Charm of Esztergom: A Walking Tour of Its Beautiful Sites

The Esztergom Basilica, also known as the Primatial Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Adalbert, is an ecclesiastic basilica in Esztergom, the mother church of the Archdiocese of Esztergom-Budapest, and the seat of the Catholic Church in Hungary. It is dedicated to Saint Mary's Assumption and Saint Adalbert. With an interior area of 5,600 m2, it is Hungary's largest church and tallest edifice. The basilica, also known as the Bakócz Chapel (named after Tamás Bakócz), was erected by Italian craftsmen between 1506 and 1507 out of Sütt red marble and is Hungary's most valuable extant example of Renaissance art.

The Castle of Esztergom is the first palace with a church on the Castle Hill of Esztergom, erected after the Romans by Grand Prince Géza. The first residence was erected in the middle of the 11th century on the southern slope of the hill, which was originally divided from the royal-clerical center by a mound. These were most likely the residence of the Bailiff of Pilis and were located outside the royal center. The residence on the southern side of the hill was handed to the Archbishop of Esztergom after the completion of the Palace of Buda in 1256, and he used it as his seat until 1543, when the church fled the Turks' march to Nagyszombat. And, in the 16th century, the remaining structures were inhabited by the court of the Bey of Esztergom, despite being destroyed during the sieges of 1594 and, especially, 1595. The remnants of the residential tower, chapel, and archbishop's quarters were covered with soil to make the foundation of a cannon stand.

The Christian Museum, Hungary's greatest ecclesiastical collection, is preserving European and Hungarian works of art from the 13th to the 19th centuries. This museum is Hungary's third most prominent picture gallery, with substantial collections of Hungarian, Italian, Dutch, German, and Austrian artworks. Many works of art are from the territory of modern-day Slovakia, which was part of the archdiocese of Esztergom at the time the collection was formed (the 1870s). Aside from late medieval and Renaissance works of art, such as the Calvary Altarpiece by Thomas of Coloswar, the Lord's Coffin by Garamszentbenedek, and the Passion scenes by Master MS, the baroque and modern collections, the decorative arts collection, and the collection of prints and drawings are also on display. The permanent display is on the second floor of the Primate's Palace in Esztergom-Vziváros, on the Danube's bank.