St. Elizabeth Cathedral with the Tomb of Ferenc Rakotsi

In the history of the existence of the Cathedral of St. Elizabeth was not without tragic moments. In the XI century, on the place where the cathedral stands now, the Church of St. Michael was built, made in the Romanesque style.

In the 40s of the XII century, the city was inhabited by the Germans, who replaced the patron and the church re-lit the temple in honor of St. Elizabeth. But they did not stop at the name change. Reconstruction began, which gave the church a new Gothic look. Its previous appearance resembled only Romanesque towers.

It was also destroyed, not by human hands, but by a fire in 1380. Only a few Romanesque artifacts survive: tombstones and bronze statues of lions.

According to the materials preserved in the city archive in the XIX century, the most damaged part of the altar, sacristy, jagged cornices, sculptures of gargoyles, facades and stained glass windows were reconstructed. However, this reconstruction was so extensive that it ended only in 2009.

Currently, the Gothic Cathedral of St. Elizabeth is a fascinating building with its beauty, resembling a Greek cross in shape. Inside you can see the main altar of the work of the XV century, which is an excellent illustration of Gothic painting. Also here is the tomb of Ferenze II Rakoczi, the leader of the anti-Habsburg national liberation movement.