Az áthelyezés mint műemlékvédelmi módszer a Bakócz-kápolna példáján
Relocation as a method of monument protection based on the example of the Bakócz Chapel

Author(s): Béla Zsolt Szakács
Subject(s): Museology & Heritage Studies, Architecture, History of Art
Published by: Pécsi Tudományegyetem Művészeti Kar Művészettörténet Tanszék
Keywords: Bakócz Chapel; monument relocation; architectural conservation; Horler Miklós; authenticity; heritage preservation; Esztergom Basilica; restoration history; Venice Charter; sacred architecture
Summary/Abstract: The study examines the relocation of the Bakócz Chapel as a unique example of monument preservation through architectural transfer. The article builds on the research of Horler Miklós, whose work connected the chapel with broader international debates on restoration and authenticity. It compares the Bakócz Chapel with several international examples of relocated monuments, including the Arch of Titus in Rome, the Abu Simbel temples in Egypt, San Pedro de la Nave in Spain, and medieval structures transferred to the United States. The study emphasizes that the relocation of monuments often involves tensions between technical preservation, historical authenticity, and the loss of original context. Special attention is given to the nineteenth-century transfer of the Bakócz Chapel during the construction of the Esztergom Basilica, when the structure was dismantled stone by stone and rebuilt in a new position. The author explains that the chapel’s orientation, lighting, and spatial experience changed significantly after the reconstruction, even though remarkable efforts were made to preserve its original material and structure. The article highlights the extraordinary precision of the reconstruction process, including the numbering and documentation of the marble elements before reassembly. Comparative examples from Germany, the Czech Republic, and Transylvania demonstrate that such careful reconstruction practices were unusual in earlier centuries. The study also argues that the chapel’s role as a Marian pilgrimage site contributed to the exceptional care taken during its relocation, since preserving authenticity was essential for maintaining its sacred status. Overall, the article concludes that the Bakócz Chapel represents a landmark case in the history of monument conservation, illustrating the enduring importance of authenticity in architectural preservation.

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