Budapest, the capital of Hungary, is one of the largest metropolitan centres in the area with a population of nearly 2 million people. It is a 2000-year-old settlement bisected by the majestic Danube River. It is an incredibly scenic city with the river winding through it, crowned by her glorious bridges. The architecture is a turn-of-the-century medley of Baroque, Art Nouveau and Neo-Renaissance. Buda, the old and historic part of the city lies on the west bank; Pest, the pulsing downtown area on the east. The city has dozens of baths and healing spas; a thriving cultural life accented by music; hundreds of first class restaurants, gambling casinos and jazz clubs.
Night view of Pest from Buda
If you go around the city for sightseeing we suggest that you should park your
cars at your hotels because due to constructions road works and everyday
traffic, it is extremely difficult to travel around by car in the centre of
Budapest. You had better use public transport. Travelling by metro (M1, M2, M3)
is the fastest but buses are quite quick as well since there are bus lanes along
main roads.
If you still decide to use your car please remember that you have to pay for
parking lots, which are difficult to find, in the streets in the city centre
until 6:00 p.m. Tickets can be bought from machines in the street.
View over the Danube River Buda and Pest
That
Budapest
- one of the most beautiful cities in the world- has developed where it is, is
not down to some historical accident. Take a look at Gellért Hill, right next to
the River Danube as it flows majestically through the centre of the modern city.
It was precisely the combination of the relative ease of crossing the River here
and the natural protection the hill offered against invasion that decided the
earliest settlers it was the ideal place to build a town. The Eravisci, a tribe
of highly cultured Celts, had already settled at Gellért Hill in the third and
fourth centuries B.C. They worked with iron, decorated their earthenware pots
and even minted their own coins. Later, the Romans built a settlement at today's
Óbuda. They called it Aquincum and it was an important station along the limes
which ran alongside the River Danube.
The advantages of settling here were equally obvious at the time of the Magyar
Conquest. The new settlers built a centre on both sides of the River.
Interestingly, both parts came collectively to be known as
Pest.
Some researchers say that the word is of Slavic origin, meaning stove or kiln,
and refers to the natural warm springs found on and near Gellért Hill. The Royal
Charter dating from 1232 appears to back this up. The name Buda came somewhat
later, during the reign of King Béla IV. When
Hungary
was invaded and devastated by the Mongols (1241-1242), King Béla ordered new
castles and fortresses to be built all around the country.
The Buda Castle and the Castle Hill
He provided a good example, for he built the first
Royal Palace
in Buda on what from that time on become known as Castle Hill. It was also he
who, in a gold-sealed letter of 1244, conferred privileges on the towns that
enabled them to develop agriculture and trade. Buda became the royal seat around
the turn of the fifteenth century under the rule of Sigismund of Luxembourg, and
the
Royal Palace
grew ever larger until its zenith was reached under King Matthias (ruled
1458-1490).
Pest
also prospered at this time, and Matthias raised it to equal rank with Buda. In
between the two, contemporary records show that
Margaret
Island
was home not only to several monasteries but also to a castle built by the
crusaders. Following the dire Hungarian defeat at the Battle of Mohács (1526)
the Turks sacked and burned Buda.
Pest
and Óbuda, too, suffered dreadfully as a result of the century-and-a-half of
Turkish rule that followed. The Turks did, however, build baths fed by the
hot
springs.
Their cupolas appear on contemporary engravings, and of course some of them are
still extant today -the most visible legacy of that period.
Buda was freed from Turkish rule on 2nd September, 1686, and so began the next
period of development. Many places outside the capital gained the right to hold
markets, and there were social developments as well. A printing press was
established in Buda by 1724, and in 1777 Empress Maria Theresa had the country's
only scientific university moved here from Nagyszombat (today Trnava in
Slovakia),
bringing with it an influx of learned tutors and youthful students. Emperor
Joseph II later switched it from Buda to
Pest,
a move which promoted a big growth in Hungarian-language literature and in due
course theatre, because up until that time the dominant language of culture in
Buda had been German. The
Hungarian Academy
of Sciences, the Kisfaludy Társaság, and the National Theatre together played a
pivotal rôle in the social development of the city. This was also the age when
newspapers started, among them the ground-breaking Pesti Hírlap founded by Lajos
Kossuth.
