Gellérthegyi-barlang

The Cave Church is located near the Buda end of Liberty Bridge, across from the famous Gellért Baths. It is embedded in Gellért Hill.

According to the legend in the middle age, a hermit named Istvan or Ivan lived there and was believed to have used the natural thermal water of a muddy lake next to the cave to heal the sick people. Today the water is used for the famous Gellert Bath on the other side of the road. Istvan was later canonized, and the cave was named Szent Iván-barlang (Saint Ivan's Cave).

The church was founded in the 1920s, by a group of Pauline monks after a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France. Originally, the altar was located at the entrance of the cave and the congregation was seated outdoors on the terrace. After its consecration in 1926, it served as a chapel and monastery until 1951.

During World War II, the church served as a field hospital for the army of Nazi Germany. Due to the new Communist regime after the war, father Ferenc Vezér was sentenced to death and the remaining brothers were imprisoned for upwards of ten years. In 1951, the church entrance was completely sealed with a thick concrete wall. A part of the wall can still be seen by the entrance.

As the Iron Curtain disintegrated, the chapel reopened on 27 August 1989 with the destruction of the thick concrete wall that had sealed the cave. By 1992, the Chapel had been restored and the Pauline Order had returned to the cave. 

Today, the monks continue to perform religious functions within, though the cave is also a common tourist attraction. 

A modern statue of St. Stephen holding a church is in the little square in front of the cave. 

This is also a good point to find the beauty of Liberty bridge, especially after sunset!!!