The St. Stephen Basilica in Budapest is surely one of the most impressive sights you’ll encounter. The St. Stephen’s Basilica is Hungary’s largest church and with stunning architecture and design it is one of Hungary’s favorite tourists attractions.The Basilica overlooks the grand Szent István tér (St. Stephen’s Square), a great place to enjoy coffee at outdoor cafes during the day and a drink at many popular bars at night.
The church is named for Saint Stephen I of Hungary, the first King of Hungary (c. 975–1038), whose right hand is said to be housed in the reliquary. Along with the Parliament, it stands at 96 meters tall. According to current regulations there cannot be a taller building in Budapest than 96 meters. Having the same height as the Parliament also symbolizes the balance between church and state in Hungary.
The most infamous facts about the history of the Basilica is the length of time it took to build, over 50 years. The original plans for the cathedral were drawn up by architect Jozsef Hild in 1845 but the construction was put on hold until six years later after the war of independence.The dome collapsed in 1868, requiring the builders to start over from the ground up.
Today, the St.Stephen Basilica is opened to the public and on Christmas eve it holds the city’s largest Midnight Mass.
Entry into the Basilica is free but for breath-taking views it is advised to walk up the 364 steps or take the elevator up to the observation deck, open during April-October every year, with a small fee of 500HUF. The guided tours are available Monday-Friday between 10am-3pm. Fee: 2,000HUF.
Organ concerts are held on Mondays beginning at 5pm during the months of March-mid December for 3,000HUF a ticket.
How to get there: From any metro station you can take the M1,M2 or M3 to Deak Ferenc ter.
Images of the St. Stephen Basilica in Budapest
[See image gallery at www.budapestsightseeing.net] Sights around the Budapest Basilica- Budapest Opera
- Andrassy Út
- River Danube
Tours on which you will see the Basilica in Budapest
- Half Day Sightseeing Tour
- Budapest Hop On Hop Off Bus
St. Stephen Basilica on the map
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