St. Stephen's Basilica

Construction of St. Stephen's Basilica began in 1851 under the direction of architect József Hild, but the project faced significant setbacks, most notably the collapse of the dome during a storm in 1868. Following this disaster, Miklós Ybl took over the design, shifting the style from neoclassical to a more ornate Neo-Renaissance aesthetic. The building was finally completed in 1905 by József Kauser, making it a 54-year labor of love that survived several architectural transitions and technical challenges. The basilica is named in honor of Stephen, the first King of Hungary, whose mummified right hand, known as the Holy Right, is housed in the church's reliquary. Originally, the site was intended to be a theater, but after the 1838 flood of the Danube, the hill provided refuge for citizens, leading them to dedicate the ground to a sacred structure. It serves as one of the most important religious buildings in Hungary, acting as a co-cathedral for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Esztergom-Budapest. Standing at 96 meters tall, the basilica is exactly the same height as the Hungarian Parliament Building, symbolizing the balance between church and state. This specific height is a tribute to the year 896, marking the arrival of the Hungarian people in the Carpathian Basin. Despite sustaining heavy damage during the Siege of Budapest in World War II, the structure was meticulously restored, and today its grand mosaics and massive bells—the largest in the country—continue to draw millions of visitors annually.