We spent a couple of hours in Budapest when we were travelling to a dance festival in the vicinity, I actually really enjoyed it and told Harry that I would love to return for a proper holiday there.

Anyway, one of the stops we made on our walking tour was the St Stephen’s Basilica, which is a beautiful building that attracts tourists from around the world. It is a location of rich history and remains a working church in the city of Budapest.

The History of St Stephen’s Basilica

So, the site of this Basilica was originally a theatre that was used to host animal fights back in the 18^th Century. This theatre was the Hetz-theatre, before a temporary church was built there by János Zitterbarth.

It took many years for St Stephen’s Basilica’s construction to get underway, considering the fact that fundraising and collections began in the 1810s, but construction didn’t begin until 1851. It then wasn’t actually completed until 1905! The length of, and delay in, construction was affected by both the 1848/49 Revolution and War of Independence and the collapse of the dome in 1868. Then, after all of this, renovations had to be started after the church sustained bombing damage in WW2, only finishing recently.

In fact, three architects worked on the construction, beginning with József Hild making the designs, then after his death, Miklós Ybl took over. However, Ybl had to restart the plans after the dome collapsed so also passed away before construction finished, leaving the project in the hands of József Krauser from 1891.

St Stephen’s Basilica Today

Currently, the Basilica is open to tourists when it isn’t in use for its intended purpose. It also hosts a wide variety of music concerts in the years since it opened.

St Stephen’s Basilica is the third largest church in Budapest, as well as being one of the tallest buildings.

The Main Attractions of St Stephen’s Basilica

St Stephen’s Right Hand

The name of the church was actually changed to honour Stephen I of Hungary instead of Saint Leopold (the patron Saint of Hungary).

In the chapel there is a relic, which has become a large tourist attraction. This relic is the Szent Jobb (Holy Right Hand), Holy Dexter, or St Stephen’s mummified right hand. It was apparently discovered in a Bosnian monastery and returned in 1771 by Maria Theresa (A Habsburg Empress).

The Bell Towers

The two bell towers are a main part of the noticeable and memorable appearance. Across both of the towers are six bells in total with the largest bell in Hungary located in the Southern tower.

The Panorama Terrace

If you chose to purchase a ticket with access to the Panorama Terrace, you will be treated to stunning views of Budapest city.

The view is curtesy of being in the dome or cupola of St Stephen’s Basilica, one of the two tallest buildings in the city.

Tickets and Entry Times

As previously mentioned, St Stephen’s is still hosting religious ceremonies so there may be times or days where entry to the Basilica is restricted. For example, it is closed to visitors during daily mass services. So, it is important to remember this and respect both the building and those there to worship, when you are visiting.

You can purchase tickets on the day at the ticketing office or online before your visit. When doing so you have the option to just visit the church or visit the panoramic terrace and treasury, or buy a combined ticket for both.

Conclusion

I think Harry and I would both like to visit St Stephen’s Basilica instead of just standing outside, even if it is a magnificent building. But I would still recommend it as a stop for anyone visiting Budapest, even if we didn’t go inside.