Pecs Travel Guide

Pecs Cathedral is a grand, ancient bishop's cathedral known for its four spires—with nearly a millennium of history, this majestic church with its striking four towers is the faith core and landmark of Pecs and a witness to the ancient city's deep history. Pecs Cathedral (the Cathedral of St. Peter and St Paul) stands in the Bishops' district of the old city (beside it are the Bishop's Palace and other buildings); it is the most important and majestic church of Pecs and the cathedral of the Pecs diocese. The church's historical roots are extremely deep—its original founding traces back about a thousand years (Pecs is among the earliest cities in Hungary to establish a diocese), after which it went through long years, several times damaged (including the Ottoman period), repaired and rebuilt; today's grand main structure was rebuilt in the late 19th century in the Romanesque style. The most striking, iconic feature of this grand cathedral is its four towering spires—at the four corners of the church stand four tall, straight square spires (bell towers), surrounding and symmetrically guarding the grand main body, forming an extremely striking, recognizable landmark on Pecs' skyline, solemn and majestic. The interior is likewise grand and magnificent—spacious, lofty halls, exquisite Romanesque architecture, murals, sculptures and altars, solemn and gorgeous; beneath the church are ancient crypts (tracing to earlier eras). This grand ancient cathedral, together with the adjacent Bishops' district buildings, is the core of Pecs' faith and a witness to its deep history. Admiring this grand four-spired cathedral, appreciating the solemn architecture and magnificent interior, feeling Pecs' grandeur and depth.