### The churches of Székesfehérvár, Pécsvárad and Óbuda
the St Peter parish church of Székesfehérvár The St Peter church was very important because of its role at royal coronation ceremonies and its traditions. Its ground-plan can be reconstructed on the basis of old maps and engravings. In the place of the old ancient parish a new church was built with one nave and a pair of towers in the eastern side. Later King Béla IV had it rebuilt into a three-naved church. the abbey of Pécsvárad St Stephen founded a Benedictine monastery at the foot of Vashegy [Iron hill] (Zengő) in 1015. According to its letter of foundation reflecting the conditions at the beginning of the 13th century it received 42 villages from its founder. As a royal church it belonged under the authority of the Archbishop of Esztergom. Its church was consecrated in 1038 in the honour of Virgin Mary and St Benedict. The story of its construction works is debated: it is doubful that the two-storey building - the bottom part of which was preserved - was part of the original church. The paintings on the vault of the chancel show Byzantine influence. The abbacy was strengthened like a fortress at the beginning of the 13th century, which is proved by the name "Várad" [Fortress] or "Kis Vár" [Little Fortress] from 1212. the St Peter prepostery of Óbuda The foundation of the chapter church of Óbuda was attributed to St Stephen by the chronicles, but presumably his successor, King Peter had it built. Thanks to the donation of St Ladislaus the construction of the church could be completed. Because of the royal foundation the chapter belonged to the authority of the Archbishop of Esztergom, and it functioned as a 'credible place' in the country. In the winter of 1241 Tartar armies destroyed it, and later only the chancel could be used. The church itself was not rebuilt. Some of its remains are of outstanding importance: the doorway from the middle of the 12th century and a part of the chancel divider, which represents fighting animals.