go to the broader travel overview: Kőszegi.