Castle Museum

The Castle Hill is the richest in sights in the town mellowed with age. The medieval Royal Palace, housing the Castle Museum of the Hungarian National Museum is the oldest stone fortress of the country. The Cathedral, the most monumental building of the Catholic Church in Hungary, was built on the plateau of the hill in the 19th century. Its predecessor, the old Saint Adalbert Cathedral was built by Saint Stephen, the first King of Hungary at the beginning of the 11th century. In the 16th century next to it the Bakócz Chapel, one of the most significant monuments of Hungarian Renaissance architecture was built and can be seen in full splendour in the existing Cathedral. The Treasury of the Cathedral displayed here incorporates the most valuable collection of Hungarian religious art. Of the masterpieces of goldsmith´s and textile art the most outstanding one is the Calvary of King Mátyás, one of the finest pieces of medieval European goldsmith´s art.

A comprehensive picture of Italian painting is offered by the material of the Esztergom Christian Museum, housed in the Primate´s Palace. A unique work of medieval Hungarian wood carving, the Lord´s Coffin of Garamszentbenedek, used for liturgical purposes in the medieval times, can be seen here.

An outstanding sight in the city centre is Széchenyi square with its monument buildings and statues. One of the friars of the Franciscan church and monastery, Pál Tomori, who later became an archbishop, took part in the battle of Mohács as a general.

Another interesting public collection of the town is the Duna Museum of the Hungarian Museum of Water Conservancy, showing the history of water management practiced by the peoples living along the river. Exhibitions of local history and archaeology are displayed in the Balassa Museum. A sight on El?hegy a bit out of the way is Mihály Babits Memorial House.

The Maria Valery bridge, which connected Esztergom and Sturovo and which was destroyed in World War II, was rebuilt and opened in October 2001, which revived city life.

The aquapark of Prímás island opened in 2005 and the Vadas bath in Sturovo offer recreation apart from the sights.