H. Szilasi Ágota - Várkonyi Péter - Bujdosné Pap Györgyi - Császi Irén (szerk.): Agria 50. (Az egri Dobó István Vármúzeum Évkönyve - Annales Musei Agriensis, 2017)

Löffler Erzsébet: A kis magyar Róma - Eszterházy Károly püspök szellemi és építészeti hagyatéka

Erzsébet Löffler

HUNGARY’S LITTLE ROME

The Intellectual and Architectural Heritage of Bishop Károly Eszterházy

The most influential church dignitary of Eger, an important bishopric seat, was Bishop Károly Eszterházy who filled this post between 1762 and 1799. As one of the most educated and richest prelates of his era, he did his utmost to increase the wealth of the bishopric seat both materially and intellectually

To this end he created Domus Universitatis, equipped with the most modern facilities of the time (library, observatory), which became one of the most emblematic buildings of the town. During his posting he basically redrew the town centre (expansion of the Archipiscopal Palace and the Seminary), creating a new centre for the bishopric seat. These church buildings were worthy of Hungary’s most influential diocese. This concept would have also included the erection of a new cathedral, however, he could only complete the planning phase and the actual implementation was left to his third successor. The impact of these new buildings was evident, because it inspired the church dignitaries, religious orders and wealthy citizens to add similarly grand buildings to the towns landscape.

Considerable infrastructural developments were also coupled with the foundation of new (mainly educational) institutions, which elevated the towns standing in terms ofscientific and cultural life, being awarded the well-deserved name of “Hungary s little Athens”.

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