3 Best Sights in Vác, Hungary

The fascinating (if somewhat macabre) discovery of the Memento Mori was made in 1994 during renovation work on the Church of the White Friars, when workers happened upon the largely forgotten, sealed entrance to a crypt that had been used by the Dominicans to bury clergy and local burghers from 1731 to 1801. Inside were numerous ornately decorated coffins with surprisingly well-preserved, still-clothed mummies and their burial accessories, including rosaries and crucifixes. The coffins have now been moved to a nearby cellar on the same square, with three open caskets displaying the eerie mummified remains of a nine-year-old girl, a woman in her 50s, and a man in his 60s. The museum starts with some interesting above-ground exhibits on the discovery, as well as the history of church and the town at large, before a steep staircase leads downstairs to the cold exhibit room.

A short walk from Vác’s main square, this 18th-century cathedral is an outstanding example of Hungarian neoclassicism. It was built between 1763 and 1777 by Archbishop Kristóf Migazzi to the designs of the Italian architect Isidor Carnevale; the most interesting features are the murals by the Austrian Franz Anton Maulbertsch, both on the dome and behind the altar. Exquisite frescoes decorate the walls inside. Due to break-ins, you can view the interior only through a locked gate, except during the twice-daily masses.

Around 14 km (9 miles) southeast of Vác, on the road to Gödöllő, lies Hungary’s biggest and best botanical garden. Home to more than 12,000 plant species, the arboretum’s top priority is botanical research, and the collection falls under the auspices of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. You’re welcome to stroll along the paths and sit on benches in the leafy shade. The greenhouse opens a bit later and closes earlier than the surrounding garden.