Exaltation of the Holy Cross Church, Catholic parish church in Tata, Hungary.
The Exaltation of the Holy Cross Church is a twin-towered, single-nave Catholic parish church on a low hill above Tata's main square, on the site of a former stone quarry. Its late Baroque and copf (Zopf) style is dominated by garlands of woven leaves on the facade and inside. The towers, closed by Baroque helmets, rise almost 60 metres, and the nave is covered by two vault bays with Bohemian caps.
A medieval parish church already stood on Tata's main square, but by the 18th century it was ruined. In 1751 a new church was founded on the hill of a former stone quarry; the foundation stone was laid on 24 October 1751 to plans by Franz Anton Pilgram. Jakab Fellner took over and modified the plans; the towers were finished in 1777, the clock placed in 1778, and after Fellner's death in 1780 his assistant József Grossmann completed the church in 1784. It inherited the Holy Cross title from the ruined Gothic castle chapel.
The parish, known as Tata I, has filial churches in Mocsa, Kocs and Naszály. Mass is held on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays at 18:00, on the first Saturday of each month at 8:30 at the altar of the Máriapócs image, and on Sundays and feast days at 10:00.
The church welcomes visitors throughout the year and holds regular religious services for the community. Plan your visit to avoid service times unless you wish to attend, and dress respectfully when entering.
The church crypt holds the grave of architect Jakab Fellner, who died in 1780 before the building was finished; his former assistant József Grossmann completed it in 1784. Prince Primate Károly Ambrus and Count Ferenc Esterházy were also buried here, though the primate's body now rests in Esztergom.
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