Votive Church, Szeged

The Votive Church and Cathedral in Szeged is a large twin-towered church located on the city’s main cathedral square, Dóm tér, constructed as a votive offering following the 1879 great flood of Szeged. The building is a principal landmark of the city and a prominent element of the urban centre.

The cathedral’s twin towers frame a broad forecourt and the church interior contains mosaics, stained glass and sculptural elements typical of major ecclesiastical architecture of the period. The square and church together create one of Szeged’s principal civic and cultural spaces.

The decision to build the votive church followed the devastating flood of 1879 that destroyed much of Szeged; construction occurred during the late 19th and early 20th centuries as part of the city’s reconstruction and civic renewal. The completed church became both a religious centre and a visible symbol of the rebuilt city.

The cathedral stands in central Szeged in Csongre1d-Csane1d County on the banks of the Tisza River, adjacent to the university and other major civic buildings in the heart of the city.

• Origins: The church was built as a votive offering after the catastrophic Szeged flood of 1879 and dominates the city's Dóm tér (Cathedral Square).
• Public square: Dóm tér in front of the church forms a large public space used for open-air concerts and the annual Szeged Open-Air Festival.