Esztergom facts for kids

Quick facts for kids

Esztergom

City with county rights

Top left: Dark Gate, Top upper right: Esztergom Cathedral, Top lower right: Saint Adalbert Convention Center, Middle left: Kis-Duna Setany (Little Danube Promenade), Middle right: Saint Stephen's Square, Bottom: Esztergom Castle Hill and Danube River

Flag	Coat of arms

Nicknames:

Hungarian Rome, Hungarian Sion,
City of St. Stephen

Esztergom

Location in Hungary

Esztergom

Location in Europe

Country

Hungary

Region

Central Transdanubia

County

Komárom-Esztergom

District

Esztergom

Established

around 972

Capital of Hungary

972–1249

Area

• Total

100.35 km² (38.75 sq mi)

Population

(2020)

• Total

28,165

• Density

280.668/km² (726.93/sq mi)

Time zone

UTC+1 (CET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+2 (CEST)

Postal code

2500–2509

Area code

(+36) 33

Esztergom is an important city in northern Hungary. It's about 46 kilometers (28 miles) northwest of the capital city, Budapest. Esztergom sits on the right bank of the Danube River, which forms the border with Slovakia there.

This city was once the capital of Hungary from the 900s until the mid-1200s. King Béla IV of Hungary later moved the royal seat to Buda. Esztergom is also known as the main center for the Catholic Church in Hungary.

You can find a special Christian Museum here, which has the biggest collection of church-related art in Hungary. The city's main church, Esztergom Basilica, is the largest church in all of Hungary. Near the Basilica, there's also a campus of the Pázmány Péter Catholic University.

Understanding the Name of Esztergom

The ancient Roman town here was called Solva. Later, in the Middle Ages, its Latin name was Strigonium.

Many people believe the name "Esztergom" comes from the Slavic word strěgom. This word means "guard" or "watch post". This makes sense because Esztergom was a very important place to guard the Danube River valley.

Other names for the city include Ostrogon in Croatian, Ostrzyhom in Polish, and Ostrihom in Slovak. The German name is Gran.

A Look at Esztergom's History

Esztergom is one of the oldest towns in Hungary. People have lived on and around its Várhegy (Castle Hill) for about 20,000 years! The first people we know by name were the Celts, who settled here around 350 BC. Later, the Roman Empire took over, and it became an important border town called Solva.

Around 500 AD, Slavic people moved into the area. In the 800s, the region was mostly controlled by the Franks. It was a key point for guarding the Danube River.

The Rise of a Capital City

The Magyars (Hungarians) arrived in the area in 896 AD. Around 960, Prince Géza, the ruler of the Hungarians, chose Esztergom as his home. His son, Vajk (who later became Saint Stephen), was born in the palace on Castle Hill around 969–975.

In 973, Prince Géza sent a group from Esztergom to a big peace meeting in Germany. He asked for peace and for missionaries to teach about Christianity.

Stephen was crowned king in Esztergom on Christmas Day in 1000 or January 1, 1001. For many years, the only place where money was made for the country was here. The Esztergom Castle was also built during this time. It was the royal home and the center of the Hungarian state and religion until 1241. The head of the Catholic Church in Hungary, the archbishop of Esztergom, lived here and had the special right to crown kings.

Mongol Invasion and Changes

The town at the foot of Castle Hill grew into a very important place for trade and economy. Visitors from other countries were amazed by how rich and important Esztergom was. One historian called it the "capital of Hungarian people."

However, in 1241, the Mongols attacked Hungary. Esztergom faced a terrible siege. The city was badly damaged, and many people died. Even though some people survived in the castle and new residents helped rebuild, Esztergom lost its role as the main capital. King Béla IV moved his home to Buda.

After this, the castle was given to the archbishop, who continued to build and decorate it. The town slowly started to recover.

Later Centuries and Ottoman Rule

In the 1300s and 1400s, Esztergom became a major center for Hungarian culture, much like Buda. Kings, scientists, and artists visited the city. For example, King Matthias Corvinus's teacher, János Vitéz, built a library and an observatory here.

A very important building, the Bakócz chapel, was built in 1507 by Archbishop Tamás Bakócz. It's one of the oldest and most important Renaissance buildings still standing in Hungary.

In 1526, the Ottoman Empire conquered a large part of Hungary. Esztergom suffered greatly. Between 1526 and 1543, the city was attacked many times. Finally, in 1543, Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent captured the castle.

