Vukov Konstantin: A középkori esztergomi palota épületei (2004)
Abstract
ABSTRACT The buildings of the Medieval Palace of Esztergom The Palace of Esztergom had for a long time worn the exterior of a Turkish cannon bastion, of a Baroque caserne and of half-standing Romanesque buildings, when the exploration between 1934 and 1938 of the medieval royal residence of Esztergom, its freeing from the debris and the started restoration works had changed this situation. The restoration works were directed by Tibor Gerevich, based on the drawings of Géza Lux, with the contribution of Dezső Várnai, architect. The result of their work can be seen still today in the rooms of the Palace, being part of the Castle Museum. As a result of the research works at the end of the 20th century the reconstructions made in the ’30s can be extended further for the whole palace, showing in a new light the importance of the palace. Constituents of the palace according to use The palace building was part of the Castle Hill of Esztergom, enclosed by a special wall, and supplied with an own gateway. In the Middle Ages, after the Saint Adalbert Cathedral it was the other center of gravity of the Castle. The Palace was composed of different building parts, meeting different purposes of use. Analysis according to the functions may bring us closer to the understanding of the remaining building parts and of the former life. During the use in the 15th century of the Romanesque Palace building the demands had for sure grown and were refined, otherwise besides the royal family only one aristocrat, the Archbishop of Esztergom had owned it. On the basis of the results of explorations and of the observations of the author the different units can clearly be separated, on the other hand the palace still has parts the purpose of which remained in the dark until today. Compared to the residences of the rulers and aristocrats of the 15th century, among them starting with the Palace of the Pope in Avignon, but primarily compared to the Castle of Buda at the time of Zsigmond of Luxembourg, the Palace of Esztergom had all the comfort, entertainment, economic and hygienic equipment, which were found in other important, similar European buildings. In the Palace of Esztergom the private residence, the chapel, the entertainment wing, the kitchens and other housekeeping sections and the relating hygienic rooms can be well separated. The private residence The Southern part of the Palace from the Age of the Árpáds is nothing else but a heavy motte, built on a cliff, having originally a pentagonal floor- plan. This White tower and its extension, together with the chapel correspond to the place of the former royal, later Archbishop private residences. The motte was built in the second half of the 12th century, it appeared as a White tower („Weiss thurm”) in the 15th century. On the still existing level of the motte three rooms can be found, named by the explorers as: Beatrix room a with double gate, studiolo or study room with the fresco of the virtues, as well as the library, or council chamber. As the signs show the architectural concept had not changed during the construction, the finished condition, however had been built up gradually. Today studiolo is the most significant part after the 15th century wall painting, representing the four virtues. The vault of this room can be reconstructed exactly according to its original condition, and the Lux restoration can be further development according to the amenities. The remaining incomplete staircases prove, that at least two residential levels were housed in the pentagonal mass. The one-man spiral stairs leading up from the internal room, from the fresco room, called today as studiolo shows that the rooms above were more protected, than the ones downstairs, since access was only possible from under. And the wider spiral staircase, contacting almost with only one wall in all probability led to the top of the tower. The two vertical communication systems were independent from each other, otherwise there would have been no reason why they had built them next to each other. The Beatrix room The most peculiar embellishment of the Beatrix room is the Romanesque, representative double doorway, from where the bigger arch leads to the VÁROSI KÖNYVTÁR) Esztergo 99
