St. Michael's cathedral
had been founded in the 11th century as the cathedral of the
roman-catholic archbishopric of Transylvania, established here by the first
king of Hungary, St. Steven. The present building was erected in the
romanesque style during the 13th century. In the 15th
century the choir was extended in the gothic style. The renaissance
Lazo chapel, the first renaissance example in Transylvania, was added in the
1512 century. Inside the cathedral are the Italian renaissance style
tombs of Ioannus Corvinus (Johann Huniad, governor of Hungary and ruler of
Transylvania), of prince Sigismund and his mother's, queen Isabella of
Hungary and of
other important dignitaries and bishops. St. Michael's cathedral is
the most important architectural ensemble in Transylvania.
Images: the edifice of St.
Michael's cathedral; romanesque style side doorway; the monumental main
gateway; the vaulted interior of the cathedral; the tombstones inside the
cathedral; the foundations of the 9th century rotonda chapel; the
interior of the Lazo chapel
