The country’s oldest big bell is restored using a special method, so that it regains its original sound. THE of the renewal of the castle district in Veszprém as part of this, all 12 bells of the main cathedral, St. István (Franciscan) and St. Imre (Piarist) churches will be returned, so visitors to the castle can have a special musical experience from 2025.
Photo: Lajos Nagy
“Since 1725, this huge bell has never left the tower of St. Michael’s Cathedral,” said Balázs Most, an internationally recognized bell expert, about the Holy Trinity Bell in Veszprém. The bell hanging in the north tower of the main cathedral, 47 meters high, was made between 1723 and 1725 in the Viennese workshop of master bell-caster Franz Ulrich Scheichel by order of Count Imre Esterházy, bishop of Veszprém, later archbishop of Esztergom.
The bell, also referred to as Old Michael, is an outstanding work due to its age and size.
This is the oldest of Hungary’s big bells, so there are no exact data on its weight, but according to experts’ estimates, it can weigh around 3,400 kilograms, and its lower diameter exceeds 170 centimeters. The monumental bell was not moved from its place even during the remodeling of the main cathedral in the early 20th century, although the external appearance of the towers was changed. The other three bells, also made in Vienna, were later confiscated for war purposes, but the artistic value of Mihály the Elder was already considered special at the time, so he avoided requisitioning all along.
The condition of the Holy Trinity bell has deteriorated in recent decades. “In the 1930s, a new bell tongue was made, and an inappropriate swing mechanism, a steel bell ring with a broken line, was added to it, which increased the risk of cracking, and compared to what was used up until then, the sound became less favorable. The bronze crown of the bell was sawed off and instead attached to the yoke with six screws. These screws have been rusting continuously for a hundred years and are in bad condition, which is why we haven’t been able to hear the sound of the bell for a while – just to prevent even more damage,” Balázs Most explained.
As part of the investment of the Archdiocese of Veszprém, the great bell of the cathedral will soon be restored. “Using a special method, the bell body is heated to 800 degrees Celsius for weeks, and while it is kept under a heat shield, the cracks around the screws are eliminated using a special welding method, and a new bronze crown faithful to the original is made, and then this is also welded back onto the bell” – highlighted the expert. After the repairs, the big bell will be given a new bell seat, carriage and tongue, so that it will regain its original sound and signal the consecration of St. Michael’s Cathedral in 2025.
There were originally 12 bells in the three churches of the castle district: six in the main cathedral, three more each in the Szent Imre and Szent István churches, but most of them did not survive the two world wars. Two bells were taken from the tower of the Szent István Church during the Second World War, so currently only the smallest bell, made in 1932, rings. In the same way, one of the bells of St. Imre’s church, which was replaced in 1839, also remained. The special feature of the bell, which weighs 200 kilograms and has remained in its original condition, is that it can still be rung by hand in the traditional way.
Photo: Lajos Nagy
During the renovation of the Veszprém castle quarter, all 12 bells will be returned to the three churches by 2025. New belfries are placed in the towers of the Franciscan and Piarist churches, and the equipment that moves the bells, as well as the clock hammers, are replaced. After the investment, the bells of the castle quarter will be able to be operated centrally, so visitors to the castle will have a special musical experience.
Last year, the facade and roof structure work of 18 buildings involved in the renovation of the castle district was completed. In the second half of the year, restoration and interior works were carried out in 13 buildings. Specialists made significant progress in the Piarist monastery, the Franciscan monastery, St. Stephen’s Church and the minor seminary, while restoration research was carried out in the lower church of St. Michael’s Cathedral.
In 2024, the works will continue, and in parallel, the project launched by the Archdiocese of Veszprém will continue Work in Progress a series of programs that gives an insight behind the scenes of the renovation works of the castle quarter with guided walks and exhibitions. SO
