One of Hungary’s oldest towns, Esztergom is the seat of the Hungarian Catholic Church. It is the perfect escape for history buffs or anyone looking to get off the beaten path in nearby Budapest.

Its prime attraction is the masterful Classic Basilica of Esztergom, the third largest church in all Europe. Hungary’s first king St. Stephen was crowned here, and the city in fact used to be the Hungarian capital. It is a true symbol of the country, appearing on the Hungarian 10,000 forint note. Other points of interest in town include the reconstructed Royal Palace, the massive ecclesiastical collection at the Christian Museum, or Kereszteny Muzeum, and the numerous Baroque churches, mediaeval fortresses, and Classicist buildings of Vizivaros, or Watertown, perched atop the Danube.

Just over 50 kilometres north-west of Budapest, Esztergom lies on the modern border between Hungary and Slovakia. Reaching the city from Budapest is not particularly easy via public transport. Visitors can take the metro to Ujpest, and then catch a bus to Esztergom, the total travel time being about two hours. Tourists on a tighter schedule may, however, prefer to rent a car and drive, cutting travel time in half.

Esztergom’s peak was from the 10th to 13th centuries, when it served as the Hungarian capital. Recent archaeological work, however, has revealed that the Castle Hill area has been inhabited since the end of the Ice Age. The town has seen a constant rotation of ancient settlers from Celts to Slavs to Magyars.