Romanesque Hall

For 70 years the Romanesque Hall served as a vast, unexploited storeroom, only to be reopened as one of the grandest and most spectacular venue of the National Museum of Fine Arts. Apart from its artistic merits, the Romanesque Hall is perfectly suited to host all types of events. Its atmosphere is enhanced by the fact that we enter into this twelfth century space through the plaster replica of the Golden Gate of the Freiberg Cathedral. The location with its massive columns and pillars emulates the interior atmosphere of a Roman era basilica. The frescoes connect to both Christian iconography and the concept of the Millenium and represent the great figures of Hungarian history. The walls are decorated with state and municipal coat of arms as well as that of allied countries. The breathtakingly rich decoration is supplemented with ornamental patterns and symbolic images, such as the tree of life and peacocks symbolizing immortality. The triumphal arches are adorned with the signs of the zodiac. The gryphon and dragon figures on the vaults of the corridor recall the frescoes and panels of medieval Germany. As a result of all these, the sacral location represents the peak of turn-of-the-century decoration. The hall was seriously damaged during the Second World War and has been hidden from the public eye for 70 years. It was reopened in 2018 and has its own gift collection.