St. Mary Magdalene's Church Tower

Budapest, Hungary

The St. Mary Magdalene's Church, dating from the middle of the 13th century, originally served as the parish church for the Hungarian citizens of the town (the Mátyás Church was for the use of the town’s German citizens). During the 14th and 15th centuries it was enlarged several times. During the first-half of the Turkish occupation it remained the only Christian church in the Castle; during the second-half it was converted into a mosque. Following the defeat of the Turks in 1686 it was given back to the Franciscan Order, who demolished most of the church except for the tower, and used the stones to build a new single-nave church, in the Baroque style. As a result of the damage sustained by the church during the 2nd World War, the nave was demolished and only the Gothic style tower was restored. The ruins behind the church have been used to form an exhibition of the history of the church. In 1792 Emperor Francis I, King of Hungary, was crowned in the church.

References:

Comments

Your name



Details

Founded: 13th century
Category: Miscellaneous historic sites in Hungary

More Information

www.budapest.com

Rating

4.5/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Silvia B (5 months ago)
The Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Budapest has a rich history and unique features. Today, the site is mostly an open-air ruin, with only the bell tower and partial walls remaining. Yes, the Tower….believe me it’s worth climbing the 170 steps to the top via a spiral staircase—the tower offers stunning panoramic views of Budapest’s iconic buildings and the nearby Buda Hills. It’s an ideal spot for photographers, with windows offering views in all directions. At night, the bell tower is beautifully illuminated, making it a striking sight against the Budapest skyline and adding to the ambiance of the historic Castle District
Rutger (6 months ago)
The Mary Magdalene Tower in Budapest’s Castle District is a stunning remnant of the city’s medieval past. Originally part of a 13th-century church, the tower stands tall, offering a glimpse into Hungary’s rich history. Though the church was mostly destroyed during WWII, the tower remains and has been beautifully preserved. Climbing to the top rewards you with breathtaking views of the city, and the Gothic-Baroque architecture adds a unique charm to this historical landmark.
Juan Pablo Lopez (7 months ago)
Loads of stairs! The view is alright, but the Basilica in the city has a far better view. Interesting if you care about the history of the city though and its development. As well as architecture and structures like this one.
Karol Kantek (8 months ago)
The Church of Mary Magdalene itself was built in the 13th century and its exceptionally unfortunate doom is a perfect image of the similarly unlucky history of Hungary. After suffering severe damage during World War II and after being closed to the public for decades, the tall and reconstructed tower welcome visitors again and provides an extraordinary panorama with views to some of the most important buildings of Budapest.
Bianca W (8 months ago)
Gorgeous old church ruins with a restored tower that offers stunning views. With a very low entry fee of 1500 HUF, it's absolutely worth climbing the 172 steps to the top just for the view.
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Rosenborg Castle

Rosenborg Palace was built in the period 1606-34 as Christian IV’s summerhouse just outside the ramparts of Copenhagen. Christian IV was very fond of the palace and often stayed at the castle when he resided in Copenhagen, and it was here that he died in 1648. After his death, the palace passed to his son King Frederik III, who together with his queen, Sophie Amalie, carried out several types of modernisation.

The last king who used the place as a residence was Frederik IV, and around 1720, Rosenborg was abandoned in favor of Frederiksborg Palace.Through the 1700s, considerable art treasures were collected at Rosenborg Castle, among other things items from the estates of deceased royalty and from Christiansborg after the fire there in 1794.

Soon the idea of a museum arose, and that was realised in 1833, which is The Royal Danish Collection’s official year of establishment.