This building is
Budapest's principal church. Situated on Varhegy, castle hill and overlooking
spectacular views of the Danube - this is an amazing church. It has withstood
everything - Ottoman invasions, Nazi air attacks and forty years under the communists.
Built in the 1200's it found itself being turned into a mosque when Budapest was invaded by the Ottomans in 1541. It remained a mosque for three hundred years before Hungary was absorbed into the Austrian Empire and it was returned to its state as a Catholic church.,
It's
gothic architecture is impressive on the outside. And once you step over the
threshold (braving the beggars which always seem to be there) the interior is
spectacular. When we visited it was Sunday morning. And on each Sunday at 10.00
am, mass is said by the archbishop of Budapest. We found ourselves cordoned off
and caught up in the ceremony.
The cardinal slowly made his entrance flanked by
choirboys, and the whole church joined in with the chanting. But I couldn't
place where the momentous music was coming from. Looking around I eventually
spotted it - there was a full chamber orchestra up on the balcony complete with
conductor. It really turned it into a magical experience.
After that it was easy to fall in love with Budapest.
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