Belváros Church, Budapest, Hungary

Belváros (Inner City) Church is the oldest building in Pest side of river in Budapest. It was built in 1046 as a grave of Bishop St. Gellért (c. 980-1046), a missionary from Italy who played an instrumental role in converting Hungary to Christianity. According to tradition, he was martyred by angry pagans who rolled him down a hill across the river, which was named Gellért Hill in his honor.

The first church constructed on this spot was a 12th-century Romanesque structure built inside the ruined walls of the Roman fortress of Contra-Aquincum. In the early 14th century, after destroyed by Mongols, this church was replaced by a Gothic church which still stands today. It has been frequently renovated and remodeled in accordance with contemporary fashions, so its medieval origins are not obvious at first glance.

During the reign of Ottoman Empire Belváros was used as a mosque and in 1702 it was returned as a Christian church by Jesuits. The Rococo style pulpit dates from 1808.

User Reviews

Allain Jing Couple in Love world travels (21 months ago)
We really love this place, so clean, perfect weather, very nice view of the Parliament.

Dan Leal (2 years ago)
A very beautiful church thats orgins are almost 1,000 years old. They just recently finished the restoration of it and is truly a sight to see. It is open to the public 24 hours a day and truly worth checking out

J. D. (2 years ago)
Whose idea was it to make this historical monument look like a cheap non-stop?! Artgasm ruined.

Madhusudhan Konda (2 years ago)
The oldest building in Budapest, Inner City of Parish Church is a wonderful, awesome and beautiful church, standing mightily next to the Elisabeth Bridge. It’s an iconic building which carried through the generations, transforming into various architectural styles from Romanasque to Gothic to Baroque to Neo classical including becoming a Mosque during Turkish invasion. You will be captivated with an awe inspiring Altar, ecclesiastical garments, beautifully carved Pulpit, gorgeous interiors and the grand piano sounding majestically. Do take a minute to head down to vault area where you can find the grotto with blessed sacrament exposed and ancient ruins(you experience pin drop silence as people sit and prayer in silence). I never seen or heard any church open for 24 hours a day, to my surprise this church seems open 24 by 7!

ordog botond (2 years ago)
Beautiful little chatolic church. Beautiful altars and memorabilia to see. Also it's open 24/7. So definitely a go ti.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Makser

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Derbent Fortress

Derbent is the southernmost city in Russia, occupying the narrow gateway between the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus Mountains connecting the Eurasian steppes to the north and the Iranian Plateau to the south. Derbent claims to be the oldest city in Russia with historical documentation dating to the 8th century BCE. Due to its strategic location, over the course of history, the city changed ownership many times, particularly among the Persian, Arab, Mongol, Timurid, Shirvan and Iranian kingdoms.

Derbent has archaeological structures over 5,000 years old. As a result of this geographic peculiarity, the city developed between two walls, stretching from the mountains to the sea. These fortifications were continuously employed for a millennium and a half, longer than any other extant fortress in the world.

A traditionally and historically Iranian city, the first intensive settlement in the Derbent area dates from the 8th century BC. The site was intermittently controlled by the Persian monarchs, starting from the 6th century BC. Until the 4th century AD, it was part of Caucasian Albania which was a satrap of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. In the 5th century Derbent functioned as a border fortress and the seat of Sassanid Persians. Because of its strategic position on the northern branch of the Silk Route, the fortress was contested by the Khazars in the course of the Khazar-Arab Wars. In 654, Derbent was captured by the Arabs.

The Sassanid fortress does not exist any more, as the famous Derbent fortress as it stands today was built from the 12th century onward. Derbent became a strong military outpost and harbour of the Sassanid empire. During the 5th and 6th centuries, Derbent also became an important center for spreading the Christian faith in the Caucasus.

The site continued to be of great strategic importance until the 19th century. Today the fortifications consist of two parallel defence walls and Naryn-Kala Citadel. The walls are 3.6km long, stretching from the sea up to the mountains. They were built from stone and had 73 defence towers. 9 out of the 14 original gates remain.

In Naryn-Kala Citadel most of the old buildings, including a palace and a church, are now in ruins. It also holds baths and one of the oldest mosques in the former USSR.

In 2003, UNESCO included the old part of Derbent with traditional buildings in the World Heritage List.

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