Cathedral
Hungary's first late Baroque classicist cathedral, designed by the Frenchman Isidor Canavale.
Its external appearance is slightly different from that of the cathedrals in Hungary. This is because several architects worked on it. The Austrian architect Pilgram designed a traditional semicircular entrance, but costs and his premature death did not allow it. His successor, Isidor Canevale, dreamt up a modern classicist exterior in line with the new architectural trend.
Many similar buildings were built later, but the fact is that in our country in the middle of the 17th century it was considered very innovative. Construction began in 1761, the church was consecrated in 1772, but the interior work was not completed until 1777.
The Cathedral and its surroundings, the ecclesiastical centre of the city. The Bishop's Palace, opposite the main church, is still the home of the Bishop of the Diocese of Vaci. From the square in front of the church, the emblematic buildings look even more imposing. The effect is not a sensory disappointment, but the result of conscious planning, since one of the main aims was to make the new cathedral surpass the previous ones in size and appearance, and to proclaim the power and wealth of the Church.
It is located between the two former main churches. Our first cathedral stood on the site of the former fortress of Vác, which fell into disuse after the Turkish era. Later, the main church of St. Michael was used, but it was demolished after a series of rebuildings and a fire in 1731. The new church was consecrated to the Virgin Mary and St Michael, commemorating the two earlier ones.
The cathedral stands out among the other monuments by its dimensions: external length: 72 m, internal length: 60 m, height: 55 m. It is the fourth largest cathedral in Hungary that can be visited, its main façade is dominated by the six Corinthian columns between the towers.
Above the dividing ledge are the sculptures of József Bechert, sculptor from Vác: from left to right: Peter, Paul, Virgin Mary, Joseph, John, James.
The interior of the church has a splendid late Baroque style, with the main altar and the dome frescoed by Franz Anton Maulbertsch, the most important Austrian painter of the 18th century, on the visit of the Virgin Mary to St Elizabeth. However, Kristóf Migazzi did not find it suitable and had it replaced two years after its completion. In 1994, 170 years later, the original painting was restored and is still on display today. The church has a unique organ, which can be fully enjoyed during organ concerts.
The cathedral is an awe-inspiring sight for tourists and locals alike, and is still one of the most visited churches today. It is a regular place of worship, a popular choice for weddings and christenings, and a place of celebration on feast days.
2600 Vác, Schuszter Konstantin tér 11.
Látogatási rend:
- Szombaton 9.00-18.30 az egész templomtér szabadon, jegyvásárlás nélkül bejárható.
- Szentmisék a Székesegyházban: hétfő-csütörtök 18.00 (Kanonoki kápolna), péntek 18.00 és vasárnap 10.00, 11.30, 18.00 (templom). A szentmisék aktuális rendjéről a Vác Alsóvárosi Plébánia honlapján tájékozódhatnak.
Toronykilátó
A Nagyboldogasszony-székesegyház északi tornyában 2025. június 19-től kilátó várja a látogatókat, amelyhez 210 lépcsőfok vezet.
A homlokzati apostolszobrok magasságában egy köztes kilátóteraszt alakítottunk ki fotóponttal, útközben megtekinthető az ország hatodik, az egyházmegye legnagyobb harangja, végül a torony tetején Vác város és a Duna egyedülálló panorámája várja a látogatókat.
A kilátónak része egy kiállítótér is, ahol bemutatjuk a D.O.M. – A váci Nagyboldogasszony-székesegyház megújulása c. dokumentumfilmet (12′-es változat angol felirattal) bepillantást engedve a 2021-2024 között megvalósult teljes belső felújítás folyamatába.