ZIRC (Nova Clara Vallis). – An abbey of the Cistercian Order in the diocese of Veszprém in Hungary, the sole survivor of the 18 Cistercian abbeys that existed in medieval Hungary.
Founded in 1182 from Clairvaux, Z. flourished until 1527. After the Turkish victory at Mohács, monastic life was interrupted for two centuries, during which the abbey’s buildings and monumental church were completely demolished, and its property passed into the hands of laymen (until 1609), then to commendatory abbots. In 1659 Z. became the possession of Lilienfeld Abbey (Austria); in 1699 it passed to Heinrichau Abbey (Silesia), which restored monastic life at Z. The core of the present monastery was built between 1732 and 1745. The monumental Baroque church was consecrated in 1752. In 1814 Z. became independent, and the abbeys of Pilis and Pásztó were united to it, followed in 1878 by that of Szentgotthard. Since 1923 the abbey, with its dependent houses, has formed the “Congregatio Zircensis S. Ordinis Cisterciensis,” whose constitutions were approved in 1941.
Since 1814 the monks of Z. have devoted themselves to the education of youth, to scholarship, and to pastoral care. In 1948 Z. had 8 dependent houses, 201 professed members, 5 schools (a general school and a gymnasium) with 4,622 pupils (9 fathers also teach at universities), and 19 parishes with 58,503 faithful. The abbey itself has been a center of liturgical life and Gregorian chant.
In 1950 it was suppressed by the Communist government.