A Szent István Bazilika rövid története

The construction of St. Stephen’s Basilica began in 1851 according to the plans of József Hild in the classicist style of its time. The largest Roman Catholic church in the capital was built under adverse circumstances. One year after Hild’s death, in 1868, the dome collapsed. Miklós Ybl was entrusted with continuing the construction, who corrected the design errors and reinterpreted the entire church using Renaissance elements. After Miklós Ybl’s death in 1891, the interior design, furnishings and decoration of the building were designed by architect József Kauser and parish priest Lénárd Lollok according to an unified iconographic program. Since 1897, the church has been named after the first Hungarian king, St. Stephen, whose personality had a decisive influence on the history of the Hungarians, as Hungary became a Christian state through him. Only Hungarian sculptors and painters were invited to create the works of art. The church was consecrated in 1905. The keystone was laid in 1906 in the presence of Franz Joseph I. The building was completely renovated between 1983 and 2003.