Székesfehérvár - Royal Basilica

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bishop's palace in 1789. Triggered by the sensational discovery of the two intact sarcophagi of King Béla III and his wife Anna of Châtillon, which were transferred to the cathedral crypt (the relics rest in St Matthew's church in Budapest, the burial objects are preserved in the National Museum) work began in the middle of the 19th C on the systematic excavation of the area. Relics from the Romanesque church, especially building sculpture, tombstones, as well as a part of the red marble sarcophagus of King Louis I, are on show in the round arched hall in the east of the exhibition site (1936/38). Also to be found here is the notable marble sarcophagus, which was long thought to contain the remains of St Stephan or his father Géza. Recent research suggests that it is the coffin of Prince Imre, son of Stephan I, who died prematurely. This Roman coffin, with ornamental figures and reliefs was carved in the first half of the 11th C by a Venetian stonemason. At one end is an angel figure holding a babe-in-arms which symbolizes the soul of the deceased.