The Chain Bridge and the Lion of the Chain Bridge
The next
challenge was the building of the first permanent bridge over the River Danube-
the Chain Bridge, today still the most recognizable symbol of the city - and the
logical conclusion of that was the legislative unification in 1873 of Buda, Pest
and Óbuda into one city-
Budapest.
A Council of Public Works was formed, whose direction determined both the future
shape and the enduring beauty of the city. The great boulevards were laid down -
most notably Andrássy út and the körútak or ring roads- and the transformation
of
Budapest
into a modern world class city truly began. There was an even greater impetus at
the end of the nineteenth century as
Hungary
celebrated the millenary anniversary of the Magyar Conquest. The first
continental Underground railway was built, the streets were paved, street
lighting was introduced, the waterworks at Káposztásmegyer was constructed (it
is still in operation today), and a public sewerage system was developed. The
first trams appeared.
The political Compromise between
Hungary
and
Austria
in 1867 led to the beginning of the industrialization of
Budapest.
Agricultural industries, milling and food industries all moved into the capital,
and engineering industries grew. The railways were built, and, as with the major
roads, they all radiate out from
Budapest.
Budapest
itself did not suffer particularly in the First World War, so after a brief
halt, the process of development resumed. As the city continued to grow,
neighbouring suburbs were absorbed into four new administrative districts. The
Second World War, however, had a catastrophic effect. Apart from the horrifying
cost in terms of human casualties, the architectural splendour of the city was
brought to ruin. Every one of the bridges over the River Danube, for example,
was blown up by the retreating Germans. These the authorities managed to replace
within four years, as work to rebuild the city progressed apace. There was a
further administrative enlargement in 1950 when more neighbouring towns were
absorbed; the city now comprised 22 districts (more recently this has become 23,
as boundaries have been redrawn). The city's buildings and transport network
suffered afresh in the 1956 Uprising, but were again repaired. Large-scale
building of blocks of flats took place in the 1960's, followed by construction
of two new Underground lines. The
Lágymányosi Bridge,
the new National Theatre and the National Concert Hall have all appeared since
the fall of Communism. There are many further developments planned, including a
fourth Underground line.
The National Theatre
The
capital city of
Hungary,
Budapest,
was created out of the unification of the separate historic towns of Buda,
Pest
and Óbuda
in 1873. Whilst the area had been inhabited from early times, it was from this
date that the city's expansion into a world capital really began.
Budapest
is bisected by the River Danube, with the city as much a natural geographical
centre as it is the country's transport hub. Covering an area of two hundred
square miles and divided into 23 administrative districts, it is home today to a
population of 1.8 million people.
Flowing north to south through the centre of the city is the mighty River
Danube. Buda and Óbuda, comprising roughly a third of the total, are situated
mainly in the hills to the west, with commercial
Pest
on the plains to the east. There are three islands -Óbuda Island, Margaret
Island and Csepel Island- and nine bridges, two of which carry railway lines.
Budapest possesses a rich and fascinating history as well as a vibrant cultural
heritage. Recognizing the unique value of its traditions it has managed to
maintain its magic and charm, and is rightly known as the Queen of the
Danube.
It has also been called the City of
Spas,
as there are a dozen thermal baths complexes served by over a hundred natural
thermal springs.
Built between 1885 and 1904 the Parliament building soon became the symbol of the Hungarian capital. Not just becuse its sheer size -nearly 18000 square metres- but because of its detailed decoration, inside splendour and eclectic diversity.
It is the most expensive building ever built in Hungary. It has 691 rooms, 10 courtyards, 27 gates and 29 staircases. It also houses a public library with 500.000 volumes. The walls from outside are decorated by the statues of the most important historical figures of Hungary. The building is 268 metres long and 118 metres wide, it stretches along the Pest side of the Danube between the Chainbridge and Margaret Bridge. The dome is 96 metres hight.
