Matthias Church
Also
called the Church of Our Lady or Coronation Church, Matthias Church is a
beautiful turn of the century neo-Gothic structure. Symbol of the city’s Castle
District, this is where kings were crowned. The raven, the sign of 15th
century kings, can be seen on the towers.
The earliest remains of the church
date back to the 13th century when King Béla IV. (1206-1270)
commissioned the building of a church at Castle Hill after the 1241-42 Mongol
invasion. The north tower was built at that time (1255-1269)
King Matthias Corvinus expanded and
embellished the building in Renaissance style and added the 195-foot high southern tower.
The Matthias bell tower bears a raven holding a golden ring in its beak, the
royal coat
of arms.
Our guide told us, “King Matthias
was known for his fairness and justice, and Hungary flourished under his rule.
He was married twice in the church that bears his name. Built in the 13-15th
centuries, it is another symbol of Budapest.
In 1541
the Turks invaded Hungary and occupied the country for 150 years. The Turks turned
the church into a mosque and white-washed the wall covered frescos. After Buda
was retaken, the Jesuits were given the church and made some Baroque
alterations. The church became a parish church in 1773. It was restored in the
latter part of the 19th century in neo-gothic style.
The exterior and the frescos as well
as the marvelous stained windows originate from that
era and are the works of Hungary's greatest artists of the time.
Today, inside
the church one wall retains its
Turkish geometric design, while frescos are evident elsewhere. The structure has a beautiful mosaic roof.
Because of the exceptional acoustics, concerts are often held in the church.
A
memorial plaque on the outside of the church commemorates all who lost their
lives while the country was under Hitler and Stalin rule.
Fisherman’s
Bastion
Perched on the edge of the Castle District
behind Matthias Church is a neo-Romanesque structure known as Fisherman’s
Bastion. Built at the turn of the century in the location of the old fish
market; it provides a panoramic view of the Danube River and Pest. The seven towers represent the seven tribes of Hungarians when they settled down by the Danube in the Carpathian basin in 896. The
building has many turrets, terraces, parapets and stairways offering
exceptional views.It is an
unforgettable landmark in Budapest.
Fishermen's Bastion never was used
for military defensive purposes; it was created only for decorative reasons.
From
the backside of the structure one can view part of a medieval wall that is
between it and the Hilton Hotel. When
the medieval ruins were discovered during the construction of the hotel, the
hotel’s design was altered to accommodate, not destroy, the ruins.
Nearby is a statue of St. Stephen atop his
horse.