Esztergom is a city in Hungary, in the Komárom-Esztergom county. It is situated on the Danube. In 2011, it had 30.86 thousand inhabitants. The name of the city is of Slavic origin. Esztergom comes from “guard” (defend) and “house”, meaning a military post.
- It is also worth heading to and seeing the so-called Water City – Vizavaros. It is a small architectural complex located at the foot of the hill on which the basilica is located. It was once a church town with a primate’s palace, seminary and tenement houses. Today, there is peace, quiet and a unique atmosphere of the 19th century Austro-Hungarian Empire. In the photos you can see complete emptiness. It is a very nice change from Budapest. I really liked the tenement houses and the market square and they were the perfect prelude to further sightseeing.
- However, what attracts people to Esztergom the most is the huge and monumental basilica. It can be seen even from the Prague-Bratislava-Budapest trains. The building is the largest church in Hungary. Situated on a hill, it makes a huge impression. Built in the classicist style, it is 118 meters long and 40 meters wide. The dome is 100 meters high. It was built between 1822 and 1856. The history of this place is associated with two facts related to Poland, commemorated by plaques. In the chapel that once stood on this site, John III Sobieski sang the solemn Te Deum after defeating the Turks in the Battle of Parkany (today’s Szturovo). In 1991, the basilica in Esztergom was visited by John Paul II during a ceremonial pilgrimage to Hungary. In the basilica itself we can visit the Bakocz Chapel and, perhaps most importantly, the most valuable, not only in Hungary but in the whole of Central and Eastern Europe, the cathedral treasury. In the treasury halls we can see: jewels, golden liturgical equipment, chasubles embroidered with gold. However, the most valuable is the Calvary of King Matthias Corvinus. We can also go to the crypt, where Hungarian bishops and cardinals are buried. Among them is the legendary and heroic Cardinal Jozsef Mindszenty.
- Getting to Esztergom. From Budapest you can get there by train or bus. The train seems to be a better choice. Trains depart from Nyugati station. The frequency is about twice an hour – on the hour and 20 minutes later. The ticket price is quite high, 1120 forints for 53 km. However, if you have a season ticket for public transport, you will save a lot. Then you buy only the section from the border of the agglomeration to Esztergom. Then you will pay only 700 HUF (about 10 PLN). By ship from Budapest to Esztergom. If you have plenty of time and good weather, you can be tempted to take a cruise on a white-water ship. Budapest is a thriving and large port for both domestic and international shipping. The state carrier operates on this route every day except for Mondays from 29 April to 1 September. Departures are from Vigado Ter at 9:00. We arrive in Esztergom at 15:20. We did this trip in May 2014 and we recommend it. The price for a one-way ticket is 3,300 HUF (approx. 45 PLN). You can of course go closer, e.g. to Szentendre or Visegrad.
- There are a few nice cafes in the town, a very nice confectionery on the market square. The Csulok Csarda restaurant right next to the ferry port is recommended. We didn’t go there, but the princess and the pub itself looked very OK from the outside. Unfortunately, not all reviews are positive.
