CASTLE DISTRICTS
Major Sights in Budapest Castle District:
ROYAL PALACE
The original Royal Palace was destroyed and rebuilt many times. Its history is very much like that of the Matthias Church's. King Béla IV started building a palace in the 13th century after the Mongol invasion. The original Gothic Palace was built and expanded for 300 years.
The golden era of the palace was under the rule of King Matthias (1451-90). It was totally destroyed in 1686 when the Habsburg army liberated Buda from the Turkish occupation. The Habsburgs built a completely new, small Baroque palace in the beginning of the 18th century. It was damaged again in the 1848-49 War of Independence.
The following reconstruction almost doubled it in length at the end of the 19th century (now it's 304 m long) and a large wing was attached to the back. In 1945 it was the last defense of the German troops in Budapest. Post-war reconstruction revealed Gothic and Renaissance foundations that have been incorporated in the building during the works. Thus the Palace is a mix of architectural styles.
FISHERMAN BASTION
As part of the renovations the Fishermen’s Bastion was added in 1905. There are two explanations about the origin of the Bastion’s name: some say a fish market was nearby in the Middle Ages, according to others the Guild of Fishermen defended this part of the wall.
Despite its name it's a look-out terrace. It has seven turrets one for each of the Hungarian tribes. The design was inspired by the Far East. "Kitchs but beautiful" according to the writer Szerb Antal.
From its top you get one of Budapest's best panoramic view.
MATTHIAS CHURCH
According to a legend our first king St. Stephen started to build the church, but it hasn't been proved yet. Historical proof shows that King Béla IV founded the church in 1255 after he moved his court up to Castle Hill from Óbuda.
However, its name comes from the fact that the popular King Matthias held both of his weddings here. The main eastern gate and the long apse are 13th century, the central part was built around 1400. Every king and era added something to the church.
In 1541 the Turks captured Buda and transformed it into a mosque. They celebrated their victory here. Luckily the church's treasures had already been moved from Budapest Castle District to Bratislava.
After the Habsburgs recaptured Buda in 1686, Matthias Church came under Jesuit patronage. Frigyes Schulek rebuilt Matthias Church n neo-Gothic style at the turn of the last century. He incorporated the 13th century remains in the new design. You can view a King Matthias' small collection of religious treasures in the church museum.
The interior is very striking. Despite the vaulting and the stained glass windows, it's nothing like a Gothic cathedral; it has a sort of mystic, Eastern atmosphere. The wall paintings are scenes from the Bible and events from Hungary's history.
The church has excellent acoustics, so it often houses concerts. Matthias Church is probably the most popular place to get married in Budapest.
GALLERT HILL
Gellert Hill is a 140-m high dolomit rock rising above the Danube in Buda. According to the legend witches visited the hill every night and were riding on the back of a human being.Besides this fantasy the Gellért Hill oferts you several more down-to-earth attractions from the hill top you can enjoy one of the most stunning vistas of Budapest you'll find many historical monuments on the hill and it abounds in protected natural values.
Gellert Hill received its name after bishop Gellért who came to Hungary from Italy around 1000 AD. St. Stephen King invited him to help converting the Hungarians into Christianity. Some resisiting pagans rolled him down the hill in a barrel into the Danube.
A large statue holding a cross in his right hand commemorates the bishop on the northeastern slope of the hill, facing Erzsébet híd (Elizabeth bridge). The Gellért Hill is also important in hidrogeological point of view. Part of the drinking water supply of Budapest is stored in an inner reservoir within the hill.The spectacular fireworks on our national hoilday, 20th August are launched from the hill.
For centuries only a pontoon bridge connected Buda and Pest.Count István Széchenyi (1791-1860), the Greatest Hungariancame up with the idea of constructing a permanent bridge across the Danube. In December 1820 he received the news that his father had died in Vienna. Because of the hard winter the pontoon bridge was out of use. |
Stranded on the Pest side for a week, Count Széchenyi vowed that he wouldfinance construction of a permanent bridge over the Danube, regardless of the costs. It took him almost 50 years to achieve it.
In 1836 Széchenyi commissioned William Clark, an English engineer to draft the plans of the bridge.
Construction began in 1842. A Scotsman, Adam Clark oversaw the works (he is a namesake of William Clark). The final phase of construction took place during the1848-49 Revolution and War of Independence.
One of the first walkers across the bridge were the soldiers of the Hungarian Army of Independence. They retreated from the Austrian troops in 1849. The Austrians attempted to blow up the bridge, but luckily the explosives did not go off.
The bridge facilitated the union of Buda, Pest and Óbuda in 1873 and contributed to Budapest's boom. Széchenyi collapsed mentally in 1848 and was not able to see his dream come true.
Unfortunately the Germans succeded in destroying the bridge during the siege of Budapest in 1945.
Reconstruction began in 1947 and Chain Bridge was rebuilt in its original form by 1949.
Adam Clark dug a tunnel under Castle Hill to provide easy access to places in Buda behind the hill. The tunnel is exactly the same long than the Chain Bridge.
According to a popular anecdote, when it rains the bridge can be pushed into the tunnel to prevent it from getting wet.
BUDDHAPEST PARLIAMENT
The commanding building of Budapest Parliament stretches between Chain Bridge andMargaret Bridge on the Pest bank of the Danube.
It draws your attention from almost every riverside point. The Gellért Hill and the Castle Hill on the opposite bank offer the best panorama of this huge edifice.
HEROES SQUARE
The monument was built for the 1896 Millennium celebrations, that's why it is called Millennium Monument.
Hungary celebrated the 1000th anniversary that its ancestors found a place to settle down in the Carpathian Basin. Every part of the monument plays tribute to determining parts of Hungary's history.
The memorial won the first prize at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris. The monument was completely finished in 1929 and the square received its name than too.
Since 2002 the Millennium Monument together with Andrásy Avenue is part of UNESCO's prestigious World Heritage sites.
Since 2002 the Millennium Monument together with Andrásy Avenue is part of UNESCO's prestigious World Heritage sites.
ST STEPHEN BASILICA
St. Stephen's Basilica is dedicated to Hungary's first king, St. Stephen. The largest church in Budapest, about 8500 people can get in. Apart from its vastness St Stephen's Basilica offers other attractions: it houses Hungary's most sacred treasure, St Stephen's mummified right hand, the Szent Jobb (Holy Right Hand) |
THE OPERA HOUSE
Budapest Opera House awaits you with rich musical programmes throughout the year in. The architecture of the building in itself worth a visit. Visiting Opera house is a must even if you are not a fan of the Opera.
JEWISH BUDDHAPEST
Jews were banned from the city in the 18th century so they established a Jewish quarter just outside the old city boundary. Remains of the old Pest city walls run on the opposite side of the road.
The Jews built their main synagogue in a residential area. Theodore Herzl, founder of modern Zionism was born in one of the buildings. This stunning temple was constructed between 1844-59 according to Ludwig Förster's plans. The second largest synagogue (the largest stands in New York) in the world can take in 3,000 people. Its Byzantine-Moorish style will fascinate you and remind you of monuments in the Middle-East. Two onion-shaped domes sit on the twin towers at 43 m height. The towers symbolize the two columns of Solomon's Temple.
CITY PARK
The area of today's City Park used to be a swamp and was called Rákos mező where the Hungarian kings were elected between the 13th-16th centuries. It was also a favourite hunting ground of noblemen. Later trees were planted in the territory.
The swamp had been drained and the field was transformed into an English-style park in the 18th-19th centuries when the emperor ordered to establish a "National Garden" where people can relax and entertain within green environment.
Budapest City Park was among the first public parks in the world open to people for relaxation purposes.