The Hungarian Parlament
Until the 19th century the Hungarian diet held its sessions on various places in the country, depending on which part was not under occupation or foreign rule. After the Austro-Hungarian Compromise in 1867, Hungary received more independence and an own constitution. The establishment of a parliament building was also initiated. Since its handover, the Parliament is the seat of the leading governmental bodies. In Hungary the legislative body is unicameral.
You can visit the building when the Parliament is not in session. The chamber of former Upper House is shown to the visitors. You can actually sit on the benches of the MPs.
Visiting the parlament: Guided tours in English daily at 10.00, 12.00, 13.00, 14.00. Tickets can be purchased at Gate X. (Kossuth square side), the visit lasts about 50 minutes. During the tour the Main Staircase, the Dome Hall, the Coronation Jewels, the Deputy Council Chamber or the former session room of the Upper House can be seen.
The Basilica
Saint Stephen's Basilica is the largest Roman Catholic church in Budapest, it has the second highest ecclesiastical status in Hungary.
The building was planned and built in 1851 by József Hild in classical style and continued by Miklós Ybl, who added a neo-renaissance taste to the original concepts. The inner layout and the completion of the building in 1905 is the work of József Krausz. Famous Hungarian painters and sculptors decorated the inner side, using 50 different types of marble.
The Saint Stephen's Basilica
The statue of the basilica's patron saint by Alajos Stróbl can be seen on the high altar. It is quite unique to have the statue of a human on the altar, but on special Papal permission the statue of our first king, who converted the Hungarians to Christianity is displayed here.
An elevator takes up the visitors in the left tower, from where a magnificent panorama of the city can be enjoyed. Not only the streets and squares of downtown Pest, but also the Castle Hill, the Citadel and the other Buda hills are visible. In the right tower the largest bell of the country - weighs 9 tons - can be found.
The Chapel of the Holy Right is behind the sanctuary, where the right hand of the first Hungarian king, St. Stephen is held in a delicatly ornated reliquary.
The square in front of the church became a beautiful pedestrian area with some cafés and benches to sit on.
The Heroes'square is one of the most visited sights of the Hungarian capital, i is situated in front of the City Park, at the end of the Andrássy Avenue, one of the most important streets of Budapest, a World Heritage site.
The millenial monument was built in 1896 to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the arrival of Hungarians in the Carpathian Basin. The monument consists of two semi-circles on the top of which the symbols of War and Peace, Work and Wellfare, Knowledge and Glory can be seen. The niches are decorated by the statues of kings, governors and famous characters of the Hungarian history. At the foot of each statue a small relief depicts the most important moment of the life of the personality.
The Heroes' square
In the middle of Heroes' square stands a 36 metres high corinthian column with the statue of Archangel Gabriel on the top, the symbol of the Roman Catholic religion. At the pedestal the equestrian statues commemorate Árpád and the seven chieftains of the Hungarian tribes, who settled their people in the present territory of Hungary. His decendants formed the Hungarian royal dinasty.
The tomb of the unknown soldier can also be found in the square. At the two sides the representative buildings of the Museum of Fine Arts and the Art Gallery both worth a visit.
The Opera House was opened in 1884 among great splendour in the presence of King Franz Joseph. The building was planned and constructed by Miklós Ybl, who won the tender among other famous contemporary architects.
It was built in neo-renaissance style along the famous Andrássy Avenue. The facade is decorated with the statues of renowned composers and the Greek Godesses of art. The statues of Erkel and Liszt by Alajos Stróbl decorate the niches next to the main entrance. Ferenc Erkel was the first director of the Opera House and the founder of the Hungarian opera.
The inner decoration was designed to reflect elegance and pomp. Thus the staircase is covered by marble, the walls are decorated by the frescoes of illostrious Hungarian painters, the horse-shoe shaped audience hall is fitted with red and gold and the chandellier from Mainz also contributes to the elegant atmosphere. The construction took 9 years to be completed, but when finished, the Operahouse of Budapest was the most modern one in Europe.
