Porva combines a listed Gothic parish church with a history in which the Pauline Order played an important role. The Pálos-tó and Kálvária Hill also tell different parts of the town’s story: from the historic use of water to views across Porva.
Parish Church and Pauline History
Porva’s parish church is a listed building in the Gothic style. Its sanctuary is Baroque in design. These different stylistic features belong to separate parts of the church and make the parish church a distinctive part of the town’s history.
One specific date shapes the history of the Pauline Order in Porva: in 1436, Miklós Gara had them settle there. After his death, his second-born son, László, completed the undertaking and dedicated the monastery to the Holy Spirit. This sequence of settlement, completion and dedication gives the Pauline history a clear historical context. It offers a distinct perspective on the town alongside the architecture of the parish church.
Pálos-tó and the History of the Landscape
The Pálos-tó was owned by the Pauline Order in the 17th and 18th centuries. The body of water covered nearly 40 hectares and was used for fish farming. The lake’s history therefore points not only to its size, but also to a specific former use of the landscape.
The municipal administration restored a small part of this historical heritage through a landscape reconstruction. The restoration concerns only a portion. Thus, two time periods come together at the Pálos-tó: the historic body of water and fish farming, and the partial reconstruction of the landscape heritage.
Kálvária Hill: Views and Remembrance
Kálvária Hill offers a view of Porva. The hill serves as a rest stop for photographers and hikers. The flag bearing Porva’s coat of arms, the flag of the Republic of Hungary and the flag of the European Union are located there. The view of the town and the three flags give this place a different focus from the church and the lake.
A historical change to the hill is also recorded: in the first half of the 20th century, the Calvary group of three statues stood on the hill at the entrance to Porva on the side facing Borzavár. Today, the statues are in the church garden. This makes it possible to distinguish the group’s former location from its current one without confusing the two.
More Topics in the Wider Lake Balaton – North Destination
Other places in the wider Lake Balaton – North destination offer their own distinct attractions. Boat trips are available in the Tapolcai-tavasbarlang, which also features the guided exhibition “Csodálatos karszt” (“Wonderful Karst”). The cave is part of a cave system beneath the town that has been explored to a length of 14.6 kilometres so far. Both the boat trip and the geological context are highlights here.
Hegyestű offers another geological attraction: the 337-metre-high mountain between Zánka and Monoszló. The inner side of a basalt volcano that was active around eight million years ago is exposed there. At the viewpoint on the western edge of the quarry, visitors can identify the surrounding hills with the help of a panorama board. Hegyestű also has a rock garden featuring characteristic rock types from Transdanubia, the western half of Hungary. These regional examples are distinct attractions in Lake Balaton – North; they do not describe Porva.
Go to the wider travel overview: Zirci.
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