Tucked away in Mansfeld Péter Park, a simple stone slab whispers tales of the Veronika Kápolna. This plaque, near the bicycle racks and stairs, marks the spot where a chapel once graced the Rose Hill. The Veronika Kápolna’s story began in 1690. German settlers, having liberated Buda from Ottoman rule, built a wooden chapel amidst the vineyards. This initial structure, nestled on Calvary Hill, later known as Rose Hill, served as a testament to their victory. The small sanctuary was first under Jesuit care, then passed to the Franciscan order who led processions to the site.
In 1758, the wooden chapel was replaced with a grander stone structure. The Veronika Kápolna expanded, boasting a two-section nave leading to the sanctuary. A Calvary scene, with fourteen Stations of the Cross, was erected on the hillside before the chapel. These Baroque sculptures, likely inspired by Viennese designs, stood tall until 1900. Their removal paved the way for the Zárda (now Rómer Flóris) Street serpentine road construction. Emperor Joseph II, under his 1781 religious decree, ordered the Veronika Kápolna’s closure, leaving it to decay. But the chapel was not forgotten. In 1805, Bishop Márton Görgey and royal chamberlain István Marczibányi funded its restoration. The beloved chapel was revived for the community that frequented it. An organ was installed, its keys uniquely colored with black for whole notes and white for half notes, a reversal of modern convention. A crypt was also added, becoming Bishop Görgey’s final resting place upon his death in 1807.
The Veronika Kápolna, visible from Pest, was a landmark for locals and visitors alike. Its charming wooden structure and classical bell tower stood proudly above Gül Baba’s türbe. In 1909, it was officially named Veronika Kápolna, after the nearby Veronika Street. After over 130 years with only minor repairs, the Veronika Kápolna underwent a significant renovation and expansion for the 1938 Budapest Eucharistic Congress. The Szent Szir-kápolna, the oldest part of the building behind the main chapel and previously demolished due to earlier renovations, was also reconstructed during this period. Architect and university professor Gyula Wälder oversaw the project. The Veronika Kápolna received a neo-Baroque tower, sacristy, stairway, and furnishings. Frescoes by Jenő Medveczky adorned the walls. Depictions of Saint Donát, patron saint of vineyards, and Saint Orbán, patron saint of vine growers, graced the interior.
Tragically, just seven years later, the Veronika Kápolna met its demise. During the fierce battles of the 1945 Siege of Budapest, the chapel suffered severe damage. While photographic evidence is scarce, accounts describe the collapse of the central roof section. In 1951, under communist rule, the damaged Veronika Kápolna was demolished. The Stations of the Cross and Bishop Görgey’s crypt were also destroyed. Miraculously, one painting of Saint Orbán survived and can be seen at the Margaret Convent Franciscan monastery. The chapel’s site, briefly called Világifjúsági Park, now bears the name Mansfeld Péter Park. It honors Péter Mansfeld, the youngest martyr of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. He lived in one of the neighboring houses. Since 2018, a plaque, made from the original Tardos quarry limestone, and a replica information board remind us of the Veronika Kápolna that once stood here.