Lutheran Museum

At the southwest corner of Deák Square in downtown Budapest stands the Lutheran Cathedral, an important example of Neoclassical architecture. The building was constructed between 1799 and 1808 to designs by the young architect Mihály Pollack, who completed his first work in Hungary with it. The facade takes the form of a temple front with Doric columns, a triangular pediment, and a gilded cross. Inside, the rectangular hall church impresses with its clear structure of pilasters and gilded capitals. A highlight for visitors is the magnificent altar, flanked by marble columns, as well as the large altarpiece, a copy of Raphael's "Transfiguration of Christ." The church also houses one of the country's most important Neo-Baroque organs, on which concerts are held regularly, including the international Bach Week.

Next to the church, in the former parsonage, is the Hungarian Lutheran Museum. This small but fine collection is devoted, in three rooms, to the history of Protestantism in Hungary. Here you can view historical documents, books, church implements, and paintings. Probably the most valuable treasure in the collection is a will that Martin Luther wrote in his own hand in 1542. The museum offers a compact look at the religious and cultural development of the Lutheran community in the country.

The history of the site is closely tied to the policy of tolerance in the 18th century. After permission to build churches was granted, Lutherans in Pest founded a congregation that at first depended on support from noblemen and other churches. Construction of the church dragged on because of a lack of funds and the Napoleonic Wars, and the plans had to be modified several times, for instance by dropping a portico. Later renovations under József Hild shaped the building's present appearance, while the church tower was taken down because of structural concerns. Today the complex stands not only as a spiritual center but also as a cultural anchor in the heart of the city.