A székesfehérvári Szűz Mária Prépostság egykori boltozatai
The former vaults of the Virgin Mary Provostship in Székesfehérvár

Author(s): Balázs Szőke
Subject(s): Museology & Heritage Studies, Architecture, History of Art
Published by: Pécsi Tudományegyetem Művészeti Kar Művészettörténet Tanszék
Keywords: Gothic architecture; net vault; Székesfehérvár; medieval church; rib vaulting; architectural reconstruction; Matthias Corvinus; Angevin architecture; digital modeling; Hungarian Gothic architecture
Summary/Abstract: The study analyzes the former Gothic vaulting systems of the Virgin Mary Provostry Church in Székesfehérvár, the coronation church of medieval Hungary. The author reconstructs the lost vaults primarily through surviving carved stone fragments, excavation records, and digital architectural models. Special attention is given to the Gothic vaults of the side aisles, which can be reconstructed with relative accuracy based on preserved ribs, wall-pillars, and vault springers. The paper argues that the originally planned Angevin-period nave vault may never have been completed because of the enormous structural challenges posed by its wide span. Later rebuilding phases introduced a massive internal buttress system that significantly altered the spatial proportions of the nave. The study also examines the late Gothic vault constructed during the reign of King Matthias Corvinus, proposing several possible reconstruction variants based on surviving rib junctions and vault geometry. According to the analysis, the Matthias-period vault most likely used a complex net-vault system with alternating support structures similar to those found in Pécs and other Central European churches. The author compares the Székesfehérvár vaults with important analogies from France, Germany, Italy, Slovakia, and Hungary, including Albi Cathedral, Tarvisio, Pécs, Selmecbánya, and Nuremberg. Digital scanning, CAD reconstruction, and geometric analysis played a crucial role in identifying the structural logic and visual appearance of the destroyed vaults. Overall, the article demonstrates how interdisciplinary reconstruction methods can reveal the architectural significance of one of medieval Hungary’s most important ecclesiastical buildings.

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