Tympanum, capitals and columns of portico on main facade of Esztergom Basilica in Hungary. The Latin inscription (“Caput Mater et Magistra Ecclesiarum Hungariae”) translates as “Head, Mother and Teacher of the Hungarian Churches”. The basilica, completed in 1869, was built in neoclassical style and is unusual because its main facade faces east.
Esztergom, Komárom-Esztergom County, Hungary: portico on main, eastern facade of Esztergom Basilica - the basilica is unusual because its main facade faces east. The Latin inscription on the portico (“Caput Mater et Magistra Ecclesiarum Hungariae”) translates as “Head, Mother and Teacher of the Hungarian Churches”. The 100-metre-high Esztergom Basilica, completed in 1869 and built in the classical style, is among Europe’s largest basilicas and is considered Hungary’s largest church. Construction took 47 years and during that time four architects led the works, including Hungarian János Packh (1796-1839) and Hungarian-German József Hild (1789 - 1867), both leading exponents of neo-classical architecture. Hungarian composer, Franz Liszt, wrote his famous Missa Solemnis for the ceremonial consecration of the cathedral in 1856 and personally directed its performance on that occasion. The basilica is dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Adalbert. Esztergom in northern Hungary is on the south east bank of the River Danube. It was the birthplace of the country’s founding king, St Stephen I, who erected the original church that stood in the Basilica’s location. King Stephen gave the town archdiocese rank and made it the centre of the Catholic church in Hungary. From the 900s to 1200s AD, Esztergom was the capital of Hungary, before King Bela IV moved the capital to Buda. Today, Esztergom is the seat of the prímás (Primate) of the Roman Catholic Church in Hungary.
Size: 4256px × 2832px
Location: Basilica, Esztergom, Komárom-Esztergom County, Hungary
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
Keywords: 1800s, ad, adalbert, arcade, architects, architecture, basilica, capitals, caput, cathedral, catholic, century, christian, church, churches, colonnade, columns, corinthian, county, , dark, east, ecclesiarum, esztergom, facade, floodlit, front, golden, head, hild, hungariae, hungarian, hungary, inscription, kerr, komárom-esztergom, large, largest, latin, light, lit, magistra, main, mater, mid-19th, mother, neo-classical, neoclassical, night, nighttime, packh, portico, primas, primate, roman, saint, seat, side, st, teacher, terence, tympanum, ános, ózsef
