Esztergom

Location in Hungary

Esztergom is a city in Hungary, 45 kilometers north of Budapest. 30 928 people live in Esztergom. It is the center of the Roman Catholic Church in Hungary, and the Constitutional court is in the city. There are a lot of rich museums in the city.

Geography

Esztergom is on the right side of the river Danube. There are big islands on the Danube. There are mountains to the east, that surround the city. The city is 100,35 km² big.

History

The Basilica

The city was founded in 972 by Géza of Hungary. It is one of the oldest cities in Hungary. Until 1249 it was the capital of the country. The archbishops built many schools, churches, palaces, and the kings of Hungary built castles. In 1242 the city was attacked and destroyed by mongols, but the castle on the hill was not. After the attack king Béla IV. moved to Buda, and gave the city to the archbishop. In 1543 the city was taken by the Turks, who built many spas. The Hungarians tried to take back the city many times, so it was destroyed again in the wars. The Turks left Esztergom in 1683. In 1822 Alexander Rudnay, the archbishop started building a big temple called a basilica. It is the biggest temple and the tallest building in the country, and the third biggest temple in Europe.

Sister cities

Esztergom Media

Castle Hill panorama from Štúrovo, Slovakia
Ottoman grave stones in the castle
Antique map of (Hungary) Esztergom by Braun & Hogenberg 1595
Siege of Esztergom in 1683
EsztergomSzentgyorgymezo
The cathedral with the Dark gate
The Esztergom Cathedral at night
Péter Pázmány Street
Courthouse in Esztergom