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Hungary's largest church to be renovated

The Esztergom Basilica is both the mother church of the Archdiocese of Esztergom-Budapest, and the seat of the Catholic Church in Hungary

Hungary's largest Roman Catholic church, the Esztergom Basilica will be renovated at a cost of HUF 13 billion (EUR 40 million) over the next four years.

The Esztergom Basilica is both the mother church of the Archdiocese of Esztergom-Budapest, and the seat of the Catholic Church in Hungary.

Situated on a hill overlooking the Danube bend near the Slovak border, it is the largest church and the tallest building in Hungary. Its inner area is 5,600 m² and stretches 118 m long, 49 m wide and 100 m high.

Its altarpiece depicting the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, by Girolamo Michelangelo Grigoletti is the largest painting in the world painted on a single piece of canvas, 13.5 × 6.6 meters.

The first phase of the reconstruction - the front and the 400 stairs leading to it - is planned to be completed next year, when Hungary will host the Eucharistic World Congress in September.