The Opera House
The Buda Castle
After the Mongolian conquest in the 13th century, King Béla IV. ordered fortresses from stone to be built. The fortress of Buda was also founded at that time. The castle reached its golden age during the rule of the renaissance king, Matthias. He had it enlarged and transformed to a palace.
Nigth view of Buda castle
Later, during the Turkish occupation of Hungary, it was under Turkish rule for over 150 years. Not even the Habsburgs cared much about it, as the empire was ruled from Vienna. During the second world war it was badly damaged. The Palace was founded around 1247, but the royal seat was in Visegrád until the 15th century. It went under major reconstructions several times.
Firstly, King Matthias converted the fortification to a palace, later Maria Theresia had it rebuilt and enlarged. In the 19th century the famous Hungarian architect Miklós Ybl got the comission to reconstruct it. From the original fittings unfortunately nothing has left. Today the buildings house the National Gallery, the National Library and the Historical Museum. From the panorama terrace there is a magnificent view on the Pest side.
One way of getting to the palace is by the funicular next to the Tunnel, which has a 95 metres long, 48% steep track and offers an astonishing panorama.
Funicular of the Buda Castle
The Dísz tér is to be found on the northern side of the palace. It was the place of the market during the middle ages, the place where executions were performed too.
Szentháromság tér (Holy Trinity square) is situated in front of the Matthias Church, it is the place, where all major streets of the castle district meet. In the middle of the Szentháromság tér a Holy Trinity coloumn was erected to commemorate the plague epidemic in 1709.
The Holy Trinity column
The first Town Hall of Buda faces the square, which was built after the end of the Turkish occupation. Off the beaten track in the smaller side streets one can still feel the atmosphere of old ages, you can see hidden courtyards, signs of the guilds, beautifully reconstructed citizenhouses. Tóth Árpád sétány also worth a walk. The Castle district of Buda is part of the World Heritage since 1987.
The building of the Matthias church (aka Church of Our Lady) was started in 1255 in Gothic style. The north tower still preserves some parts of the original church. Under the reign of King Matthias it was enlarged and renewed.
The king had both of his weddings here. His coat of arms with the black raven is still visible on the south tower. That's why the commonly used name of the church is Matthias Church. During six centuries it used to be the coronation church. The first king crowned here in 1308 was Charles Robert and the last one Charles IV. of Habsburg in 1916. During the Turkish occupation it was converted to a mosque, and after the reconquest of Buda it was reconstructed in baroque style but it still preserves some of its oriental atmosphere.
The Matthias Church
The final major rebuilding took place in 1895-1903 lead by Frigyes Schulek. At that time the church received its present neo-gothic style and was lavishly decorated with frescoes by famous contemporary painters. The church has a unique atmosphere, which well worth a visit, not to mention the organ concerts which are organised regularly. The crypt and the treasure house also avait the visitors.
On the top of the old fortress walls, the Fishermen's bastion was only constructed between 1895-1902. It is named after the fishermen's guild because according to customs in the middle ages this guild was in charge of defending this part of the castle wall. As a matter of fact it has never had a defending function. The architect was Frigyes Schulek, who planned the building in neo-gothic style.The seven towers symbolise the seven chieftains, who conquerred the land for the Hungarians. The Fishermen's bastion greatly contributes to the cityscape and offers a breathtaking panorama on the Pest side. In front of the Fishermen's bastion, the equestrian statue depicts our first king, St Stephen. The Matthias Church and the Fishermens bastion are the most beloved sights of the Buda Castle District.
The Fishermen's Bastion and the statue of the hungarian first king St. Stephen
The Gellért Hill and the Citadel
The Gellért hill received its name after St. Gellért who came to Hungary as a missionary bishop upon the invitation of King St. Stephen I. around 1000 a.d.
His task was helping the Hungarians convert to Christianity. Some pagan leaders who did not want to convert captured St. Gellért and rolled him down from the hill in a barrel. The St. Gellért monument and its fountain representing his martyrdom can be found on the Northeastern slope of the hill facing the Elisabeth bridge.
