Hungary has many magnificent religious buildings located in every bigger city in the country built in different architectural styles. From small chapels to churches and enormous iconic basilicas, every one of them is waiting to be discovered and admired. In this article, we would like to focus on Hungary’s most significant basilicas and mention four you need to see at least once.
Basilica of Esztergom
Our journey starts in Komárom-Esztergom County and the city of Esztergom. The official full name of the basilica is the Primatial Basilica of the Blessed Virgin Mary Assumed Into Heaven and St Adalbert. Considered to be the most monumental basilica in the country it is
one of the biggest religious buildings of the country and the centre of the Catholic Church of Hungary. With its monumental green colour, columns and impressive look it is the main symbol of the region.
The building is located on a 5,660 square-metered location. The length of the basilica is 118 meters, and it is 49 meters wide. Its construction started in 1822 and ended in 1869. Smaller parts of the building though were completed by 1859, and in the same year, it was consecrated by the church. The basilica will be renovated by 2022.
Basilica of Eger
Our next stop is Heves County and the city of Eger, which is known from its heroic battle against the Turkish Empire back in the 16th century. The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Apostle or more formally Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist, St. Michael and the Immaculate Conception is simply called Eger Cathedral or Basilica of Eger.
On the basilica’s location, the medieval Hungarian people built the first church when St. Stephen – the first Hungarian king – introduced Christian religion into the country.
The basilica we can see today was built between 1831 and 1836 in classicist style. The monumental building is the biggest one in whole Heves County and also its religious centre.
Basilica of Pécs
The Sts. Peter and Paul’s Cathedral Basilica (or Pécs Cathedral) is the leading religious building of the city of Pécs in Baranya County. As Pécs was an important location for the Romans, the cathedral’s foundation comes from this era (approximately from the 4th century). The basilica that we can see today was built in 1882.
It is considered to be a unique and extraordinary building in Hungary. After its consecration in 1891, many newspapers in Budapest wrote: “If you would like to see heaven travel to Pécs!”.
The building with four monumental towers and impressive interior design is something you should see at least once if you spend your time in Pécs.
St. Stephen’s Basilica (Budapest)
The last stop is the capital of Hungary with its monumental St. Stephen’s Basilica named after the first Hungarian king. Built between 1851 and 1906 it is the most important religious centre in the country and one of the leading and most visited tourist attractions of Budapest. With its 96 meters high it is the tallest and most monumental building in Hungary.
An interesting fact about the building is that the Holy Right Hand (the mummified right hand of the first Hungarian king, St. Stephen) is kept inside the building. It is carried around the city every year on August 20, the birth of the Hungarian state.
The basilica also functions as a cemetery, and many famous Hungarian people lie inside the building. One of them, for example, is the legendary Hungarian football player Ferenc Puskás.
Source: Daily News Hungary
