Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Memento Mori (Ignác Tragor Museum)
Memento Mori (Tragor Ignác Múzeum) • Marcius 15 tér 19 • Tues-Sun 10am-6pm • 1000Ft • 30 555 7620
The Baroque style evolved into a fine art in Vác, as evinced by the gorgeous decor of the
Dominican church
- also known as the White Friars' Church (Fehérek temploma) - on the
south side of the square. During renovation work in 1994, the church crypt was rediscovered,
unearthing some remarkable finds, not least 262 corpses (166 of which were positively iden-
tified) that had been preserved in a state ofmummification owing to the crypt'smicroclimatic
conditions. Three of the mummified corpses (a male, female and infant) - dating from the
eighteenth century - can be seen in the
Memento Mori
display in a chilly medieval wine
cellar near the church.
Also retrieved from the bodies were an immaculately preserved assortment of clothes and
other burial accessories (including crucifixes, which were traditionally placed in the hands of
the deceased), alongside their colourfully painted wooden coffins - typically, the adult coffin
would be painted brown or dark blue, and the child's coffin green and white.
Diocesan Treasury
Székesegyházi kincstár • Marcius 15 tér 4 • May-Oct Wed-Fri 2-6pm, Sat & Sun 10am-6pm • 500Ft
On the northeast side of the square, the
DiocesanTreasury
is housed in the former Bishop's
Palace (Nagypréposti palota). It was built for Bishop Kristóf Migazzi (1714-1803) who erec-
ted Vác's cathedral and the Baroque
TownHall
across the square, its gable adorned with two
prostrate females bearing the coats of arms of Hungary and of Migazzi himself. During his
years as Bishop of Vác (1762-86), this ambitious prelate was the moving force behind the
town's eighteenth-century revival, impressing Empress Maria Theresa sufficiently to make
him Archbishop of Vienna. Meanwhile his former palace was converted into Hungary's first
Institute for the Deaf and Dumb in 1802. Downstairs is a collection of church treasures and
displays on local diocesan history and architecture. But it is worth persevering and going up-
stairs, where restoration work has uncovered fabulous Rococo frescoes from two periods of
the eighteenth century in four of the rooms, one with a winter garden scene, another decor-
ated with fruit and flowers.
Museum Hall
Értéktár • Köztársaság út 19 • May-Oct Thurs & Fri 10am-2pm, Sat & Sun 10am-6pm • 400Ft, joint ticket with
the crypt 500Ft
Two doors along from the Treasury - the main square turns seamlessly into Köztársaság út -
is the
MuseumHall
, which has a delightful display of works by the popular Hungarian chil-
dren's illustrator Gyula Hincz (1904-86). The museum is also covered by a combined ticket
that includes the
St Michael's crypt
.
The cathedral
Székesegyház • Konstantin tér • April-Nov Mon-Sat 10am-noon & 1.30-6pm, Sun 7.30am-7pm
