St. Elizabeth's Parish Church

The church in the old town district was built near the ancient Rába crossing point, next to Borostyánkő Road, close to the river. The predecessor of the church was probably built around the time of the Mongol invasion, and it was already standing in 1244. At the end of the 15th century, János Ellerbach rebuilt it in Gothic style, and then in 1731, Palatine Lajos Batthyány had it remodeled in the Baroque style, and at that time the Batthyány-Kinsky coat of arms was placed on the main altar. Visitors are greeted by unexpected harmony, noble simplicity, and the atmosphere of the Baroque era. The walls of the church conceal the stylistic features of 13th-century architecture, with pointed windows, ribbed vaults, and buttresses. The Gothic church was probably built around 1490. There was also a crypt underneath it, because in 1544 Péter Erdődy, who was then lord of Körmend, left instructions that he should be buried in the parish church named after Saint Elizabeth.

With the spread of the Reformation, this church also fell into the hands of the Protestants in 1590. The Protestants were able to use it until 1643, when Ádám Batthyány returned to the faith of his ancestors. From that year onwards, the church once again became Catholic.
During the reconstruction in 1731, the church was enlarged with a choir section, a tower was added, and a sacristy was built. Inside, it was redesigned in the Baroque style in keeping with the tastes of the time. It can still be seen today, although the interior of the church has undergone minor changes in later periods. The main altar depicts Saint Elizabeth of the Árpád Dynasty, accompanied by her court ladies, distributing alms to the poor. The poor, the elderly, orphans, and widows wait for help. Angels watch the act of charity from above with joy. Next to the altarpiece are statues of two women, Saint Teresa of Ávila and Saint Catherine of Siena.
The Batthyány family were patrons of the church since 1604, and on its south side there is an exhibition of Dr. László Batthyány-Strattmann.