Lego-műemlékek: Az esztergomi Bakócz-kápolna és a műemlékvédelem
Lego monuments: The Bakócz Chapel in Esztergom and monument protection

Author(s): Endre Raffay, Anna Tüskés
Subject(s): Museology & Heritage Studies, Architecture, History of Art
Published by: Pécsi Tudományegyetem Művészeti Kar Művészettörténet Tanszék
Keywords: Bakócz Chapel; monument preservation; architectural relocation; Esztergom Basilica; Renaissance architecture; heritage conservation; authenticity; Packh János; sacred architecture; restoration history
Summary/Abstract: The study examines the relocation of the Bakócz Chapel in Esztergom as an early and remarkable example of monument preservation. The authors describe the 1823 dismantling and reconstruction of the chapel as a kind of architectural “Lego” process in which the building was carefully taken apart and rebuilt from numbered stone elements. The article emphasizes that the intervention belongs to the prehistory of Hungarian monument conservation, predating the institutional development of heritage protection in the nineteenth century. It explains how the chapel, one of the most important surviving monuments of Hungarian Renaissance architecture, was integrated into the newly constructed Esztergom Basilica under the direction of Packh János and Archbishop Rudnay Sándor. The study compares the Bakócz Chapel with other historical examples of architectural relocation, including the Temple of Ares in Athens, the Arch of Titus in Rome, and the Santa Casa tradition of Loreto. The authors argue that the preservation of the chapel was motivated not only by artistic and historical value but also by its religious and symbolic importance as a sacred site. Particular attention is devoted to the technical details of the dismantling process, including the cataloguing of approximately 1600 marble elements and their systematic reuse during reconstruction. The study also analyzes which parts of the original structure survived and which components, such as the foundations, crypt, and exterior walls, were replaced or lost. Through close architectural observation, the authors demonstrate that the red marble elements were not merely decorative coverings but essential structural components of the building. Overall, the article concludes that the Bakócz Chapel illustrates both the possibilities and limitations of historical monument preservation, while also revealing how authenticity, relic culture, and architectural representation shaped early conservation practices.

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