Church of St. Matthias, Budapest

15/04/2024

马蒂亚斯教堂 (Hungarian: Mátyás-templom) is a Roman Catholic church located in the Buda Castle District of Budapest, Hungary. It stands on Szentháromság tér (Holy Trinity Square), with its façade facing the square and its rear side overlooking the Danube, partially concealed by the Fisherman’s Bastion. The church tower, rising to 80 meters, is the tallest structure on Buda Hill.

The first church on this site was built in the early 11th century during the reign of King Stephen I of Hungary. The building was destroyed during the Mongol invasion in the 13th century and was subsequently rebuilt in the Gothic style as part of the expanding Buda Castle complex. Over the centuries, Matthias Church underwent numerous reconstructions. During the Ottoman occupation of Buda, it was converted into a mosque. Its present appearance is largely the result of a late 19th-century restoration led by architect Frigyes Schulek, undertaken for the Millennium celebrations of Hungary. At that time, the interior was redecorated with neo-Gothic frescoes and patterns that remain visible today.

The church is named after King Matthias Corvinus (r. 1458–1490), a Hungarian ruler who significantly contributed to the country’s cultural and political development. It served as the coronation church for several monarchs, including Franz Joseph I, Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary, as well as Charles IV, the last Habsburg ruler of Hungary.

Today Matthias Church functions both as a parish church and a cultural monument. It hosts religious services, concerts, and state ceremonies. Together with the adjacent Fisherman’s Bastion, it is a major tourist attraction offering panoramic views of the Hungarian Parliament building and the Pest side of the city.

地址： Szentháromság tér 2, Budapest, Hungary.