Benedictine High School of Pannonhalma Hungarian: Pannonhalmi Bencés Gimnázium és Kollégium |
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Location | |
Pannonhalma, Győr-Moson-Sopron Hungary |
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Information | |
Type | Independent gimnázium Boarding school |
Religious affiliation(s) | Roman Catholic |
Established | AD 996 |
Opened | 1939 (current school) |
Oversight | Pannonhalma Archabbey |
Headmaster | Titusz Hardi OSB |
Gender | Boys |
Website | phbences |
The Benedictine High School of Pannonhalma (Hungarian: Pannonhalmi Bencés Gimnázium és Kollégium) is an independent Roman Catholic boarding school for boys, one of the most distinguished secondary schools in Hungary, led by and situated next to the thousand-year-old Pannonhalma Benedictine Archabbey above Pannonhalma, Győr-Moson-Sopron county. Founded during the late 10th century, it is one of the oldest schools in both Eastern Europe and the world.
Education began soon after the foundation of the abbey in 996, so this date can be regarded as the beginning of school education in Hungary. Education was ended by the Turkish invasion in the middle of the 16th century, but it was started again in 1690, to teach would-be monks beyond high school. The Benedictine order was dissolved in 1786 by Joseph II; however it was re-established in 1802, when the school was also begun again. From 1919, the leadership of the abbey wanted to open a boarding school, and this was established in 1921 with 22 boys. In 1932, however, due to the economic depression, it had to be closed. It re-opened in its present form in 1939 as an "Italian" high school, with emphasis on the Italian language and culture. By this year, it received separate buildings for the education and the dormitories, which are still in use. In 1948 the school was brought under State control and was reopened in 1950. It was among the few Catholic schools which didn't cease functioning, even in the Socialist era, which ended in 1989. The school traditionally attracted scions of the Hungarian noble families (e.g. Crouy-Chanel, Cseszneky, Erdődy, Forgách, Zichy). Under the 1995 renovations the high school was completely renewed.