Zoltán Balog said that the government has “settled a large debt” to Hungarian culture by renewing the Romanesque Hall, which was damaged in WWII and has been closed ever since.

The government has allocated a total 15 billion forints (EUR 48m) for the refurbishment of the museum, out of which 8.3 billion was spent on reconstructing the hall, Balog said.

During the reconstruction project 70 experts worked on the frescoes of the hall, repainting some 2,500 square metres.

The works required nearly 100 kilograms of various pigments and 5.5 kilos of gold, the minister added.

The nearly 900 sqm Romanesque Hall, a late-19th century reconstruction of a medieval basilica, will be open to the public between March 15 and Easter, museum director László Baán said.