Matthias Church

The St. Matthias Church, in Budapest

The St. Matthias Church, or Our Lady of the Assumption, is a jewel of eight centuries of history in the heart of the castle district, symbol of Hungarian identity. The Budapest audio-guided tour stops here, with respect, to evoke this neo-Gothic sanctuary with its colourful tiled roof, the scene of royal coronations, transformed into a mosque during the Ottoman occupation and witness of a thousand years of history.

The sanctuary of the royal coronations

Rich with eight hundred years of history, the church of Our Lady of the Assumption, more commonly called St. Matthias Church, has so to speak missed no great event having affected Budapest. Invasions, glory, destructions, coronations, festival of the millennium, end of the Habsburgs: much more than a religious building, it is a symbol of Hungarian identity that stands between its two towers, to be discovered with respect. Erected between the thirteenth and the fifteenth century, this Catholic place of worship has the particularity of having been transformed into a mosque during the Ottoman occupation of the sixteenth century, before recovering its Christian vocation. Several times rebuilt, this architectural jewel presents a neo-Gothic style, prettily dominated by a roof of colourful glazed tiles, from the Zsolnay manufacture, that recalls certain roofs of Burgundy. It is here that kings of Hungary were crowned, and notably, in 1916, Charles IV, the last Habsburg sovereign. Inside, to be discovered in contemplation, the church impresses by its colourful frescoes, its stained-glass windows, its chapels and its solemn atmosphere, mingling medieval and oriental influences. According to legend, a wall of the church is said to have collapsed during the Ottoman occupation, revealing a hidden statue of the Virgin whose apparition is said to have sown terror among the occupiers. A historic church and a national symbol, the St. Matthias Church is discovered with respect.

What to see

Here you discover, with respect, a sanctuary of eight hundred years of history, erected from the thirteenth to the fifteenth century, symbol of Hungarian identity; of neo-Gothic style with a roof of colourful glazed tiles by Zsolnay, it was transformed into a mosque under the Ottoman occupation and hosted royal coronations, including that of Charles IV in 1916. The St. Matthias Church is a national symbol of Budapest. It is a stop to be discovered with respect.

Practical information

The St. Matthias Church stands on the castle hill, near the Fisherman's Bastion, in Buda, in Budapest, reachable on foot or by funicular. A place of worship, it can be visited with respect; entry and hours follow the conditions in force, which vary, and may be restricted during services. It is best to enquire before coming.

Why was the St. Matthias Church of Budapest a mosque?

Because it was transformed into a mosque during the Ottoman occupation of the sixteenth century, before recovering its Christian vocation; erected from the thirteenth to the fifteenth century, this sanctuary of eight hundred years of history, symbol of Hungarian identity, hosted royal coronations, including that of Charles IV in 1916, and bears a fine roof of colourful glazed tiles.

Where is the St. Matthias Church in Budapest?

On the castle hill, near the Fisherman's Bastion, in Buda, in Budapest, in Hungary.