As Hungary's former capital and the seat of its Catholic Church, Esztergom holds profound historical significance along the Danube Bend. The city's skyline is dominated by the monumental Esztergom Basilica, the largest church in Hungary and the tallest building in the country until 1920. This neoclassical masterpiece, built atop Castle Hill, stands on the site where King Stephen I (Hungary's first Christian king) was crowned in 1000 AD.
The Esztergom Castle Museum preserves the remains of the royal palace, including the reconstructed 12th-century chapel with its unique red marble columns. Nearby, the Christian Museum houses Hungary's finest collection of medieval religious art, including panels by medieval master Thomas of Kolozsvár.
Esztergom's strategic riverside location created a blend of cultural influences visible in its Turkish-era minaret (the northernmost Ottoman structure in Europe) and the Baroque-style Primate's Palace. The Maria Valeria Bridge connects the city to Slovakia, emphasizing its cross-border significance.
What makes Esztergom unique is its living connection to Hungary's spiritual and political origins. Pilgrims still visit the basilica's crypt containing medieval archbishops' tombs, while the annual Esztergom Festival brings medieval history to life through reenactments. The surrounding Danube Bend offers excellent hiking and cycling routes with panoramic views of this historic landscape.
