The Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary

The Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary and the Franciscan monastery with protective walls and four towers date to 1653. They were constructed by the Pálffy family in a Renaissance-Baroque style on the site of the former Balassa family Renaissance manor house which was later expanded to include a church. The interior of the church was updated in 1760 while the monastery expanded in 1890 and both structures were renovated in 1928. The interior courtyard, known as the Garden of Eden, is located between the individual wings of the monastery. Art lovers will appreciate the primary wooden altar of the Virgin Mary (from 1720) completed by Master Sagén. The Baroque organ from 1729 by Q. Dietrich is also of note. The church's other features of note include the epitaph of Count Pálffy and the Scala Santa, a masterful copy of the stairs Jesus Christ had to take on his last journey. Identical copies can only be found in the Vatican and in Jerusalem. The Scala Santa is located in a separate chapel. A visitor is to ascend the stairs on the left-hand side on their knees as legend has it that beneath every step are the encased the bodily remains of various saints. The stairs are descended in a standard, standing position along the right-hand side. The chapel is currently undergoing renovations.