The Basilica of Esztergom

The enormous and solemn church building towering above the Danube curve is one of the most important symbols of Hungary. It has always played an important role both in Hungarian history and the people’s hearts. Let us take a look at what is hiding behind its walls. Here is Világjáró Magazin‘s article about the church.

Seven churches were built on the castle hill of Esztergom. According to the surviving documents, it was the Saint Adalbert Cathedral that stood in the place of today’s basilica, which was built around 1010. To the north lied the Saint Stephen church, which was the first one in this area. The third church was the circular chapel, which was excavated in the Árpád dynasty’s royal palace, and the fourth one was the Saint Vid Chapel that was standing on the top of the castle of Esztergom. The fifth was a medieval Árpád dynasty royal church, Béla III’s castle chapel. The sixth was a jewel of the Hungarian Renaissance architecture, the Bakócz Chapel, which was built during the 16th century.

Only one new church was built on Mount Vár in the New Age, the Nagyboldogasszony and Saint Adalbert Great Cathedral, which was larger than all the churches mentioned.

The construction of the Basilica of Esztergom can be divided into four eras. Sándor Rudnay prince archbishop (1819-1831) began to look for an architect in 1820 who might create plans for the new cathedral. Finally, Pál Kühnel’s plan was chosen from the court of Vienna. The architect made plans for an enormous complex on the top of the castle hill resembling to the Vatican. Unfortunately, only the cathedral and the canon houses were actually built. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on 23rd April in 1822, on the day of Saint Adalbert.

The question, how the Bakóczi Chapel, the only remaining Hungarian Renaissance relic was replaced to the area of the basilica, still remains. It was the work of Pál Kühnel’s nephew, János Packh. He broke it down to 1600 pieces in 1823 and rebuilt it at the cathedral, changing its orientation. The construction works were in progress until the death of Rudnay. The main walls were already standing then, and the building of the four giant pillars and the arches, as well as the establishment of the sanctuary were in progress.