Among Budapest’s lesser-known statues, the monument to Julianus and Gerhardus stands out not for its size, but for the remarkable story it represents. This sculpture is part of my ongoing Statues of Budapest series, which looks beyond famous monuments to uncover the ideas and journeys that shaped Hungarian identity. Who were Julianus and Gerhardus? Julianus and Gerhardus were Hungarian Dominican monks who, in the 13th century, set out on an extraordinary journey eastward. Their mission was to find Magna Hungaria — the ancestral territories where Hungarians were believed to have lived before beginning their long migration toward Europe. Travelling thousands of kilometers, they reached regions near the Ural Mountains, documenting encounters with people believed to be related to the early Hungarians. At a time when travel was slow, dangerous, and uncertain, their journey was an astonishing feat of endurance and curiosity. Why does this statue matter? Unlike statues commemorating kings or battles, this monument celebrates knowledge, exploration, and cultural memory. Julianus and Gerhardus represent a desire to understand origins — to look backward in order to understand the present. Their story reminds us that Hungarian history is not confined to the Carpathian Basin alone, but stretches far beyond it, across continents and centuries. A quiet monument with a wide horizon This statue is easy to overlook, yet it commemorates one of the most ambitious intellectual journeys of medieval Hungary. It invites reflection rather than admiration — and rewards those who pause to read its story. In a city filled with grand architecture and dramatic monuments, Julianus and Gerhardus quietly point our attention outward, toward distant lands and deep historical roots. Explore more: Julianus and Gerhardus are part of my Statues of Budapest collection, featuring famous monuments and overlooked sculptures that reveal the city’s layered identity.
Among Budapest’s lesser-known statues, the monument to Julianus and Gerhardus stands out not for its size, but for the remarkable story it represents.
This sculpture is part of my ongoing Statues of Budapest series, which looks beyond famous monuments to uncover the ideas and journeys that shaped Hungarian identity.
Who were Julianus and Gerhardus?
Julianus and Gerhardus were Hungarian Dominican monks who, in the 13th century, set out on an extraordinary journey eastward. Their mission was to find Magna Hungaria — the ancestral territories where Hungarians were believed to have lived before beginning their long migration toward Europe.
Travelling thousands of kilometers, they reached regions near the Ural Mountains, documenting encounters with people believed to be related to the early Hungarians. At a time when travel was slow, dangerous, and uncertain, their journey was an astonishing feat of endurance and curiosity.
Why does this statue matter?
Unlike statues commemorating kings or battles, this monument celebrates knowledge, exploration, and cultural memory. Julianus and Gerhardus represent a desire to understand origins — to look backward in order to understand the present.
Their story reminds us that Hungarian history is not confined to the Carpathian Basin alone, but stretches far beyond it, across continents and centuries.
A quiet monument with a wide horizon
This statue is easy to overlook, yet it commemorates one of the most ambitious intellectual journeys of medieval Hungary. It invites reflection rather than admiration — and rewards those who pause to read its story.
Explore more: Julianus and Gerhardus are part of my Statues of Budapest collection, featuring famous monuments and overlooked sculptures that reveal the city’s layered identity.
Statue of Julianus and Gerhardus, medieval Hungarian monks, in Budapest
St Stephen’s mummified hand hides one of the most unusual and powerful Budapest stories, preserved for over a thousand years inside St Stephen’s Basilica. Hidden inside St. Stephen’s Basilica, behind gilded doors and soft candlelight, you’ll find one of Hungary’s most extraordinary and deeply symbolic treasures: the mummified right hand of St. Stephen, Hungary’s first Christian king. Who was St. Stephen? St. Stephen (István király) was crowned in the year 1000 and became the founder of the Hungarian state and its Christian identity. His reign marked a turning point: Hungary officially joined Christian Europe, laying the foundations of the country we know today. After his death, Stephen was revered as a saint — but the story of his right hand is anything but ordinary. How did the mummified hand survive in Budapest? Legend has it that when St. Stephen’s body was exhumed prior to his canonisation, his right hand and forearm were found miraculously preserved, while the rest of his body had decayed. This was interpreted as a divine sign. The relic became known as the “Holy Right” (Szent Jobb) and, over the centuries, it travelled far beyond Hungary’s borders — hidden, stolen, rediscovered, and finally returned home. Today, it rests in a dedicated chapel inside the Basilica, displayed in a richly decorated reliquary and illuminated like a jewel. Seeing the Holy Right Hand of St Stephen today Visitors to St. Stephen’s Basilica can still see the mummified hand up close. It’s not just a religious relic — it’s a powerful symbol of Hungarian history, identity, and continuity. Even for non-religious visitors, the experience is striking. The silence, the atmosphere, and the sheer unexpectedness of seeing a thousand-year-old hand preserved in such detail often leave a lasting impression. Visiting with a guide makes all the difference The Basilica is included
St Stephen’s mummified hand hides one of the most unusual and powerful Budapest stories, preserved for over a thousand years inside St Stephen’s Basilica.
Hidden inside St. Stephen’s Basilica, behind gilded doors and soft candlelight, you’ll find one of Hungary’s most extraordinary and deeply symbolic treasures: the mummified right hand of St. Stephen, Hungary’s first Christian king.
Who was St. Stephen?
St. Stephen (István király) was crowned in the year 1000 and became the founder of the Hungarian state and its Christian identity. His reign marked a turning point: Hungary officially joined Christian Europe, laying the foundations of the country we know today.
After his death, Stephen was revered as a saint — but the story of his right hand is anything but ordinary.
How did the mummified hand survive in Budapest?
Legend has it that when St. Stephen’s body was exhumed prior to his canonisation, his right hand and forearm were found miraculously preserved, while the rest of his body had decayed. This was interpreted as a divine sign.
The relic became known as the “Holy Right” (Szent Jobb) and, over the centuries, it travelled far beyond Hungary’s borders — hidden, stolen, rediscovered, and finally returned home.
Today, it rests in a dedicated chapel inside the Basilica, displayed in a richly decorated reliquary and illuminated like a jewel.
Seeing the Holy Right Hand of St Stephen today
Visitors to St. Stephen’s Basilica can still see the mummified hand up close. It’s not just a religious relic — it’s a powerful symbol of Hungarian history, identity, and continuity.
Even for non-religious visitors, the experience is striking. The silence, the atmosphere, and the sheer unexpectedness of seeing a thousand-year-old hand preserved in such detail often leave a lasting impression.
Visiting with a guide makes all the difference
The Basilica is included in many of my Budapest walking and driving tours, and the interior visit — including the Holy Right — is also possible. When you see the relic with a guide, the story behind it comes alive: the legends, the politics, and the very human history behind the saint.
Want to see it in person?
If you’d like to include St. Stephen’s Basilica and the Holy Right in your Budapest experience — whether on foot or by car — feel free to get in touch. I’m always happy to tailor a tour that matches your interests and pace.
