Az esztergomi vár műemléki helyreállítása(i)
The historic restoration(s) of the Esztergom Castle

Author(s): Gergely Tolnai
Subject(s): Museology & Heritage Studies, Architecture, History of Art
Published by: Pécsi Tudományegyetem Művészeti Kar Művészettörténet Tanszék
Keywords: Esztergom Castle; monument restoration; medieval architecture; heritage preservation; archaeological reconstruction; royal palace; conservation theory; historic monuments; architectural restoration; Hungarian cultural heritage
Summary/Abstract: The study examines the history of the restoration campaigns carried out at the royal palace complex of Esztergom Castle, one of the most important medieval royal residences in Hungary. The author explains that the palace evolved over several centuries and reached its most magnificent form by the beginning of the sixteenth century before suffering severe destruction during the Ottoman wars. A major challenge for restoration has been the fragmentary survival of the medieval remains, the lack of detailed written descriptions, and the limited reliability of early visual representations of the castle. The study also highlights how nineteenth-century construction works connected to the basilica radically altered the topography of Castle Hill, further complicating archaeological and architectural reconstruction. Particular attention is devoted to the first major restoration campaign between 1934 and 1938, directed by Tibor Gerevich and architects Kálmán and Géza Lux, which combined archaeological excavation with monument restoration. These restorations applied different contemporary conservation methods, including anastylosis, brick reconstructions, reinforced concrete structures, and the principle of distinguishing modern additions from medieval remains. The paper discusses later interventions as well, including the unrealized comprehensive planning competition of 1972 and the reconstructions carried out during the 1980s and the millennium celebrations around 2000. Modern additions such as the Marble Hall, the reconstructed gate towers, and the so-called “Little Romanesque Palace” deliberately employed contemporary architectural forms and extensive brick surfaces to distinguish them from the original medieval structures. The author critically evaluates the eclectic character of the castle today, where different restoration philosophies and architectural styles from successive decades coexist within the same monument complex. The study concludes that despite numerous restoration campaigns, Esztergom Castle has never been reconstructed according to a single coherent concept, making it a unique architectural record of changing monument preservation theories in Hungary.

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