Székesfehérvár (in the past Royal Alba ) is a town of Hungary, in the North-East of the Lac Balaton. Its population, in constant fall, the class like seventh town of Hungary. Founded towards 977 by the prince Géza, Székesfehérvár was until XVIe century the city where the Hungarian kings were made crown.

The past of the city belongs to the thousand-year-old history of Hungary. Founded into 972 by the Prince Géza, after one accession with the capacity, the castle of Székesfehérvár was intended to defend the steps of Europe against the East. To the first Christian king of Hungary, Etienne I {{er}}, crownings was associated in the name of Fehérvár (the white castle). It is here that celebrates it crown with the leaning cross was preserved, symbol of the royal capacity; it is also here that met the diet. Later, of the royal palaces were set up with Esztergom, in Buda (future Budapest) and with Visegrád, but until the end of the Middle Ages, crownings (37 on the whole in the city) and the burials royal (17) took place with Fehérvár. After the period duu Turkish reign, during which the city had been practically emptied of its population, Székesfehérvár was repopulated, at the XVIIIe century, of Hungarian, but also of Germans and Serb. At the time baroque, the many ones and ambitious constructions were undertaken in Fehérvár

Székesfehérvár is one of oldest the town of Hungary and one of that which preserved the most traditions. The Roman colony of Gorsium, located at the south of the lake, was at the beginning of Ier century the spiritual center of the Pannonia. Árpád, chief of the tribe of the Magyar which settled in the country, bivouacked in these places after having crossed the the Danube. Its back grandson, Etienne I {{er}} (1000-1038), chooses this city to establish its residence there and made set up the royal basilica in 1016. It is there that during nearly 500 years, all the royal ceremonies, crownings and funeral took place. Then Buda (which will become Budapest in 1873 while amalgamating with Pest and Óbuda) took extension and ends up eclipsing Székesfehérvár, but this one kept its will have quasi mythical: in spite of the destruction and industrialization, in spite of the increase in the circulation and the through traffic, it remained the center of the Magyar royalty. Although Székesfehérvár does not enjoy any more same consideration that with the Middle Ages, its general conformation has not changed for this time. Thus, even if most of the old buildings were destroyed under the Turkish occupation, the churches and constructions of style Rococo, the museums arranged with love as well as the narrow streets give to the city much seal.

The center of the city, almost entirely transformed nowadays into pedestrian precinct, is occupied by the place of Freedom, Városháaz for the third time, formerly seat of the royal palace and the basilica of Etienne I {{er}}, and which was always the town square of Székesfehérvár. A fountain - symbol of the nation carved by Béla Ohmann-, occupies the site of the old south-western tower of the basilica. Behind the place, in the garden of the Ruins, Romkert, one can still see the apse, several pillars and the tomb of Etienne I {{er}}. A vast plexiglass and metal roof covers the garden, from where one benefits from an excellent point of view. Other side, under the vaults, a small building shelters a fresco the most animated of; this work of Vilmos Aba Novák recalls the history of the Hungary in a rather astonishing way - the face of the priests will be noticed. Supposed to have contained the skin of the king Etienne I {{er}}, the sarcophagus goes back to the Roman period.

The southern part is closed today by the town hall, with the allegorical statues of Justice and Prudence above the principal gate. With some steps from there is a conventual church franciscaine baroque (1720-1742) and buildings. The side of the place is occupied by the episcopal palate (1800-1801), one of the most outstanding buildings rococo of the country. In the north of the place rises Fő utca, the church baroque of the Cisterciens, with its two turns and its monastery, built by the Jesuits of 1745 to 1751. The sacristy represents a remarkable, single decoration in Hungary, woodworks carved in the oak and the lime which date from the years 1764 to 1767.

The museum of the king Etienne I {{er}}, István Királu Múzeum, shelters a carved Roman stone collection and Celtic, miserly and Slavic objects of craft industry.

Place of Freedom, one reaches by small rising streets the oldest part of the city, which was the heart of the city to the Middle Ages, the place of the Prince Géza, Géza nagyfejedelem for the third time. They is there that the vault Holy-Anne is, Szent Anna kápolna, Gothic building going back to 1470. With proximity draws up the cathedral Saint-Etienne, Szent István székesegyház, founded by Béla IV. One still sees Gothic vestiges of windows on the two lathes. At the center of the place, the paving stones preserved contours of a Byzantine church, but it is necessary to make an effort of attention to distinguish them.

Twinning

See Too

External bonds

• the site (in English) of the city