Page 150 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Hungary

148  HUNGAR Y REGION B Y REGION ESZTERGOM  149

Esztergom Basilica . Dome/Cupola VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
A steep flight of
Rising high above the Danube, its bright steps leads up to Practical Information
the dome’s viewing
blue cupola visible from afar, the cathedral at platform, from Szent István tér 1. Road Map C3.
Esztergom has been a symbol of Hungary for where there are Tel (33) 40 23 54. Open Cathedral:
Mar: 8am–5pm daily; Apr: to 6pm;
a millennium, ever since St István was crowned superb views over May–Aug: to 7pm; Sep & Oct: to
here on Christmas Day 1000. Hungary’s largest Eszter gom and the 6pm; Nov & Dec: to 4pm. Cupola
Danu be Bend – and
cathedral, the present structure, dating from Stúrovo in Slovakia on & Bell Tower: Mar: 9am–5pm daily;
the 19th century, was built over a 47-year the northern bank. Apr: to 6pm; May–Aug: to 7pm;
Sep & Oct: to 6pm; Nov & Dec: to
period from 1822 to 1869. It replaced the much 4pm. Treasury: Mar–Oct: 9am–
smaller 12th-century St Adalbert’s Cathedral, Treasury 4:30pm daily; Nov & Dec: 11am–
which was destroyed by the Turks as they Hungary’s most valuable 3:30pm Tue–Fri, 10am–3:30pm
collection of liturgical and
retreated in the 18th century. royal art, dating back to the Sat & Sun. Crypt: Mar–Oct: 9am–
4:30pm; Nov & Dec: 10am–2:30pm
early Árpád dynasty, is kept daily. & 8 7 ^ Treasury,
here, as well as a shrine Crypt. 0 _ Jun–Aug.
with St István’s skull.
Transport
£ @ 4

Basilica
Esztergom Basilica is distinguished by its
outer simplicity and inner beauty. A grand
but plain façade gives way to priceless
treasures and superbly rich decoration.

. Copy of Titian’s
Assumption of the Virgin
(1853–4)
Behind the altar, this is the
largest single-canvas painting
in the world. The original
(1516–18) hangs in Venice’s
Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari.

. Bakócz Chapel
KEY
The red-marble Bakócz chapel
1 Pillars supporting the Dome opens to the basilica’s nave.
Built in Florentine Renaissance
2 The North Tower is one of two style, it is named after Cardinal
identical basilica bell towers which Tamás Bakócz (c.1442–1521),
rise to 71.5 m (235 ft), matching who is laid to rest here.
exactly the height of the main
dome’s interior. The unusual,
octagonal form of their bases is Tomb of Cardinal Mindszenty Primates of All Hungary
thought to be unique in Hungary. in the Crypt Entrance Main entrance Former archbishops commemorated in
3 Corinthian Columns – 22 Cardinal József Mindszenty was statuary include the 15th-century Dénes
in total – give the basilica’s a pillar of resistance to both the Szécsi (left) and the 19th- century János
entrance an unmistakable Neo- Nazi and Communist regimes. He Simor, whose vast, private Christian art
Classical appearance. died in exile in 1975, and his body collection formed the basis of the
was laid to rest here in 1991. Esztergom Christian Museum (see pp146-7.
For hotels and restaurants see pp264–269 and pp276–285

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