Kálvária-templom (Calvary Church)

The history of the place started in 1686, when a wooden cross was erected here. Later, in 1715 Saint Donat (Donatus of Azerro), the protector saint of wine growers had got a little chapel here, which is preserved for today.

In the 1700’s, at the time of the plague, the inhabitants of Kőszeg made a resolution to erect a column for the Holy Trinity and to build a church. The construction of the church on the hilltop was hindered by several problems. The lack of money and the difficulties to get the materials to the top slowed down the process. The Jesuits put down the footstone of the church in 1729, and collected money for long years, so the building of today’s Kálvária Templom could start.

A great example of cooperation was that Kőszeg’s inhabitants and pilgrims transported the materials in their hands to the hilltop (it meant 70.000 bricks). At the end, in 1734 the church was consecrated, but the work was going on for years.

Between 1735 and 1847 the works were inspected by the hermits living in a small, self-made house at the side of the chapel. The most important guest of the house was Earl Henri Weisz, the artist of the paintings of the church.  In 1947 the furniture of the church was destroyed in arson.

The Stations of the Cross were pointed on 1686. The stone signs were built in 1890 and in 1910 they got their statues.

The lookout tower was built in 2012 to commemorate the Turkish battle of 1532. It provides a nice view to the town and to the Kőszeg Hills. It is a popular tourist destination. This is a good place to watch a romantic sunset.