5 fascinating Hungarian churches that you must see in your lifetime – Part I – PHOTOS

There are many wonderful things to see in Hungary. There are beautiful landscapes, waters, and natural attractions throughout the country. However, not only is nature stunning, but the cities also have some amazing buildings to offer. Some churches are the top attractions in a city as well as a must-see stop for tourists. We collected 5 such beautiful churches.

Before our collection, it is important to emphasise that the list is subjective – there are so many beautiful churches in Hungary that it would be impossible to collect them all, but these churches are deservedly famous.

Abbey of Tihany

The Benedictine Abbey of Tihany is located in an exceptionally beautiful landscape on the Tihany Peninsula on the shores of Lake Balaton. It was founded by King Andrew I in 1055 in honour of Saint Anne and the Virgin Mary. In the nearly 1,000 years since then, it has been renovated many times. The buildings that can still be seen today were designed by Márton Wittwer. In the northwest tower is the largest bell of the church, which weighs 1,670 kg. The church’s ceiling is decorated with frescoes by Károly Lotz, depicting Faith, Hope, and Love.

Matthias Church

The Matthias Church, also known as the Church of the Assumption of the Buda Castle, is a building with a long history, in the first district of Budapest. Two ruling couples were crowned here: Ferenc József and Erzsébet, as well as Charles IV and Zita. According to the church tradition, the building was founded by Saint Stephen in 1015. Béla IV re-founded it after the Tatár invasion. In 2006, it was declared a World Heritage Site. The Gothic Matthias Church makes the panorama of the Danube even more perfect.

Pécs Cathedral

It is one of the most symbolic buildings of the city of Pécs. There used to be a church in front of the cathedral, but it has been destroyed several times throughout history due to, among other things, fire and the Turkish occupation. Its foundations date back to the 11th century. After several renovations and expansions, it reached its present form in the 19th century. The plans were made by Friedrich von Schmidt. The organ was made in the organ factory of József Angster in 1887 and was renovated in 2008. Characteristic of the neo-Romanesque building are the 4 towers at the corners of the building, 60 metres high each.