It is restored using a special method Saint Michael’s Cathedral in Veszprém The bell of the Holy Trinity, which is the oldest bell in the country. Now, for the first time in 300 years, it is being lifted out of its place to restore it to its original sound.
As part of the renovation of the castle district in Veszprém, all 12 bells of the main cathedral, St. István (Franciscan) and St. Imre (Piarist) Churches will be returned, so visitors to the castle will have a special musical experience from 2025.
“This huge bell has never left the tower of St. Michael’s Cathedral since 1725,” said Balázs Most, an internationally recognized bell expert, about the Holy Trinity bell in Veszprém. The bell hangs 47 meters high in the north tower of the cathedral. It was made in the Viennese workshop of master bell-caster Ulrich Scheichel between 1723 and 1725.
The bell, also referred to as “Old Mihály”, is an outstanding work due to its age and size.
This is the oldest of Hungary’s great bells, so there are no exact data on its weight, but according to experts’ estimates, it may weigh around 3,400 kilograms, and its lower diameter exceeds 170 centimeters.
In the 1930s, a new bell tongue was made, and an inappropriate swinging structure, a broken-line steel belfry, was added to it, which increased the risk of cracking, and compared to what was used up until then, the sound became less favorable. Now, however, they are trying to restore the old sound of the mighty bell.
“Using a special method, the bell body is heated for weeks to 800 degrees Celsius, and while it is kept under a heat shield, the cracks around the screws are eliminated with 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 repair, the bell will be made with 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.
The three churches in the castle district originally had 12 bells. During the renovation of the Veszprém castle district, all 12 bells will be returned to the three churches by 2025 – we learned from the press release of the Veszprém castle district.
