Dömötör Tower

The Dömötör tower is the oldest building in

. The upper part was rebuilt from the original stones in 1926. The architecture of the tower is similar to another found in Southern France, or in the territory of the former Byzantine Empire.

Features

On the upper part, there are 48 pointed windows in three levels (sixteen on each level, two on every side of the octagonal levels). On the lower part, a gate was cut and turned to a baptismal chapel in 1931. Above the gate there is a replica of the oldest sculpture in Szeged, the "Kőbárány" (stone lamb), an agnus dei (Lamb of God) representation from the early 12th century. The replica replaced the original sculpture in 1991.

Inside the tower, there is a fresco by Vilmos Aba-Novák of the baptism of Hungarians in the 11th century. Due to the mould growing on the rear wall, the baptismal chapel is no longer in use.^[1]

Gate of Life

The tower's "Gate of Life" was made by János Bille in 1931 and explains a Christian life through symbols. At the top and at the bottom, there are two numbers: 1272 and 1931. The former was thought to represent the year in which the upper part was built, while 1931 is when it was turned to a baptismal chapel.

, and birth and death.

References

• Somorjai Ferenc: Szeged és környéke. 2012 United p.c.
  ISBN 978-8490159071
• Csongrád megye építészeti emlékei. szerk.: Tóth Ferenc, Szeged 2000.
  ISBN 963 7193 28 6

46°14′55″N 20°08′55″E / 46.24860°N 20.14854°E / 46.24860; 20.14854