Just 30 kilometres from Budapest you can find Hungary’s

– most extensive complex of Baroque listed buildings

– smallest miraculous devotional Virgin Mary statue

– oldest, still functioning theatre

– most complete royal portrait gallery

– most beautiful Baroque tomb

– plus a two-level church, a real architectural gem

GödöllÅ‘’s Baroque image was formed and made famous as a location for the reception of royalty by Antal Grassalkovich I, who had a series of magnificent mansions and churches built. His palace in GödöllÅ‘ set a style in Hungarian architecture and as a patron of church building he served the strengthening of the Catholic Church. Yet, his life’s work and name sank into oblivion following extinction of the ducal family’s male line.

Gödöllő, Grassalkovich, Maria Theresa

Antal Grassalkovich I (6 March 1694 – 1 December 1771), the all-powerful landlord of the GödöllÅ‘ estate who rose from being a lesser noble to a count, played an important role in Hungarian history. He headed the Commission of New Acquisitions, acted as Keeper of the Crown, supervised the construction of the royal palace in Buda and, as president of the Hungarian Royal Court Chamber, was responsible for the country’s finances. As a committed believer and a patron of the Catholic Church he commissioned the building of more than thirty churches, enriching Hungarian Baroque architecture. The GrassalkovichPalacerepresents his most famous work. Here, on 8 August 1751, he received with princely pomp Empress Maria Theresa (ruled 1740-1780). She honoured her loyal adviser, her confidant who encouraged the Hungarian nobility to stand by the imperial court, with a three-day visit. The Empress was received in GödöllÅ‘ with magnificent grandeur and an ornate red marble room was placed at her disposal. Thanks to Grassalkovich, this was the most easterly point of her enormous empire which Maria Theresa reached.

GödöllÅ‘’s Baroque monuments

The works of Antal Grassalkovich I, which aimed at perfection with a high artistic standard, even today make us recognize his achievements.

Grassalkovich created a new style in Hungarian mansion architecture. The Baroque building complex bearing his name has the largest area in Hungary. Visitors enter through an imposing ceremonial gate and from there reach the magnificent palace gardens. Reflecting the count’s loyalty to the court, he built the Royal Hill Pavilion on an elevated position in the palace gardens to house a portrait gallery of Hungarian monarchs. He expressed his devotion to his ideal, the Provident God, with the lavish, almost Rococo-style decoration of the Palace Chapel, six splendidly carved statues of the Baroque Stations of the Cross and an Immaculata statue depicting the Virgin Mary with her crown of twelve stars. A nice example of his religious tolerance is that, although a Catholic, the Calvinist church, radiating dignity even in its simplicity, was constructed with his financial support to replace one demolished when the palace was built. One of the prominent 18th-century buildings in today’s town centre was also commissioned by Grassalkovich – a former inn, the so-called HamvayMansion, which today houses the collection of the GödöllÅ‘ Town Museum.

The church at MáriabesnyÅ‘, a Basilica Minor since 2008, best expresses his philosophy of life and the ideal of the wisely thinking, good master. The count, who pledged to build a dwelling for the Virgin Mary, was helped by miraculous events to select the ideal place for the church. Following the discovery of a small miraculous statue of the Virgin Mary, he had a monastery built for the Capuchins, who served the church, and he provided for their well-being by settling seven serf families. A unique architectural feature of the basilica is that its lower church was built first, then the upper church was constructed to receive the great number of pilgrims, which grew when news spread about miracles related to the devotional statue. The Grassalkovich summer house was erected here and was originally used as a hunters’ lodge.

The work of the count, who was active until the end of his life, was continued by his son Antal Grassalkovich II. He extended the palace and organised the construction of a proscenium arch Baroque Theatre, which was decorated with frescoes and operated with unique stage technology. Since 2003 visitors have again been able to view the theatre, which is regarded as special in European terms.

For his loyalty to the imperial court Maria Theresa awarded her faithful subject, Count Antal Grassalkovich I, the Great Cross of the Saint Stephen Order, which she founded. His earthly remains rest in one of Hungary’s most beautiful Baroque tombs in the Grassalkovich family crypt in the Basilica of Our Lady at MáriabesnyÅ‘.

2011 – A dual jubilee of Baroque in GödöllÅ‘:

260th anniversary of Maria Theresa’s visit

240th anniversary of the death of Antal Grassalkovich I