The oldest bell in Hungary is being restored using a special method Hungarian Courier

“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 Veszprém Holy Trinity bell. The bell hanging in the north tower of the main cathedral, 47 meters high, was commissioned by Count Imre Esterházy, bishop of Veszprém, later Archbishop of Esztergom, in the Vienna workshop of master bell-caster Franz 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. 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 the “Old Mihály” was already considered special at the time, so it avoided being requisitioned 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 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, they are in bad condition, so we haven’t been able to hear the sound of the bell for a while, so as not to cause even more damage,” Balázs Most explained.

As part of the major investment of the Archdiocese of Veszprém, the cathedral’s bell 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 repair, a new belfry – yoke and tongue – will be made for the great bell, so that it will regain its original sound and mark the anniversary of the consecration of St. Michael’s Cathedral in 2025.

The three churches in the castle district originally had twelve bells: six in the main cathedral, three more each in St. Imre (Piarist) and St. István (Franciscan) churches, but most of them did not survive the two world wars. Two bells were taken from the tower of the Franciscan 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.

During the renovation of the Veszprém castle quarter, all twelve 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.

The work will continue in 2024, and the Work in Progress program series launched by the Archdiocese of Veszprém will continue in parallel, which provides an insight behind the scenes of the renovation works of the castle quarter with exhibitions and guided walks.

You can read more information about the investment HERE, video materials can be watched HERE.

Source and foto: Archdiocese of Veszprém

Hungarian Courier