Our European Heritage
The 13th-century rotunda of Süvete in Gömör
Text: Mária Prokopp
Photos: Andrea Németh
Süvete (Šivetice, SLO), the 12th-14th-century seat of the Zách clan, is a prominent hilltop site in the picturesque Gömör region, along the river Murány. The fortified manor house must have stood near the magnificent 12th-13th-century rotunda, which still stands today, covered with a domed roof and surrounded by a stone wall. Bishop Jób of Pécs (1252—1280) was the most famous member of this illustrious family, and Süvete was also his estate, and the construction of the round church is certainly a tribute to him.
Süvete’s rotunda with its 10-metre diameter brick dome vaulting is still a fascinating interior. Its proportions, its exterior construction and details, such as the design of the doorway and the monumentality of the interior, make the church one of the masterpieces of Central Europe. The church was built of brick in a region poor in stone, but its architect was also a master of artistic decoration. The eastern semi-circular apse wall of the sanctuary was decorated with a fresco cycle as early as the 13th century. The scene depicts the life of St Margaret of Antioch, the martyred virgin and titular saint of the church, a popular saint of helpers in medieval Europe.
Research into the art history of the Gömör wall paintings has progressed with varying degrees of intensity since the 1920 Trianon peace treaty, but with the joint work of Slovak and Hungarian experts.
The modern restoration of the rotunda in Süvete was completed in 2023 after several years of work by the Slovak heritage protection, and the result has earned the recognition of ICOMOS.