Parish Church in the Historic Center of Budapest

The Parish Church of the Inner City of Budapest, officially known as the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, represents a living testament to the rich and complex history of the city. Located in the heart of Pest, this church is not only a place of worship, but also a site of extraordinary historical and architectural value. Built on the foundations of a Roman warehouse from the 4th century AD, the church still preserves visible remains of the Roman era through a window in the floor. In the 10th century, during the reign of Stephen I, a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary was built on these remains. This sacred site has hosted historically significant events, such as the election of Matthias Corvinus as King of Hungary in 1458, which took place within its walls, followed by the popular ratification held on the frozen Danube. During the Turkish occupation in the 16th century, the church was converted into a mosque and some elements from this period, such as the Mihrab in the choir, are still visible. After the liberation from the Turks in 1686, the church underwent a series of transformations culminating in the Baroque reconstruction following the great fire of 1723. Architect János György Paur led the reconstruction works between 1725 and 1739, giving the church its current Baroque appearance with neoclassical influences visible inside. The church houses numerous works of art and relics. One of the most notable is the neogothic wooden pulpit from the 19th century, and a 14th-century fresco of the Virgin Mary, discovered during the restoration works in 2010. Other elements of great interest include the marble sepulchral monument from 1828 by Hungarian sculptor István Ferenczy and the main altar, decorated with glazed tiles from the Zsolnay manufactory, rebuilt in 1948 after being destroyed during World War II. The church also has significant musical importance: in the 19th century, Franz Liszt lived in the nearby rectory and conducted many of his works inside the church. Today, the church hosts regular concerts, including the annual performance of Mozart’s Requiem on December 5, the anniversary of the composer’s death. Recent archaeological excavations between 2014 and 2015 have uncovered further Roman and medieval remains, now displayed in the lower church created to house these discoveries. Among the preserved treasures is a relic of Saint Ladislaus I, placed in a Renaissance tabernacle from 1507, donated to the church by the city of Pest.