Horváth M. Ferenc (szerk.): Vác The heart of the Danube Bend. A historical guide for residents and globetrotters (Vác, 2009)
Tartalom
290 EXCURSIONS AROUND THE TOWN Visegrád..................................................... The name of Visegrád probably comes from the sparse Slavs already living here in the 10th century AD, and it means a fortification standing high. After the Mongol Invasion (1241) King Béla IV started to build a fortification system, which meant that the Citadel and the Lower Castle were linked with a wall. Until the Turkish era the castle maintained its role as a royal centring Matthias' coat of arms in the Palace of Visegrád The Castle Hill of Visegrád The Citadel of Visegrád The reconstructed Royal Palace in Visegrád tre; for instance, the Hungarian regalia were kept here. The life in Visegrád was like it was the capital of the country. King Matthias Hunyadi (Corvinus) (1458-1490) had a splendid palace built here, and settled Saxons from Transylvania into the town. After the Turkish era it was revived as a town by German settlers, and Baroque houses were built on the remains of the medieval buildings. Sights: Virgin Mary Chapel (early 18th century) • King Matthias Museum - reconstructed Renaissance palace and its garden • historical exhibition in Solomon Tower • Citadel Programmes: Palace Festival (early June) • summer ski and bob-sled track • open-air bath in Lepence Dömös The provost building of Dömös was built around 1107.The restored crypt below the raised chancel of the three-aisled church is one of the most valuable remnants of the Árpád Age in the Danube Bend. Sights: ruins of the provostal building • gallery and local history exhibition Programmes: national meeting of hikers (last Sunday of May) • excursion to Rám Ravine The crypt of the church of the Dömös Provostship Esztergom........................................................ Esztergom was the gem of the former royal region, the first capital city of the country. In the 10th century Grand Duke Géza built his residence here, and his son Vajk, who was later christened Stephen and became the founder of the Hungarian State, was born in Esztergom. István was crowned in this town at the first Millennium. Until the Mongol Invasion the town was both royal seat and archdiocese. Following the Ottoman occupation Hungarian, Slovak and German settlers populated the town. Ever since the archbishopric resettled to Esztergom in the 19th century, the town has been the ecclesiastic centre of the country. However, due to the Seal of the Chapter of Esztergom St. Stephen's Coronation - a statue by Miklós Melocco on Castle Hill
