Event: Hungary - Esztergom

Esztergom Castle Theatre Festival

When:	Jun - Aug 2008 (annual)
Where:	Esztergom Basilica

The Basilica of Esztergom provides a magnificent backdrop to this summer season of theatre. On offer are a variety of performances from historical and absurd plays to comedies, musicals and operas.

The historic city of Esztergom, close to the Austrian border on the River Danube, is not only the seat of the kings of the Árpád dynasty but also the centre of the Roman Catholic church in Hungary. Indeed the first cathedral - Saint Adalbert's - in the city was built by Saint István, the first King of Hungary early in the 11th century. It was superceded by the present cathedral in the 19th century, the largest Catholic church in the country.

The dominating feature of the town (population 30,000) is the Castle Hill, not only with the cathedral but also the medieval Royal Palace - the oldest stone fortress in the country - which houses the Castle Museum of the Hungarian National Museum. It is also known for its fine examples of Hungarian Renaissance architecture, such as the 16th-century Bakócz Chapel, as well as masterpieces of European goldwork, such as the Calvary of King Mátyás in the cathedral itself. Esztergom Christian Museum, housed in the Primate's Palace, has a fine collection of Italian paintings.