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The Basilica commissioned by the first Hungarian King St Stephen served
as the coronation church and royal burial site. What remains of it, including
the memorial displaying St Stephen’s sarcophagus, has become a national shrine.

The garden ruins where the remnants of the basilica, its masonry, and
St Stephen’s sarcophagus are on display, were prepared in 1938 for the
900th anniversary of St Stephen’s death.

A mausoleum and masonry museum designed by Géza Lux were erected for
the sarcophagus. Its external walls are decorated with fine relief work by
Walter Madarassy, the stained glass windows were painted by Mrs Árkay
née Lili Sztehlo, and the walls bear a historical secco by Vilmos Aba Novák.

Extremely dense yet with a striking and expressive structure, Novák’s
composition begins with the baptism of Vajk (Stephen’s pagan name) and
with the story of the Holy Crown. Also featured on the walls: St Stephen’s
coronation, the legend of the holy right hand of St Stephen, the kings and
outstanding figures of Hungarian history, together with public personalities
representing the various eras, among them the governor Miklós Horthy, and
in the figure of Anonymous (the medieval anonymous notary who recorded
the history of the Hungarians) wearing his hooded cloak, the then Minister
of Education was displayed.

The secco created in 1942 was limewashed in the early 1950′s to conceal
the figure of Miklós Horthy whom the Communists despised. This, however,
protected the artwork from the rigours of the weather. In the early 1990′s,
it was restored and placed under protection.

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This was also one of the panoramas we’ve stitched during the workshop.

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