Budapest Synagogues and Churches

Budapest has the largest synagogue in Europe, as well as many other synagogues and churches.   The ones we visited were quite extravagant in their decoration.

This is the Great Synagogue, the largest in Europe.  It was built in the 1850's, and shows the relative prosperity of the Jewish community in Budapest at that time.

Yes, this is an organ:

There was also a smaller, Orthodox synagogue built nearby around 1911, which was quite startling in its use of contemporary arts.  When you enter an Orthodox synagogue, you don't really expect to see some kind of Art Nouveau fantasia!

And there is the Matthias Church in the Buda Castle district.   Originally a late Gothic church, the church has been restored and redone a number of times.   Like many Italian churches, it is some sort of mash-up.   Inside, the decorations are extensive; no bare gothic stone walls for this church.

Ceiling:

The ceiling of a side chapel:

Wow!