Not far from the fortress, in the centre of Bac, there is a Franciscan convent whose foundations were laid by the Canons of Holy Sepulchre, knight-monks’ order, who fought in the Crusades in XII century (in 1169). When the knight-monks’ order was abolished, the convent belonged to Franciscan monks of Hungarian nationality (in 1300). The convent church was built in late Romanic and early Gothic styles. Later, in their conquests, the Turks partially destroyed it, and the tower was turned into a minaret. During the wars made by the end of the XVII century in the region of Backa, the convent was destroyed and burnt several times, upgraded and restored, and therefore there is an architectural variety of the convent church. The traces of Romanic style are also visible, as well as of later Gothic reconstructions and Baroque upgrading (accessories). The Italian-Cretan icon by the painter Dumas, made in 1687 and the painting of “the Last Supper” in Baroque style from 1737 have also been kept in the convent. The oldest and the most interesting parts in regard of style are the spacious Roman apside-chancel and the remains of Gothic frescoes from the XV century, as well as the massive convent bell-tower on the foundations from the XII century, which give an impressive distinction to this edifice.