Esztergom (called Estergon by the Ottomans) became an important border castle for the Ottoman Empire. Many battles took place here. In 1595, Hungarian and Austrian troops took the castle back, but most of the old buildings were destroyed. The Ottomans regained control in 1605 and held it until 1683. They built mosques and baths, but these were also destroyed in later battles.

Rebuilding and Modern Times

After the Ottomans were driven out in 1683, the area was settled by Hungarians, Slovaks, and Germans. The town slowly rebuilt itself. By the 1730s, many different crafts were thriving. The beautiful Baroque style of buildings you see downtown today was developed during this time.

In 1761, the church took back control of the castle. They started building the new, huge cathedral on Castle Hill.

The 20th century brought new challenges. After the Treaty of Trianon in 1920, Esztergom became a border town and lost much of its land.

During World War II, Esztergom was badly damaged again. However, it slowly recovered. The Mária Valéria bridge, which connects Esztergom to Štúrovo in Slovakia, was rebuilt in 2001 with help from the European Union. It had been destroyed in 1944.

Amazing Architecture in Esztergom

Esztergom is famous for its beautiful buildings and historical sites.

The Castle and Royal Palace

Below the huge Esztergom Basilica, you can still see the old walls and towers of Esztergom Castle. Parts of the royal palace, built during the Middle Ages, were hidden underground until the 1930s.

Most of the palace was uncovered and restored between 1934 and 1938. You can walk through narrow stairs and arches built in the Romanesque style. This part of the palace was built when King Béla III was alive. French architects helped design it in the late 1100s.

The palace chapel has old paintings from the 1100s to 1300s. From the palace terrace, you get an amazing view of Esztergom. You can see the houses and churches of the Víziváros (Watertown) and the Primate's Palace.

Esztergom Basilica

The Esztergom Basilica is the most impressive building in the city. It stands tall above the Danube River and is the largest church in Hungary.

It was built between 1822 and 1869. The famous composer Ferenc Liszt even wrote a special Mass (a type of musical piece) for its opening. This huge church has a dome that is 71.5 meters (235 feet) high! Inside, you'll find giant arches and a massive altar-piece painting.

The Basilica also has a special treasury. It holds many amazing artworks made by goldsmiths from the Middle Ages. You can see beautiful crosses, fancy cups, and old textiles like robes.

From the top of the dome, you can see a breathtaking view of the surrounding mountains and the Danube River.

Exploring Víziváros (Watertown)

The Víziváros (Watertown) area got its name because it's built along the banks of the Danube. You can still see its old fortresses, walls, and towers. There's even a stone tablet with Turkish writings that remembers Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent's victory in 1543.

The narrow, winding streets in Watertown hide the remains of old Turkish mosques and baths.

The Primate's Palace, a beautiful Baroque and Classicist building, is also in Watertown. Inside, you'll find the Keresztény Múzeum (Christian Museum). It has a rich collection of Hungarian paintings and sculptures from the Middle Ages, as well as art from Italy and Western Europe.

The Balassa Bálint Museum, also in Watertown, used to be the first town hall of Esztergom after the Turks left. The Jesuit and Franciscan churches in Watertown are also great examples of Baroque architecture.

Cathedral Library

The Cathedral Library, built in 1853, is one of Hungary's richest religious libraries. It holds about 250,000 books! Among them are very old manuscripts, like a 12th-century Latin explanation of the 'Song of Songs' and a Hungarian Bible translation from the early 1500s.

Szent Tamás-hegy (Saint Thomas Hill)

On the nearby 'Szent Tamás-hegy' (Saint Thomas Hill), you'll find a beautiful Baroque Calvary. At the top of the hill is a Classicist chapel built to remember heroes who died for Esztergom. The hill is named after a church built long ago to honor Saint Thomas Becket.

The small, winding streets and houses on the hill have a special, old-world feel. At the bottom of the hill are a swimming pool and the old Bath Hotel.

Széchényi Square and the Town Hall

The main square of Esztergom is Széchényi Square. The most eye-catching building here is the Town Hall. It used to be the home of a famous Hungarian general named Vak Bottyán in the late 1600s. The building was rebuilt in the 1700s. On its front, you can see a red marble carving of Esztergom's coat of arms. A statue of Vak Bottyán on horseback stands at the corner of the building.

In the middle of the square, there's a beautiful Trinity statue. Nearby, on Bottyán János Street, you can see more lovely Baroque houses and the Franciscan church.

Other Churches in Esztergom

You can also admire the downtown parish church and the Classicist Church of Saint Anne. The Orthodox church on Kossuth Lajos street was built around 1770 by Serbian settlers in Esztergom.

