Reformed Church – Kneževi Vinogradi (Hercegszőlős)
The Reformed church of Kneževi Vinogradi (Hercegszőlős) is one of the historic centres of the Hungarian Reformed community of Drávaszög. In 1576 it hosted the synod at which forty preachers adopted the “Canons of Hercegszőlős”.
According to tradition, the foundations of the tower date back to Roman times, and the earliest, western part of the building is probably 13th-century. Together with that of Lug (Laskó), its tower is the only surviving monument of medieval material culture in the northernmost part of Croatia.
The church order adopted by the synod of 1576, the Canons of Hercegszőlős, is regarded as one of the founding documents of the Reformed Church along the Danube. The church was damaged in the wars against the Ottomans in 1687, burned down completely after a lightning strike in 1722, and was modestly restored with a reed roof some ten years later. It acquired its present form in the rebuilding of 1803 and was declared a monument in 1976.
The church still serves primarily the Hungarian Reformed congregation.
Visiting: Kneževi Vinogradi is a short drive from the Hungarian border crossing at Udvar. For church visits, contact the local Reformed parish in advance.
Sources: Wikipedia · Monuments of Bilje municipality · Horizonti vjere
Photo: IvanOS / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Town:
Kneževi Vinogradi (Hercegszőlős)