Tragor Ignác Museum - Memento Mori Exhibition, Central Hungary, Hungary

5Runa H 5:00 PM Apr 20, 2014

Pity it is so small
During excavations in the nineties, workers found a forgotten crypt at the Dominican church on the main square of Vác. The crypt contained more than 200 coffins for the 18th century, and in them the remains of local citizens, which were mummified due to the special circumstances in the crypt. Most of the mummies, as well as the coffins, textiles, shoes and objects, are stored in the Museum of Natural History in Budapest, where conditions are right to preserve them. A very small number is exhibited in the Memento Mori exhibition on the Main Square in Vác. It really is a pity their number is so small (some four mummies, as well as thirty coffins and different kind of other objects), but nevertheless the exhibition is really unique and offers a fascinating view in the life of normal citizens in the 18th century.

5kpiddy 5:00 PM Aug 12, 2017

Colourful eighteenth century coffins and mummies
The Danube Bend town of Vac is a fabulous destination for a half day of sighseeing out of Budapest as we found. The town has so many interesting buildings and things to see and relax at a cafe by the Danube or maybe at the only patisserie in town as we did. From Budapest we caught an early morning train out of Budapest Nyagati station, it only takes about thirty minutes. From the station in Vac it is only a short walk to the main square, Marcus 15 square and this is where you will find the Memento Mori Exhibition which I highly recommend. In 1994 when the Dominican Church, across the square, was being renovated a secret crypt underneath the church was discovered, inside they found 262 coffins with some very well preserved bodies inside due to the particular climate of the crypt. We start the tour of the museum in a small side room which is free to enter, there we viewed and read information boards, for a fee of 1200 HUF we had access to the exhibition and a viewing of the coffins and mummies. For an extra fee of 500 HUF you can buy the right to take photographs. The exhibition is well described in Hungarian and English through a variety of media: written, photographs, video and objects (some are available to touch). The exhibition cover some of the history of Vac, life in the town over the years, once we were finished in this ground floor room we were taken to the entrance to the underground museum to view the colourful coffins and mummies. Inside this underground museum are many interesting artifacts found in the heavily decorated coffins, there is also an attendant available to ask questions if required. Please note that inside the underground museum that it is cold and there is a steep staircase with a very low ceiling. This is an outstanding well organised museum.