Page 48 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Budapest

46  INTRODUCING BUD APEST

Exploring the Churches by an Italian architect, Donato
and Synagogues Allio. Under Habsburg rule, the
leading architects working in
the city, András Meyerhoffer,
Most of the city’s churches are found around the centres of Mátyás Nepauer and Kristóf
Buda and Pest. Only a few sacred buildings of architectural Hamon, often chose to follow
interest are situated on the outskirts of the city. The greatest Austrian examples.
period of construction took place in the 18th century, after University Church and
the final expulsion of the Turks. Another phase occurred in the St Anne’s Church are gene rally
considered to be the most
second half of the 19th century, producing two of Budapest’s beautiful buildings in the city
grandest places of worship: St Stephen’s Basilica and the Great dating from this era. The former
Synagogue. Religious buildings were neglected after World astonishes visitors with its
War II, but thanks to resto ration some have now regained beautifully carved stalls and
their former splendour. pulpit, and with the paintings
by Johann Bergl adorning its
vaults. St Anne’s Church has a
a Baroque interior by the Jesuits magnificent Baroque façade
who had at that time taken it and reveals the influence of
over. Finally, the church was southern German Baroque in its
returned to a likeness of its oval floor plan. Inside, there is a
medieval character between lavish altar and pulpit de signed
1874–96, when all Baroque by Károly Bebó.
elements were systematically The Franciscan Church,
removed and it was given a which is situated in the centre
Neo-Gothic shape. of Budapest and dates from
The Church of St Mary 1758, has a wide Baroque nave
Magdalene, built in 1274 in and a main altar created by
the Gothic style, was almost Antal Grassalkovich.
completely destroyed in 1945.
All that remains intact today is
the 15th-century tower with its
two chapels. A Gothic win dow
has also been rebuilt.
St Michael’s Church, founded
Reconstructed Gothic window of the in the 12th century on Margaret
Church of St Mary Magdalene Island, was completely destroyed
by the Turks. However, in 1932 it
was reconstructed from its
Medieval
original Romanesque plans.
Both Mátyás Church and the
Inner City Parish Church date Baroque
originally from the reign of Béla
IV in the 13th century. Glimpses In the 18th century, 17 churches
of their original Romanesque were built in Pest, Buda and
style can be seen, although Óbuda, all of them in the
each church was subsequently Baroque style. The influence of
rebuilt in the Gothic style. After the Italian archi tectural school is
being sacked by the Turks in visible in many of them, although The interior of the Servite Church (1725),
1526, Mátyás Church was given only University Church was built with its Baroque altar
Neo-Gothic spire of
Spires and Domes Gothic spire the Calvinist Church
The Gothic spire belonging to the of the Church Baroque
Church of St Mary Magdalene and of St Mary towers of St
the Neo-Gothic spire of Mátyás Magdalene Anne’s Church
Church are among Budapest’s
main landmarks. The twin Baroque
towers of St Anne’s Church and the
soaring spire of the Calvinist Church
rise above the Danube in Buda.
On the Pest side, the dome of St
Stephen’s Basilica and the minarets
of the Great Synagogue dominate.

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