Tour Suggestion
Day 1: Arrival in Budapest
Day 2: In the footsteps of Saint Stephen.
After breakfast in your hotel you will set off to get to know Budapest. Besides the most important sights of the city, you will visit the magnificent Basilica of St Stephen, where you can still see the embalmed right hand of the king in the chapel. The Hungarian Parliament, which you will see throughout the day, sits majestically on the banks of the Danube river and is one of the most impressive buildings in the world. Here you will be able to see the coronation insignia, the Crown of St Stephen, as well as the orb and sceptre of the Empire.
After a lunch break you will have the opportunity to celebrate a mass in the church in Budapest. Then you will visit the famous wine cellar in the Budafok district. During the guided tour through the cellar, enjoy a wine tasting with wines bearing the name St Stephen. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Budapest.
Day 3: Székesfehérvár, Veszprém, Tihany
Today you drive to Székesfehérvár, known as Fehérvár ("white castle"). It was here that St Stephen was crowned the first king of Hungary. The town was then the ancestral seat of the first Hungarian kings and in the following years the coronation town of many other kings and queens. The basilica, built by Stephen I in 1010, is where he was also buried after his death. You can visit his grave in the coronation church. While visiting the Church County Museum you can also see the head statue of St Stephen I. After lunch you continue to Veszprém. The city is known as the "City of Queens" and describes itself as the first diocese of Hungary. Here you can admire the unique treasures of Hungarian church history such as the frescoes in the Gisela Chapel. You will also discover the remarkable altarpiece of the Franciscan Church, which depicts King Stephen I offering the Holy Crown to the Virgin Mary. Afterwards you will drive on to Tihany at Lake Balaton and have the opportunity to visit the abbey there. In the evening you can enjoy dinner in a csarda at Lake Balaton. Overnight stay in your hotel in Budapest.
Day 4: Excursioin to “Donauknie”
Today you will travel to the northern region of Budapest in the Danube knee. First stop is Vác. During a guided city tour you will learn more about the construction of the bishop's seat by St Stephen. Then you will continue on to Esztergom. St. Stephen I. was born here in the castle. The town on the Doanu is also the seat of the Archbishop of Esztergom, the head of the Hungarian Catholic Church. Visit the Basilica of Esztergom, the largest church in the country with the largest and only linen altarpiece in the world. We are pleased to organize a holy mass for you. In the afternoon you drive on to Visegrád. Here you can enjoy your dinner in the evening. Overnight stay in your hotel in Budapest.
Day 5: Excursion to Gyoer and Pannonhalma
Today you will travel to Budapest. On the way you will stop in Gyoer and take a short guided tour of the city. Afterwards you drive to the Archabbey of Pannonhalma. The Benedictine monastery was founded by Prince Géza (940 - 997). It became an archabbey during the reign of King Stephen I and has been the centre of the Benedictine order in Hungary ever since.
Dinner and overnight stay in your hotel.
Day 6: Journey home
On your way home you have the possibility to stop in Vienna.
Copyright program and pictures: © APPINA TRAVEL GmbH
