Via Sancti Martin

The present settlement was formed in 1950 by the merger of the villages of Bágyog and Szovát. The first mention of medieval Bágyog dates back to 1351. Its parish priest Bertalan is known from 1506. In 1683, it fell victim to the ravages of Turkish troops raiding towards Vienna. A new church was built in 1768 on the site of the old church in the centre of the village, with a donation from Bishop Ferenc Zichy. It was designed by Menyhért Hefele. A slit of its medieval tower can be seen in the choir loft. The church was consecrated in 1772 and painted by István Schaller in 1778. The altarpiece depicts the glorification of Saint Martin. An angel brings the shepherd's crook to the bishop, who is floating on a cloud and surrounded by putti. The left side of the picture shows a scene from Amiens. The beggar is seated on a chair in front of the horse, holding his crutch in one hand and holding out the other to Martin, who is tearing his cloak in two. The parish building houses a large 19th century painting of St. Martin and the beggar.

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