Location
Manréza Conference Center and Retreat House is an institute of the Hungarian Jesuits. "Manresa" is the name of a Spanish town where St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit Order, withdrew after his conversion in the years of 1522-23. He spent his time there in prayer and mortification. Since that time many Jesuit retreat houses have been named Manresa.After the collapse of communism in Hungary in 1989, a new law enabled the Religious Orders to reclaim their houses which were confiscated by the Communists. The Hungarian Jesuits also tried to reclaim their old Manréza, but without success. In exchange for the old Manréza in 1993 the Jesuits were offered the present buildings at Dobogókő, which were used by the Communist Party as a hotel for rest and vacations. Since June 1st, 1993, the new Manréza at Dobogókő became a place of many retreats, spiritual exercises, programs, meetings, conferences both national and international.
Recently the Hungarian order decided on gradually transferring the building into a hotel, under the name "Walden". A few small houses in the proximity will be kept for receiving people to undergo spiritual training.
Walden Hotel
H-2099 Dobogókő, Fény utca 1.
www.waldenhotel.hu
Travel information
HOW TO GET TO DOBOGÓKŐ
By car:Concerning getting to Budapest, see motorway information on www.motorway.hu. From Budapest, take road no. 10. to Pilisvörösvár, there in the centre take the road towards Pilisszántó-Pilisszentkereszt-Dobogókő. In the center of Pilisszentkereszt, turn left towards Dobogókő. See the route planner on Google maps. Shortly after arriving at Dobogókő, turn right to arrive at the conference venue.
If you come to Hungary from the North through the bridge between Štúrovo (Párkány) and Esztergom, from there you can go straight to Dobogókő.
By public transport:
Dobogókő is easiest available by bus from Pomáz. The bus stops at Manréza. Timetable is available by online query at the homepage of the VOLÁN company (in hugarian). The bus timetable effective on the starting and ending day of the conference is quoted below.
| Pomáz-Dobogókő MANRÉZA, 2009. 09. 25., Friday | |
|---|---|
| departure | arrival |
| 5:16 | 5:54 |
| 6:16 | 6:54 |
| 7:31 | 8:09 |
| 8:16 | 8:54 |
| 10:26 | 11:09 |
| 13:26 | 14:04 |
| 15:41 | 16:19 |
| 17:31 | 18:09 |
| 19:36 | 20:19 |
| Dobogókő MANRÉZA-Pomáz, 2009. 09. 28., Monday | |
|---|---|
| departure | arrival |
| 6:07 | 6:44 |
| 7:07 | 7:44 |
| 8:17 | 8:54 |
| 9:27 | 10:04 |
| 11:32 | 12:04 |
| 14:22 | 14:54 |
| 16:32 | 17:04 |
| 18:22 | 18:54 |
| 20:32 | 21:04 |
Pomáz can be accessed by suburban railway (HÉV) from Budapest (the line to Szentendre, make sure to take a train to Szentendre and not only to Békásmegyer). Timetable is available at the website of the Budapest Transport Company (BKV) under heading "Szentendrei HÉV". In Pomáz, the bus station is a 2-3 minutes walk from the HÉV station.
Please note that passes, travel cards and line tickets are only valid to the border of Budapest (station Békásmegyer), you should purchase a complementary ticket before boarding. You might also buy a ticket valid for the full journey.
In Pomáz, the bus station is 100m backwards from the HÉV station. Wait at bus stop Nr. 2 ("Dobogókő, Pilisszentkereszt"). Purchase your ticket on the bus, from the bus driver. Get off after a drive of about 40 min. at station "Dobogókő, Manréza", walk 200m straight ahead, and then turn right to arrive at the conference venue.
From within Budapest, the Szentendre HÉV line is accessible as follows:
- From Ferihegy Airport: take the bus no. 200 to Kőbánya-Kispest, there change to Metro line 3 to Deák tér, where take Metro line 2 (direction Déli pályaudvar) to Batthyány tér where you can change to the Szentendre HÉV.
- From Keleti pályaudvar (Eastern railway station): take Metro line 2 (direction Déli pályaudvar) to Batthyány tér where you can change to the Szentendre HÉV.
- From Nyugati pályaudvar (Western railway station): take tram no. 4 or 6 to Margit híd, budai hídfő (direction Moszkva tér, across the Danube) where you can change to the Szentendre HÉV.
- From Déli pályaudvar (Southern railway station): take Metro line 2 to Batthyány tér where you can change to the Szentendre HÉV.
- From Népliget bus station: take Metro line 3 (direction Újpest-Központ) to Deák tér, where take Metro line 2 (direction Déli pályaudvar) to Batthyány tér where you can change to the Szentendre HÉV. (You might also choose to take tram no. 1 (direction Bécsi út) to Szentlélek tér, a longer journey without transfer).
- From Árpád híd bus station you might check whether you can get to Dobogókő directly by bus, or take tram no. 1 (direction Bécsi út) to Szentlélek tér where you can change to the Szentendre HÉV.
One bus transfer will be organized from Budapest to Dobogókő, free of charge. The bus will start some time between 12-14 on the 25th of September. Exact departure time and location is a function of the number of participants who wish to take this service. For this reason we kindly ask those who would be interested to send an email to the address conn2000@conn2000.hu by September 16 the latest. An email, including detailed instrunctions on when and where to reach the bus will be circulated among those who indicate their interest.
USEFUL LINKS
Budapest Airport (Ferihegy)Online timetable of the Hungarian State Railway (MÁV)
Tickets and prices of BKV