Over a century-old former tailor's shop to be converted into a community centre at the famous pilgrimage site

A new cultural centre will be built in the heart of Andocs, near the new farmers' market, the school, the mayor's office and the town's landmark basilica, by converting and extending an old building that was once used as a sewing shop, according to a public procurement notice.

Our Lady's Closet

Andocs has gained international fame for its basilica and its wooden altar. The human-sized statue of Mary, estimated to be five hundred years old, with the baby Jesus on her arm, is particularly dear to the faithful. The Virgin Mary has long been dressed with the infant Jesus by locals and pilgrims from all over the world.
According to legend, a few years before the Battle of Mohács, one night a great light, a heavenly brightness appeared in the sky and the angels sang. From Kalocsa, which had been devastated by the Turks, the angels rescued the statue of Mary to Andoc. In the morning, when the villagers woke up, they found a beautiful towered chapel outside the statue. The next day, according to the records, the Virgin Mary appeared to the women of Andoc and asked them to pray.
Another legend preserved the events as God, in his anger, sent angels to Kalocsa, who first raised the statue and the chapel to heaven and then placed them on Andoc.
Andocs has been a favourite destination for pilgrims for centuries. The foundation stone of the church, still visible today, was laid in 1739 and consecrated in 1747.

 
The former sewing building gets a major facelift

Institutions are being renovated one by one. They now want to use the funds they have obtained through a call for tenders to provide a worthy venue for their community and cultural events. A public procurement process has been launched, including demolition, renovation and construction of a new part of the building.
The former L-shaped tailor's office building, estimated to be 100-120 years old and partially underpinned, has a low façade compared to its surroundings. The building is divided into three larger units, with a library, a shop on the east side and a tenement building in the courtyard wing.

Preserving and creating value

According to the call for tenders published in the public procurement notice, the latter part of the building would be demolished, covering an area of around 227 square metres. The remaining part is approximately 251 square metres. According to the notice, the extension would cover almost 286 square metres. With the old and new parts, a net building of 584 square meters would serve community and cultural purposes in the municipality.
Except for the apartment wing, no cracks or water
leakage were noted in the existing portions of the building during the survey. The library section on the longer side of the wing to be retained will be rearranged with a new layout, cloakroom and new entrance to match the buildings in the centre of the settlement. The mechanical room would be located above the basement entrance. Offices would be located in the eastern part.

The deadline for tenders is approaching

The extension consists of an annexe and a block of buildings to house the event hall. They are structurally and visually separate. The former is planned to house the service/artists' entrance, stage dressing rooms, corridors and a staff kitchen. Guests and visitors will enter from the lobby through the neck aisle into the common area. The extension will be one storey with two separate wings, structurally and dimensionally separate. Contractors have until 1 April to submit their tenders.