The Matthias Church, also known as the Matyas Templom or the Church of Our Lady as it is officially called, is one of the most interesting constructions tourists could meet during a vacation in Hungary. The popular name of this building, Matthias Church, was given to it in honor to the King Matthias Corvinus, also known as Matthias the Just, and who requested the construction of the first southern tower.
The Church of Our Lady or Matthias Church has been witness of many important historical moments and celebrations. This construction was first built during the 14th century and has been of great importance for Hungary since its origins, having hosted an important amount of the main events and celebrations of the country during the last 700 years. Among the main events that took place in this church there is the coronation of the King Francis Joseph I, the coronation of the King Charles IV, and the two weddings of the King Matyas.
During the Turkish occupation, the Matthias Church became used as a mosque, and many of its ecclesiastical objects were removed. During this period of time, the Church lost important antique objects and elements, and even its walls were repainted in white covering any antique painting or previous religious icon it would have. Besides this, and also during the Turkish occupation period, the main tower and part of the roof of this construction collapsed.
Towards endings of the 17th century, after the Turkish occupation ended, this church was restored in a mainly Baroque style. Unsatisfied with the result of such restoration, during the 19th century Hungarian authorities requested the famous architect Frigyes Schulek to renew it. After such renewal, the construction became again very similar as how it originally was.
Nowadays, this church hosts the Ecclesiastical Art Museum of Budapest, being this one of the main attractions in the city. This way, tourists who visit this construction can not only meet its interesting architectonic structure and historical interior, but also meet an important number of antique sacred relics and other objects such as coronation jewels and medieval stone carvings.