The fortress of the Citadel was built by the Habsburgs in 1851 to demonstrate their control over the Hungarians.
The view of the Citadell on Gellért hill
The top of the Gellért Hill is a strategical point from where they had an overview of both Buda and Pest. Though it was equipped with 60 cannons, it was used as threat rather than a working fortification. After the reconciliation with the Habsburgs the Hungarians wanted to demolish the buildings, but after all it did not happen. In the mid 20th century it was converted to a tourist center.
From the panorama terraces one can have a stunning view of the city. By a short walk one can reach the Liberation Monument.
Liberation Monument on the top of the Gellért hill
The statue was erected in 1947 after the second world war. The main figure is a woman, holding an olive branch, the symbol of peace in her hands. On both sides symbolic figures can be seen: the young man's victory over the dragon represents the defeat of fascism.
The Váci street and the very downtown
The Váci utca is the heart of the downtown. It is an elegant shopping street with several restaurants, bank offices, cafés, souvenir- and bookshops.
The majority of the buildings were constructed at the turn of the 20th century but there are minor details that add to the special atmosphere. There are small hidden passages, cast iron balconies, art nouveau style decoration and Zsolnay ceramic tyles that make each building different and worth noting.
Váci street
Street musicians, portrait drawers and folklore fairs make the sqaure vivid. Paralell with the Váci street runs the Danube Promenade, from where one can have a beautiful view of the Buda castle and the Gellért hill.
Walking along the Danube one will pass by the Redout, built in romantic style and at the foot of the Chainbridge, the representative palace of the Hungarian Academy of Science worth mentioning. The Váci utca area is the "very downtown" of Budapest, in Váci utca there are usually more tourists than locals.
The City Park
Behind the monument of the Heros' Square one of the largest green areas of Budapest can be found. It's worth mentioning not just becuse of its hundred years old oak trees and relaxing pathways but some intresting buildings and important amusement places also hide there.
In the Middle Ages there was a swamp in the area, which belonged to the Hungarian kings and was used as a hunting place. In the 18th century Queen Maria Theresia ordered the swamp to be canalised and trees to be planted. The territory witnessed a great development, when in 1896 it became the place of the celebration of the thousandth anniversary of the Hungarian conquest.
The City park in summer and winter time
The Széchenyi thermal bath is one of the largest bath complexes in Europe. It was built in neo-baroque style between 1909 and 1913 and later enlarged. It consits of an indoor and an open-air part with several pools. Its water originates from the artesian springs of the City Park, which are 74 Celsius warm. The thermal water is effective in healing gynealogical, dermatological and nerve problems.
The Zoo is relatively small in comparison with other famous zoos in the world. What makes it interesting that it has an Art Nouveau style decoration and some parts are covered with Zsolnay tiles. It is the second oldest zoo in Europe. The Amusement Park, and the Circus are also situated here, which contribute to the fact that the City Park is a beloved place to spend free time in Budapest.
The lake of the city park makes the whole park a romantic spot. It is possible to row a boat on it when the weather is nice. During wintertime the lake is drained and serves as the biggest artificial ice ring of the city.
Margaret Island
Margitsziget (Margaret Island) is a huge island between the two bridges: Margit-híd and Árpád-híd. Apart from some hotels it is not inhabited, serves as a recreational area for the people of Budapest.
The Margatet Island
Originally it consisted of three separate islands, that were artificially connected. It has a surface of 96 acres and a lenght of 2500 metres. It is a protected and traffic free area giving home to several rare plants and to the famous sycamore trees. Many architectural relics can be found here e.g. remnants of the Dominican cloister, where the Saint princess Margaret once lived. The island was actually named after her.
The most interesting sights on the island are the Water Tower, the music fountain, the mini zoo and the Japanese garden.
Many recreational facilities such as the athletics centre, the Hajós Alfréd swimmingpool and Palatinus open-air swimmingpool are at the visitors' disposal. Walking along the island one can find several smaller fountains, statues and relics, 2-3 hours can be pleasantly spent in this green oasis. Bicycles and 4-wheelers can be rented too.
