ESZTERGOM

German Gran, Latin Strigonium, Slovak Ostrihom town, Komrom-Esztergom megye (county), northwestern Hungary. It is a river port on the Danube River (which at that point forms the frontier with Slovakia) and lies 25 miles (40 km) northwest of Budapest. The various forms of its name all refer to its importance as a grain market. It is at the western end of the valley cut by the Danube between the Pilis and Brzsny hills, which divides the Little Alfold (Little Hungarian Plain) from the Great Alfold (Great Hungarian Plain). Esztergom was the capital and royal residence of the early rpd kings and successive Hungarian kings until the mid-13th century. Stephen I was born in the town and crowned there in 1000. The archbishopric, one of the oldest in Hungary and dating from 1189, moved to Trnava during the Turkish occupation (15431683), to return in 1820. Esztergom's fortress, last restored in the 18th century, is still largely intact atop Vrhegy (Castle Hill). The town's great cathedral (built 182260), modeled on St. Peter's in Rome, overlooks the Danube and is the largest church in Hungary, the outside height of the cupola being 348 feet (106 m). It is on the site of St. Stephen's original cathedral (1010). The treasury of the cathedral has a rich collection of medieval goldsmiths' work and a textile collection. The former primate's palace, the Christian Museum, has a rich painting collection. The Castle Museum has relics of the royal palace (10th12th century, major period of construction). The town also has many fine Baroque houses. After World War II, industries producing machine tools, bricks and pottery, wine, and synthetic fibres were established in Esztergom. Pop. (1991 est.) 29,751.