Inner City Parish Church in Pest
Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Budapest-Belvárosi Nagyboldogasszony), commonly known as the Inner City Parish Church | ||
---|---|---|
Year consecrated unknown | | |
Status | active | |
Location | ||
Location | Budapest, Hungary | |
Geographic coordinates | 47°29′32″N 19°03′08″E / 47.49222°N 19.05222°E | |
Architecture | ||
Architect(s) | Pauer János György (1692–1752) | |
Type | Neogothic | |
Style | Neoclassical | |
Specifications | ||
Direction of façade | West | |
Length | 118 m (387 ft 1.7 in) | |
Width | 49 m (160 ft 9.1 in) | |
Height (max) | 100 m (328 ft 1.0 in) | |
Website | ||
Website of the church |
Budapest's Inner City Parish Church (Budapest-Belvárosi Nagyboldogasszony), officially the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is the main parish church of Budapest. It is often referred to as the City Parish Church, or Downtown Parish Church.
Location
Downtown Parish Church is located adjacent to the walls of the Roman Contra-Aquincum Fortress and the Elisabeth Bridge.
History
The earliest features of the church date back to the
14th-century King Sigismund of Hungary initiated its reconstruction in Gothic style. During the reign of King Matthias, two additional lateral aisles were added.
It was used as a mosque in Turkish times and a mihrab from this period is still visible in the south-eastern wall of the sanctuary.
After a fire in 1723, it was restored between 1725 and 1739 in
The church was restored several times: by
During the archaeological excavations carried out between 2014 and 2016, the camp commander's room[clarification needed] was accessed and a sub-church[clarification needed] was built. After the renovation, on August 15, 2016, the church was handed over to the faithful and visitors by Dr. Péter Erdő.
When the Elisabeth Bridge was being rebuilt after destruction during World War II, the Communist government of Hungary sought to demolish the church, but the Church, through astute negotiation with the Communist authorities, managed to save this historic treasure.
See also