It's easy to see the attraction of Esztergom – especially from a distance. The city's massive basilica, sitting high above the town and the Danube River, is an incredible sight rising magnificently from its rural setting.
But the historical significance of this town is even greater than its architectural appeal. The 2nd-century Roman emperor-to-be Marcus Aurelius wrote his famous Meditations while he camped here. In the 10th century, Stephen I, founder of the Hungarian state, was born here and crowned at the cathedral. From the late 10th to the mid-13th centuries Esztergom served as the Hungarian royal seat. In 1543 the Turks ravaged the town and much of it was destroyed, only to be rebuilt in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Hungary’s largest church is Esztergom Basilica (Esztergomi Bazilika; www.bazilika-esztergom.hu ). At the southern end of the hill is the extensive Castle Museum (Vármúzeum ; www.mnmvarmuzeuma.hu;), with archaeological finds from the 2nd and 3rd centuries. Below Castle Hill in the former Bishop’s Palace, the Christian Museum (Keresztény Múzeum ; www.christianmuseum.hu ) contains the finest collection of medieval religious art in Hungary.
Frequent buses run to/from Budapest (930Ft, 1¼ hours), Visegrád (465Ft, 45 minutes) and Szentendre (930Ft, 1½ hours). Trains depart from Budapest’s Nyugati train station (1120Ft, 1½ hours) at least hourly. Ferries travel regularly from Budapest to Esztergom.
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