5 fascinating Hungarian churches that you must see in your lifetime – Part I – PHOTOS

There are many wonderful things to see in Hungary. There are beautiful landscapes, waters, and natural attractions throughout the country. However, not only is nature stunning, but the cities also have some amazing buildings to offer. Some churches are the top attractions in a city as well as a must-see stop for tourists. We collected 5 such beautiful churches.

Before our collection, it is important to emphasise that the list is subjective – there are so many beautiful churches in Hungary that it would be impossible to collect them all, but these churches are deservedly famous.

Abbey of Tihany

The Benedictine Abbey of Tihany is located in an exceptionally beautiful landscape on the Tihany Peninsula on the shores of Lake Balaton. It was founded by King Andrew I in 1055 in honour of Saint Anne and the Virgin Mary. In the nearly 1,000 years since then, it has been renovated many times. The buildings that can still be seen today were designed by Márton Wittwer. In the northwest tower is the largest bell of the church, which weighs 1,670 kg. The church’s ceiling is decorated with frescoes by Károly Lotz, depicting Faith, Hope, and Love.

Matthias Church

The Matthias Church, also known as the Church of the Assumption of the Buda Castle, is a building with a long history, in the first district of Budapest. Two ruling couples were crowned here: Ferenc József and Erzsébet, as well as Charles IV and Zita. According to the church tradition, the building was founded by Saint Stephen in 1015. Béla IV re-founded it after the Tatár invasion. In 2006, it was declared a World Heritage Site. The Gothic Matthias Church makes the panorama of the Danube even more perfect.

Pécs Cathedral

It is one of the most symbolic buildings of the city of Pécs. There used to be a church in front of the cathedral, but it has been destroyed several times throughout history due to, among other things, fire and the Turkish occupation. Its foundations date back to the 11th century. After several renovations and expansions, it reached its present form in the 19th century. The plans were made by Friedrich von Schmidt. The organ was made in the organ factory of József Angster in 1887 and was renovated in 2008. Characteristic of the neo-Romanesque building are the 4 towers at the corners of the building, 60 metres high each.

Basilica of Esztergom

The full name is Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption and St. Adalbert. The ancient Egyptian and Classicist-style basilica is the main attraction of Komárom-Esztergom County. It is also the largest church and building in Hungary: the top of the dome reaches a height of 100 metres. In its place, the founder of the Hungarian state, King St. Stephen, built a church, which was destroyed by fire. The new building was completed between 1822 and 1869. It covers an area of 5,660 square metres; it is 118 metres long and 49 metres wide. The largest altarpiece painted on canvas, the only one in the world, was finished in 1856, measuring 13.5*6.6 metres.

St.Stephen’s Basilica

St. Stephen’s Basilica is located in the fifth district of Budapest. It is the co-cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Esztergom-Budapest. With a height of 96 metres, it is the second-tallest building in the capital of Hungary, after the Parliament. The Holy Right Hand, the mummified right hand of the first Hungarian king, St. Stephen, is kept in this building. Among others, the world-famous Hungarian football player, Ferenc Puskás, lies here, as the Basilica functions as a cemetery as well.

If you want to see more churches from the countryside, click here. You can find more pictures of beautiful Hungarian churches here.