Discover the story behind Sopron’s unusually named Goat Church. Study its Gothic exterior and Baroque interior, before viewing the frescoes and sculptures decorating its Chapter House. After visiting the church, check out the imposing Trinity Column outside, one of Hungary’s most notable “plague pillars.”
Built by the Franciscans in 1280, the church takes its name from a strange story about a goat. According to the story, the construction of the church was funded by buried treasure, unearthed by a grazing goat. Notice the depiction of a goat being held by an angel on one of the church’s pillars. After the Franciscan order was dissolved in the 18th century, the church was repurposed by Benedictine monks. The church has hosted numerous coronations and parliamentary sessions over the years.
Admire the church’s wonderful architecture, noting its Gothic arches and tall spire. Head inside to see historic frescoes and sculptures. Notice the lancet windows and see the unique Capistran pulpit, a red-marble carving found in the center of the south aisle.
Don’t miss the Chapter House located on the south side of the church, off the main nave. Once part of a 14th-century Benedictine monastery, this area served as a prayer house. View excavated Gothic pillars, exquisite corbels and parts of medieval frescoes. Look for the gargoyle-like carvings of animals with human heads hidden in the leaf ornaments of the pillars, representing the seven deadly sins.
Walk outside the Goat Church to see the Trinity Column, one of the finest of the pillars built to celebrate the end of Hungary’s great plague in the 17th century. See the elaborate stone carvings of angels, topped with a golden sun and a crucifix.
The Goat Church is located on the southern side of Sopron’s main square, in the center of the city. The church is open morning to evening throughout the year. Admission is free for both the church and Chapter House.
Visit this interesting medieval church with the quirky name.
