On the way back we passed Esztergom, the seat of the Hungarian Catholic Church. It is one of the oldest towns in Hungary with the third-largest church in Europe – Basilica of Esztergom, a masterpiece of Classicism. Established around 972 AD, Esztergom has always played an important role in Hungary’s history. It was the birth and coronation place of the first Hungarian king, St. Stephen, as well as the capital of Hungary until the 13th century. After the Mongolian invasion, King Bela IV moved the Royal Seat to Visegrád and later to Buda, giving his palace to the archbishop and making Esztergom a religious center. The majority of the historic sites and the city’s architectural heritage are of a religious nature, like the Primate’s Palace, the Franciscan monastery, and several chapels and churches.
