Some claim this as a masterpiece of European eclectisism, while others compare it to over decorated stage scenery.

Originally the church of the German burghers, and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin in Buda, its popular name derives from the fact that the legendary Hungarian king Mátyás (Matthias Corvinus, 1458-90) held both his weddings here. Parts date from the 13th century, but the main body of the church was extensively rebuilt in the 19th century. The dazzling, but muted, interior - the result of extensive restoration work carried out by Frigyes Schulek between 1874 and 1896 - recalls many of the original medieval designs. Note the beautiful floral motifs and geometric patterns on the walls. The Turks turned it into a mosque, and later it was converted into a baroque church. Schulek's dream was to restore it to as much of its original condition as possible, though his boundless enthusiasm for the ornate is all too evident, especially in the spectacular 80m-high spire.