Budapest’s 600-year-old church tower reborn as a vibrant cultural space

The Mária Magdolna Tower in Budapest, which closed in February, officially reopened on 15 July following extensive preparations—this time under the management of the local government, according to an announcement on the official Castle District website.

Why was the tower closed?

On 20 February 2025, District I Mayor László Böröcz announced that the municipality had reclaimed the historic building from its previous operator at the beginning of January due to unpaid debts exceeding 20 million forints. The aim, according to Lelépő, was to reopen the tower to visitors as soon as possible.

Efforts are now underway to broaden the Budapest tower’s cultural offerings in the hope of attracting more visitors to Kapisztrán Square within the Castle District. In a farewell message, the previous operator expressed that they were leaving “with sadness but also with pride.” Over the past seven years, they had restored and reopened the 600-year-old site to the public, made the tower accessible, and established the Budatower Gallery, which hosted over 40 exhibitions featuring contemporary Hungarian artists.

New opportunities at the Budapest tower

A new panoramic ticket will now grant visitors access to both the upper observation deck of the Fisherman’s Bastionand the Mária Magdolna Tower. Priced more affordably, full admission is set at HUF 2,500, with a discounted rate of HUF 1,250, encouraging wider exploration of both landmarks. Residents of District I will be able to visit both sites free of charge.

Several exhibitions are also planned. Beginning 31 July, the show “A Palm-Sized Art | TUFTING 360° – WOOLCANO”, currently on display at the Castle District Gallery in Budapest, will move to the tower. Opening hours will mirror those of the Fisherman’s Bastion: from 15 July to 30 September, the tower will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and from 1 October to 23 December, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Six centuries of history

The Mária Magdolna Tower and its adjacent archaeological garden are among the most significant UNESCO World Heritage-protected landmarks in Budapest’s District I. Built in the late Gothic style, the tower is the oldest standing structure in Kapisztrán Square. Constructed in the late 15th century, it once formed the western side of the three-nave Mária Magdolna Parish Church.

During Ottoman rule, it was the only Christian church in the Castle District that remained operational, shared by both Catholics and Protestants, according to PestBuda. During the 15 Years’ War (1591–1606), the church was seized from Christians and repurposed as a mosque, known either as Fetih (Victory) or Szaát (Clock). The 1686 siege that reclaimed Buda for the Habsburgs left the church in ruins—only the tower remained intact.