St. Stephen’s Basilica is Budapest’s tallest church, its 96-metre height symbolically referring to the year 896, the date of the Hungarian Conquest. Parliament rises to the same height, traditionally expressing the balance between secular and ecclesiastical power. Named after Saint Stephen, Hungary’s first king, the basilica also houses the Holy Right Hand, his preserved relic.

Construction began in 1851 based on the plans of József Hild, and after the collapse of the dome it was completed under the direction of Miklós Ybl and József Kauser. The basilica was consecrated in 1905.

From the dome, a breathtaking circular panorama opens over downtown Budapest, the Danube and the Buda hills, making the basilica not only a religious site but also one of the city’s most visited landmarks.

Every year, St. Stephen’s Square hosts the Advent Basilica Christmas market, repeatedly voted among Europe’s most beautiful Christmas markets, further strengthening the site’s cultural atmosphere.