In the village of Citeaux a group of Benedictine monks formed the Citeaux Abbey in 1098. Their goal was a stricter attention to the rule of Benedict of Nursia. Bernard of Clairvaux entered the monastery together with 30 companions in 1110, and the order spread rapidly. Their vision was a literal understanding and obedience to the rule of Benedict of Nursia, something that many Benedictine monasteries had stopped doing by then.
The Cistercians also opposed the Cluniacs, who used more energy on buildings and outer beauty, than on admiring the beauty of God himself. In addition the Cluniacs had forgotten totally about the practical work as a monk out on the field. Instead all their time was spent in the chapels and with “spiritual work”.
The Cistercians in Hungary
The first Cistercian monastery was founded in Hungary in 1142 in the county of Tolna. King Bela III (1172-1196) founded three more Cistercian monasteries in Pilis, Paszto and Szentgotthárd, while his follower Emeric (1196-1204) founded a monastery in Zirc.
Cistercian school of Buda
Just like with the Benedictines, the Cistercians experienced a decline in the 14th century. As the Turks arrived in the 16th century most Cistercian monasteries were destroyed, and since then only ruins are left of the original buildings. In some locations they have built new buildings upon the areas of the former monasteries. In the Cistercian monastery at Zirc the monks returned in 1726. All Cistercian monasteries were closed by the communists during the Second World War.
Today the Cistercian communities are heavily involved in teaching, and today Cistercian schools can be found in Budapest, Eger, Pécs and Szekesfehervar.
In Budapest a Cistercian school and church can be found at Kosztolányi Dézső Square.