Barátlakások, Medieval cave dwellings in Tihany, Hungary
Barátlakások are man-made caves carved into basalt tuff on Óvár hill in Tihany. Three chambers feature carefully worked inner walls and areas that were used for the religious life of the inhabitants.
Byzantine monks carved these caves into the rock around the 11th century after settling in the region under King Andrew I. They inhabited these artificial chambers until around the 14th century.
The caves show how monks prayed and lived in this place. The rooms are simply arranged with prayer spaces and sleeping areas cut directly into the rock.
Access is available through two marked hiking trails from the northern shore or from Árpád Street. The routes require different levels of effort and time, with one path being steeper than the other.
Excavations in 1984 revealed remains of multiple people, showing that monks lived here for a long time in these rock chambers. These findings help explain how daily life unfolded over the centuries.
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