Bishop's Palace in Pecs

The Bishop's Palace in Pec is called one of the most notable monuments of history and architecture. The city is located in southwest Hungary, at the foot of the Mecsek Mountain. Less than 150 thousand people live here. Despite the small population, the city has so many attractions that in 2010 it was recognized as the European Capital of Culture.

Emergence of the bishopric in Pec

Before moving on to the description of the Bishop's Palace in Pec, let's tell a little history. The Christian religion in the territory of the former Roman province has been actively developing since the 4th century AD. Christian cemeteries that have survived to this day are evidence of this. In the early Middle Ages, the territory changed hands, and in the 10th century it came under the rule of the Holy Roman Empire.

Since 1009, the city of Pécs has been an important administrative center in Hungary and the episcopal residence. Bishop is a spiritual rank, one of the most honorable in the Catholic Church, which is usually assigned to the head of an independent territorial unit of church government - a diocese. It is believed that every Catholic bishop is the successor of the apostles.

The appearance of the episcopal see in medieval Pécs is associated with the Hungarian king Stephen I the Saint. According to chronicles, in the main square of the city in the 11th century there was a Christian church for almost 150 years. When it burned down, a stone basilica in the Romanesque style was erected in its place. Gradually, new city structures were created near the cathedral, including a residence where high church officials were to live. One of the first clergy to live here was the Frankish Bishop Bonipert, the second was the Hungarian Bishop Mor; later many historical figures found shelter in the palace, including those from the Habsburg dynasty.

Construction and architecture of the palace

The first version of the Bishop's Palace in Pec was built in the Romanesque style back in the 12th century; the main function of any architectural structure in that turbulent time was defense; subsequently, the building was rebuilt and updated more than once.

In the 15th-16th centuries, the Bishop's Palace in Pec was remodeled in the Renaissance style. In 1751-1770, Bishop Gyorgy Klimo once again changed the appearance of the building. The façade was decorated in Baroque style. A second floor was added to the northern and eastern wings, and the southern wing was extended.

Between 1838 and 1852, the eastern façade was decorated in the neo-Renaissance style. The façade facing Dome Square is decorated with wooden columns and power projections. They say that the famous Hungarian composer Franz Liszt visited the Bishop's Palace in Pécs. Being greatly impressed by the architecture of the building, the musician promised to write a festive mass for the city's Cathedral. This is how an amazing-sounding religious piece of music was written. In 1983, sculptor Imre Varga created a sculpture of the composer. Liszt, standing on the balcony, seems to be listening to the ringing of the bells on Dome Square.

The Bishop's Palace in Pécs welcomes visitors on Thursdays during the summer months. Guests can visit the foyer, waiting room, library, dining room, private chapel, Habsburg rooms.