Inner City Church

The Inner City Parish Church (Belvárosi Plébániatemplom) in Budapest, located next to the Erzsébet Bridge on the Danube, is the oldest building on the Pest side of the city.

This site along the river has long been considered sacred, as it is home to the grave of Bishop St. Gellért (c. 980-1046), a missionary from Italy who played an instrumental role in converting Hungary to Christianity. According to tradition, he was martyred by angry pagans who rolled him down a hill across the river, which was named Gellért Hill in his honor.

The first church constructed on this spot was a 12th-century Romanesque structure built inside the ruined walls of the Roman fortress of Contra-Aquincum. In the early 14th century, this was replaced by a Gothic church, which still stands today. It has been frequently renovated and remodeled in accordance with contemporary fashions, so its medieval origins are not obvious at first glance.

The Inner City Church was almost torn down when the Erzsébet Bridge was built in the late 19th century. Fortunately, the city approved an alternative plan, in which the new bridge would wind around the church (an interesting construction best viewed from Gellért Hill).

The west facade combines Gothic and Baroque elements, with twin towers and a yellowy hue. Both styles can also be seen in the interior niches. One of the highlights of the interior is a mihrab (prayer niche), a relic of the Turkish occupation when the church was used as a mosque. The altarpiece was painted by the 20th-century artist Pál Molnár, whose work can also be seen in St. Anne's Church.