Religious Heritage Tour in Budapest
With historical church buildings of the capital
4 Hours
Delve into Budapest's Renaissance, Romanesque and Baroque churches on our guided tour examining the history, artwork and architectural features associated with the city's Ecclesiastical heritage. During the visit of beautiful religious buildings you can see the bustling capital’s peaceful and tranquil side and feel its special, calming atmosphere.
The majority of Hungarian people became Christian in the 10th century when Hungary's first king, Saint Stephen I. took up Western Christianity. Hungary remained predominantly Catholic until the 16th century, when the Reformation and Calvinism took place. Of those Hungarians who are declaring religious affiliation, about 68% say today they are Roman Catholic, 21% Reformed (Calvinist) and 6% Evangelical (Lutheran) Protestant. There are also small Greek Catholic and Orthodox congregations. Hungary’s Jews’ number is about 100,000, their pre-war population was almost tenfold of the present size.
Religion in Budapest has come a long way and is no more confined to the Christian population only. The city boasts of its places of worship which are not only significant in terms of religion but also in terms of architectural magnificence and heritage. Religious structures are found in plenty in Budapest. There are medieval churches built in various architectural styles. The most popular and important church in Budapest is the St. Stephen Basilica. Another significant one is the Matthias Church. Budapest also contains more synagogues, the Dohany Street Synagogue is the biggest one in Europe.
Steps of the tour
We take a four-hour visit to the most relevant churches and sacred edifices of Budapest such as:
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Inner City Calvinist Church, built in neo-Gothic style in the nineteenth century. Its four-columned great porch, the organ loft and the pulpit are all the work of the great Hungarian architect József Hild.
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Lutheran Church, was built between 1799-1808, lends its extreme simple Classicit character to the Deák square around. Few people know that the adjoining National Lutheran Museum keeps the original will of Martin Luther from 1542.
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St. Stephen’s Basilica, Budapest’s largest church, built in Classical style between 1851 and 1905. Inside is the Hungarians’ most revered relic – the mummified right hand of Hungary’s first monarch, King Saint Stephen.
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Inner City Franciscan Church in the Ferenciek square. A church stood here already in 1260. The high mass was celebrating here when King Andrew III was crowned in 1290. The ornate baroque structure seen today dates mostly from the eighteenth century.
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Inner City Parish Church is the oldest church in Pest, dating back to the 12th century. Built in Romanesque style on the site of the grave of martyr Bishop Gellért, who was, according to the legend, put in a barrel and rolled off of today’s Gellért hill.
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Matthias Church, the best known and most spectacular Catholic Church in Budapest and one of the symbols of the city. It dates from many different periods, the earliest parts having been built between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries. Officially called the Church of Our Lady, the church is named after the main donor King Matthias, who got married here twice. King Béla III and his wife are buried within, and three other kings were crowned here too. The church’s beuatiful building, rich stone collection, relic collection, and goldsmiths' masterpieces are really worth to see.