The island can be best approached by tram nr. 4 or 6 from the direction of Margit-híd. You just have to walk to the island on the small bridge that connects the island to Margit-hid.
One bus line: nr. 26 operates on the island, it departs from Nyugati Pályaudvar (Western railway station) and the Árpád-híd metro station.
The view of Margaret Island
The Zoo is located in the City Park, close to Heroes' Square and can be reached by the yellow line of the underground. It was created in 1866, thus it is the second oldest zoo in Europe.
Some of the buildings still preserve the old atmosphere but of course the facilities were modernised to face the 21st century. When the zoo opened approximately 500 animals lived there, many of them were granted by well-to-do personalities and exotic animals only arrived later. For the 10th anniversary the lion house was completed and also ostrichs, bisons and the first African elephant were bought.
By 1896 the zoo had nearly 2000 inhabitants but due to financial problems and the decreasing number of visitors a decline started.
In 1907 the company operating the plant and animal park went bankrupt. Luckily both the public and the politicians found it important to save the zoo, therefore it became the property of the capital. Famous architects were commissioned with the rebuilding and renovation of the establishments. Some of the art-nouveau buildings still can be seen. In 1912 the zoo was re-opened and many new species arrived.
In the following years the institution had professional directors, who put great impact on education too. The second world war badly damaged the buildings and only a few animals survived.
In 1949 the zoo was opened for the 3rd time among moderate circumstances. In the 1950's and 1960's it slowly regained its status and was re-populated again. In 1966 the 100th anniversary was celebrated with renovations and scientific conferences. In the last decades the development was continuous and the zoo raised to a European standard.
Nowadays the institution has international reputation and scientific efforts are rewarded by birth of special endangered species e.g. lately a white rhinoceros calf was born.
The Budapest Zoo
XIV. distr. Dózsa Gy. út 41. / Heroes' Square
Egyptian, Greek and Roman collections, 13th-18th century Italian, Spanish, Dutch paintings. French Impressionists and temporary exhibitions. One of the most renowned museum of Budapest. For more info click here!
The Museum of Fine Arts
XIV. distr. Dózsa Gy. út 37. / Heroes' Square
The largest exhibition hall of the city is located in a great classical building at Heroes' Square. Temporary exhibitions of modern and contemporary artists. For more info click here!
The building of the Art Gallery
VIII. distr. Múzeum krt. 14-16.
It is housed in a Classical style palace designed by Mihály Pollack. Its collection possesses over 1 million items. The exhibitions show the history of Hungary from the foundation of the state until 1990. For more info click here!
The National Museum
IX. distr. Üllői út 33-37.l
The Art-nouveau palace of the museum itself worths a visit. The collection embraces eastern carpets, treasury of the Esterházy family, art-nouveau glass works, Zsolnay ceramics, French furniture etc. For more info click here!
The building of the Museum of Applied Arts
VI. distr. Andrássy út 60.
The building was used by the Nazi Party in the 1940's and after that became the headquarter of the secret service during the communist era. Today it is a memorial museum of the victims of both dictatorships. For more info click here!
The House of the Terror Museum
I. distr. Buda Palace / Szent György tér 2.
The National Gallery is the largest public collection documenting and presenting the rise and development of the fine arts in Hungary from Medieval stone carvings to late 20th century art. For more info click here!
Night view of the Hungarian National Gallery
XXII. distr. Balatoni út - Szabadkai utca / South Buda
A glance behind the Iron Curtain. After the change of political system the statues were removed from the streets of Budapest. Open: every day from 10am. till sunset. For more info click here!
The Statue Park
I. distr. Tóth Árpád sétány 4.
The museum is located in the Buda Castle District and it introduces 1000 years of military history in the Carpathian Basin.
The Museum of Military History
XIV. distr. Városligeti krt. 11.
Located in the picturesque City Park, the museum offers a great program for families with children. You can have a closer look at great old vehicles.
The Transport Museum
