Lyceum Church and Monastery, Pecs

The Lyceum Church and Monastery in Pecs is a remarkable example of Late Baroque architecture, deeply intertwined with the city’s historical layers. Constructed between 1741 and 1756 by the Paulite friars, this Roman Catholic church was built using the stones of a former Turkish mosque, symbolizing the transition from Ottoman rule to Christian resurgence in the region. The church’s original design was created by the Paulite friar Mate Vepi, and it was first dedicated to the Holy Trinity. The structure was further enhanced in 1778–1779 with the addition of its distinctive towers.

Following the suppression of the Paulite order in 1786, the church and monastery were left abandoned, with its furnishings redistributed among other churches in the diocese. This period of neglect lasted until 1832 when Bishop Ignac Szepessy repurposed the monastery into a school (a Lyceum) and reopened the church to provide religious services for students. This educational function left a lasting imprint on the church’s identity, giving it the name “Lyceum Church.”

The church underwent another transformation in 1923 when the Elizabeth University of Pozsony (now Bratislava) relocated to Pecs, earning the church a new title-University Church. In the 1930s, the interior of the building received a facelift with modern frescoes painted by the Pecs-born artist Erno Gebauer, adding a unique artistic touch to its otherwise classical Baroque aesthetic.

The former Paulite monastery, an elegant Baroque structure adjoining the church, eventually found new life as the Szechenyi Gimnazium, a secondary school. However, the church itself returned to its original caretakers in 1997, when it was restored to the Paulite order, bringing its history full circle. It remains a place of worship, education, and quiet reflection, making it a compelling site for visitors seeking a deeper connection to Pecs’s rich past.