Matthias Church in Budapest has a long, storied history. Before the founding of the current church in the 13th century, the site was home to the Church of Mary, which was established by St. Stephen in 1015 and later destroyed by the Mongols around 1241. It was then that King Bela IV built Matthias Church with King Matthias Corvinus, the church’s namesake, expanding the church in the 15th century. This expansion included the construction of the southern high tower (Matthias Bell Tower). During the 1500s, the church was occupied by Turks and converted to a mosque. After the Turkish occupation, a new church was constructed, mainly in a Baroque style, and then in the 19th century, the building was restored to a Neo-Gothic style.
Matthias Church sits on a hill, next to Fisherman’s Bastion. From this site, visitors have amazing views of the Danube River and the Pest side of Budapest.
Visiting Matthias Church
I visited Matthias Church with Rick Steves’ Best of Prague and Budapest tour, which was great because our guide, Andrea, did a masterful job of sharing the church’s rich history and explaining key features of the site. The group visited the church on a Friday morning, and it was not too crowded. I would say that the stop at this site took about one hour between Fisherman’s Bastion and Matthias Church.
This site is definitely a must-see while in Budapest. Not only is the church historically significant, but Matthias Church is also home to beautiful frescoes, stained glass windows, and magnificent architectural features.
Matthias Church sits atop Buda Castle Hill and can be reached via bus or the funicular. If you purchased a Budapest transportation pass, bus fare is included, but admission to the funicular is an additional cost. I highly suggest using public transportation, especially if lodging in Pest, because it is a long, uphill walk!
To visit Matthias Church, an admission ticket must be purchased and they are available in person or online. There is also the option to buy a ticket to climb the tower, and this pass includes a short guided tour. The climb to the top is 197 steps.
Discounted tickets are available for certain age groups and families with more than one child.
Built between 1895 and 1902, Fisherman’s Bastion is a series of lookout towers and terraces bordering Matthias Church. Most of Fisherman’s Bastion is free to visit, but there is a small fee to explore the upper towers. At the site, travelers will find a ticket vending machine to purchase tickets and get information in several languages.
Admission to the upper towers is free before 9AM and in the evenings, after 9PM from June through September, and 7PM from October through May. It is also free on certain days of the year.
Resources
Visit the following sites for more information:
The first video was taken from Fisherman’s Bastion (I removed the background noise). The video shows the Hungarian Parliament Building and St. Stephen’s Basilica in the distance.
The second video is from Matthias Church, where the church’s organist surprised guests with an impromptu performance. Can you guess the musical score?
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