PHOTOS: On top of the Buda Castle and inside the Matthias Church

Recently, I had the chance to visit the most well-known sight in the whole of Budapest. The Matthias Church is a beauty both from the inside and the outside. It is the one thing that everybody wants to see when they come to Hungary. But now, you can see pictures that show it in a state in which not many people can see it. Let’s dive into the history and present of the most famous church in the country.

The Tower

Located on the Szentháromság Square, in the middle of the Castle District, towers the magnificent Matthias Church. The height of the tower stands 78.16 metres and it is much grander from the inside than it looks from the outside. My magical journey started in the tower, which has several different layers. In the first section, there is a little museum, showcasing historical religious artifacts from the past. On the next two levels, we can find the six working bells. Among these, the largest is the Christ bell with a weight of 4,500 kilograms.

After the two levels of bells, we finally arrive at the balcony on top at 46.73 metres. Only authorised personnel can enter higher levels, mostly for security reasons. However, the view is breathtaking and if you ever have the chance, you should definitely go up. The weather was also great as the visibility was high, but the ground was foggy, which made the whole experience a lot better.

You can even see the magical Hungarian cranes in the distance.

Read also: Budapest Fine Arts Museum adds Hungarian-owned El Greco to upcoming exhibition

The Inside

After the tower, we entered the church itself, where we had the chance to see every room. The exact date of the construction is unknown, but it is more than 700 years old and it is believed to have started in the 1240s, probably in 1246 or 1247. Throughout history, the church had transformed a lot too.

As wars and time itself equally ravaged it, the building had to be updated, renovated and even rebuilt many times. It was an important place for royalty where kings were crowned, married and buried. Inside, we can even find the tomb of Béla III with his wife, albeit they were not originally buried here.

The tomb of Béla III. Photo: Daily News Hungary

Despite the destruction of hundreds of years, the church still shines in its neogothic glory like it always did. Even though many things have changed over the centuries, there are still some things left that have remained since the beginning.