People and Population

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1785	5,492	—
1850	8,544	+55.6%
1869	8,780	+2.8%
1880	8,932	+1.7%
1890	9,349	+4.7%
1900	17,909	+91.6%
1910	17,881	−0.2%
1920	17,963	+0.5%
1930	17,354	−3.4%
1941	22,171	+27.8%
1949	20,104	−9.3%
1960	23,021	+14.5%
1970	26,965	+17.1%
1980	30,373	+12.6%
1990	29,841	−1.8%
2001	29,041	−2.7%
2011	28,926	−0.4%
2021	28,165	−2.6%
Source: Note:

After the Ottoman wars, many people moved away from Esztergom. The city was later resettled mostly by Hungarians, but also some Germans and Slovaks.

Today, most people in Esztergom are Hungarian. There are also smaller groups of Romani, Germans, and Slovaks.

Religion in Esztergom

For a long time, Esztergom has been a strong center for the Catholic Church in Hungary. In the past, a rule from 1708 meant that mostly Catholics lived in the city, except for a small group of Serbian Orthodox people.

Today, many people in Esztergom are Roman Catholic. There are also people who belong to the Hungarian Reformed (Calvinist) church, Lutheran church, and Greek Catholic church. Some people do not follow any religion.

Industry in Esztergom

Siemens Desiro in Esztergom

A big car factory, Magyar Suzuki, opened in Esztergom in 1992. It's the European base for the Japanese car maker Suzuki. This factory can make 300,000 vehicles each year and is the largest employer in the city, with over 2,600 workers.

Climate of Esztergom

Climate data for Esztergom
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	2.2 (36.0)	8.2 (46.8)	15.2 (59.4)	22.5 (72.5)	28.0 (82.4)	30.8 (87.4)	33.0 (91.4)	32.8 (91.0)	28.3 (82.9)	21.5 (70.7)	11.6 (52.9)	6.0 (42.8)	20.0 (68.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	1.7 (35.1)	4.9 (40.8)	10.6 (51.1)	16.4 (61.5)	22.1 (71.8)	25.0 (77.0)	27.0 (80.6)	26.7 (80.1)	22.5 (72.5)	16.4 (61.5)	8.4 (47.1)	3.4 (38.1)	15.5 (59.9)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−1.2 (29.8)	1.6 (34.9)	6.0 (42.8)	11.3 (52.3)	16.2 (61.2)	19.2 (66.6)	21.0 (69.8)	20.6 (69.1)	16.7 (62.1)	11.3 (52.3)	5.2 (41.4)	0.8 (33.4)	10.7 (51.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−4.0 (24.8)	−1.7 (28.9)	1.5 (34.7)	0.8 (33.4)	10.3 (50.5)	13.5 (56.3)	14.9 (58.8)	14.5 (58.1)	11.0 (51.8)	6.3 (43.3)	2.1 (35.8)	−1.8 (28.8)	6.0 (42.8)
Record low °C (°F)	−6.8 (19.8)	−5.0 (23.0)	−3.0 (26.6)	0.8 (33.4)	3.2 (37.8)	7.8 (46.0)	8.8 (47.8)	8.4 (47.1)	5.3 (41.5)	1.3 (34.3)	−1.0 (30.2)	−4.4 (24.1)	2.2 (36.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	36 (1.4)	35 (1.4)	31 (1.2)	40 (1.6)	59 (2.3)	67 (2.6)	51 (2.0)	56 (2.2)	42 (1.7)	39 (1.5)	56 (2.2)	45 (1.8)	557 (21.9)
Mean monthly sunshine hours	64	98	132	172	230	227	249	239	173	139	72	53	1,848
Source: CLIMATE DATA

Famous People from Esztergom

Many notable people have connections to Esztergom:

Andrew II (1177–1235) – A King of Hungary.
Tamás Bakócz (1442–1521) – An important Hungarian archbishop and statesman.
János Bottyán (1643–1709) – A famous Hungarian general.
Charles I (1288–1342) – Crowned King of Hungary in Esztergom in 1301.
Blessed Eusebius of Esztergom (1200–1270) – A Hungarian church leader who founded a religious order.
Saint Irene of Hungary (1088–1134) – A Hungarian princess who became a Byzantine empress.
Stephen I of Hungary (975–1038) – The very first King of Hungary.
Vladislaus II (1456–1516) – A King of Bohemia and Hungary.
Blessed Yolanda of Poland (1235–1298) – A Hungarian nun.