St. Stephen's Basilica, Budapest
The west front of St. Stephen's Basilica. Photo
Barney Livingston.
Back side of St. Stephen's Basilica. Photo
Giamesh.
Interior of St. Stephen's Basilica. Photo
Jim Moran.
The Holy Right - King Stephen's hand. Photo
Curious Expeditions.
Interior detail with dome. Photo
Paul Charlesworth.
Interior of the dome. Photo
DDanzig.
View of Budapest from the basilica. Photo
Ian Koh.
Location map and aerial view of St. Stephen's Basilica. For a larger interactive view, see our Budapest Map.
Sheltering a sacred relic of King Stephen I, St. Stephen's Basilica in Budapest is the largest church in Hungary.
History
Construction on the Bazilika was completed in 1905 after over 50 years of construction. The dome collapsed in 1868, requiring the builders to start over from the ground up. Three leading architects, two of whom died before work was finished, directed the design.
After its completion, St. Stephen's was considered so sturdy that important documents and artworks were stored in it during World War II bombings. In 2002, St. Stephen's Square was remodeled as part of a new pedestrian area. In 2003, the church exterior was fully cleaned and renovated.
What to See
Today, the basilica's facade overlooks the grand Szent István tér (St. Stephen's Square), a great place to enjoy coffee at open-air cafes. The church is built in a Neoclassical style with similarities to St. Paul's Cathedral in London.
Over the main portal is a bust of King Stephen, Hungary's first Christian king and patron saint of the basilica. And inside the church is a reliquary with the "Holy Right" (Szent Jobb), the preserved right hand of King Stephen. It is Hungarian Catholicism's holiest relic.
Organ concerts are held at 7pm on Monday evenings from July through October.
Quick Facts
Site Information |
| Names: | St. Stephen's Basilica; Szent István-bazilika |
| Dedicated to: | St. Stephen of Hungary |
| Location: | Budapest, Budapest, Hungary |
| Categories: | Churches; Catholic Shrines |
| Faith: | Christianity |
| Denomination: | Catholic |
| Status: | active |
| Date: | 1855-1905 |
| Architecture: | Classical |
Visitor Information |
| Coordinates: | 47.500706° N, 19.053909° E (view on Google Maps) |
| Address: | V. Szent István tér 33, Pest, Budapest, Hungary |
| Phone: | 1/317-2859 |
| Website: | www.basilica.hu |
| Hours: | Church: daily 7-7 except during services Treasury: daily 9am-5pm (10am-4pm in winter) Szent Jobb Chapel: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm (10am-4pm in winter), Sun 1-5pm Tower: Apr-Oct: Mon-Sat 10am-6pm |
| Cost: | Church free; treasury 400 Ft; tower 500 Ft |
| Photography: | Permitted |
| Services: | Daily Mass: 8am, and 5:30 and 6pm Sunday Mass: 8, 9, and 10am, noon, and 6 and 7:30pm |
| Public transport: | Arany János utca (Blue line) or Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út (Yellow line) |
Travel Resources for Budapest
- Budapest Map - our detailed interactive map of Budapest, plus hand-picked links to more
- Budapest Guided Tours - book sightseeing tours and activities in Budapest
- Budapest Hotels - check availability, maps, photos and reviews, then book at the guaranteed lowest rate
- Budapest Hostels - reserve budget lodgings with no booking fees
- Budapest Car Rentals - get the lowest rate by comparing multiple car companies at a glance
- Budapest Flight Search - compare multiple travel sites to find the lowest airfare to Budapest
- Budapest Restaurant Reviews - the best places to eat in town
- Budapest Travel Forum - tips, answers and advice on Budapest tourism
Article Sources
Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:
Article last updated: 10/27/2009.
