Tourist attractions budapest
Places to visit in Budapest
Royal Palace or Budavari PalotaThe Royal Palace is a must located at the very top of Castle hill in the picturesque part of Buda. It was first inhabited by King Bela in the 13th century after the Mogul invasion into Eastern Europe. They turned it into a fortified stronghold to hold against further attack. Over the next 700 years or so it was the home of many royal figures. Its geographical location made it a very important castle situated in the heart of Europe overlooking the Danube and controlling this main thoroughfare. The castle has a blend of architectural styles ranging from Gothic to Baroque. It currently houses numerous museums and most of the buildings surrounding it are historically important in some shape or form. Within the complex you will find the National Library, The Ludwig museum and the Hungarian National Gallery.
Telephone: 36 (01) 375 7533; Address: 1 Szent , Gyógy tér; Gellért Hill Budapest : Gellert-Hegy
The views from Gellért Hill are unrivalled with sweeping panoramic vistas of both Buda and Pest and well worth the hike up to see it. The hill is named after a priest who attempted to convert the Magyars who were pagan to Christianity. He had little luck however as rumour has it he was rolled off the hillside in a spiked barrrel by the pagans themselves. A statue of the priest stands at the base of teh hill and on its summit you will see a monument of a female figure holding aloft the palm of victory dedicated to the memory of Soviet troops who died freeing Hungary in 1945. With the fall of communism the inscription was changed to honour those who died for 'Hungary's prosperity'. Behind the monument is the Citadella, or fortress, built after the 1848 revolution to provide military supremacy against further uprisings. Today it houses a hostel and a museum. The hill is home also to several historic spas, valued for their medicinal qualities since the Turkish occupation. The city's most famous spa, the Gellért Baths, is attached to the grand establishment of the Art Nouveau Gellért Hotel and this is truly worth the visit albeit it can be frustrating finding your way around this establishment, given the lack of help from those working there.. Hungarian demeanour I am told. Here visitors can relax in the thermal waters of the Roman-styled pool with its lion-headed spouts, surrounded by columns and mosaic patterns, or indulge themselves with private therapeutic treatments or a massage.
Address: District XI, Szent Gellért tér 2-6; Telephone: 36 (01) 385 2200;
Matthias Church Budapest : Matyas Templom
Situated in the centre of the Castle Quarter, the 700-year-old Church of Our Lady is popularly known as Matthias Church after the nation's famous ruler, King Matthias (1458-90), a patron of learning and the arts who reconstructed the Hungarian state after decades of feudal anarchy. With its distinctive multicoloured tiled roof and Gothic spire, the church is one of Budapest's best-known structures, and it was here that the nation's kings were crowned and King Matthias was married. Today the church continues to hold High Mass, as well as concerts, organ and choir recitals owing to its magnificent acoustics. Matthias Church is a mixture of styles from the various kings, occupations and periods. When the Turks occupied the Castle in 1541 it was converted into a mosque, and the interior walls were whitewashed and painted over with scenes from the Koran. It suffered heavily in the later siege and was restored again in the 19th century, reconstructed in its characteristic neo-Gothic style, and remains of the original medieval frescoes were discovered underneath the whitewash. The interior is richly decorated with gilded altars, statues, rose windows and frescoes. Inside is the Church Museum, which gives access to the crypt, and a small collection of religious treasures and jewels. A fantastic paradox is visible in the reflection of the Gothic church in the sleek dark glass sides of the contemporary Budapest Hilton alongside.
Address: District I, Trinity Square (Szentháromság tér); Telephone: 36 1) 355 5657; Transport: Funicular from Clark Ádám tér, or bus 6; Opening time: Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm, Sunday from 1pm to 5pm; Admission: 600 Ft (adults), 400 Ft (students, pensioners, soldiers), 1,000 Ft (family ticket, 1 or 2 parents plus children), children under 6 free, audio guide extra 300 Ft
Fisherman’s Bastion Budapest : Halaszbastya
Fishermans Bastion was built in 1905 on the medieval castle walls, the neo-Romanesque ramparts were so named after the city's fishermen whose duty it was to defend this side of the hill during the Middle Ages, but the existing bastion never actually served a defensive purpose. It is solely ornamental with gleaming white cloisters and stairways connecting seven turrets symbolic of the Magyar tribes that conquered the Carpathian Basin in the 9th century. Set back from the ramparts is an equestrian statue of King Stephen, a memorial to the founder of the Hungarian nation. The view from Fisherman's Bastion, over the Danube, the Chain Bridge and the Parliament Buildings with Pest stretching out into the distance, is outstanding. Floodlit at night, the bastion is a mesmerising sight from across the river.
Address: District I, Szentháromság tér; Transport: Tram 18 to Dózsa tér; bus 5, 16 or 78; funicular railway from Clark Ádám tér; or Várbusz (castle bus) from Moszkvatér
Chain Bridge BudapestThe Chain Bridge was the first stone bridge to be built over the Danube and is the most famous with its lion statues. Today nine bridges span the river linking Buda to Pest, but Chain Bridge takes pride of place as the city's symbol, a magnificent sight when floodlit at night. It owes its construction to Count István Széchenyi who decided to build a permanent crossing after having to wait a week to cross the river to bury his father. The Chain Bridge was built by William and Adam Clark, who also constructed London Bridge. It was considered an amazing feat of engineering when it was opened in 1849. At the foot of the bridge is Kilometre Zero, the point in Budapest from where all distances are measured.
Address: Roosevelt Square or Adam Clark Square; Transport: Bus 4, 16 or 105; tram 2 or 19 The Great Synagogue and Jewish Museum Budapest
Situated within Erzsébet Town, the charming old Jewish quarter and former ghetto, the Great or Central Synagogue is the largest in Europe and the second largest in the world, able to seat 3,000 people. Completed in 1859 the style is typically Byzantine-Moorish, with exquisitely patterned brickwork in the red, blue and yellow colours of the city’s coat of arms. Gilded domed towers, archways and beautiful window designs are just some of the features that make this one of Budapest’s landmarks. The splendid interior glitters with lights; gilded arches and balconies line the walls, the ceiling is covered in Stars of David, and the floor is tiled in decorative stars. On Jewish festivals it is packed with Jews from all over Hungary who come to celebrate within its splendour. Next door is the Jewish Museum containing relics from the Hungarian Jewish Community, including religious objects from festivals, and the Holocaust Memorial room. In the courtyard is the Holocaust Memorial in the shape of a weeping willow tree, each metal leaf engraved with the names of Nazi victims.
Address: Dohány utca 2-8 in VII district. Situated at an angle to Károly körút, between Deák tér and Astoria; Parliament BuildingsOn the bank of the Danube stands one of the world's most beautiful parliament buildings, an imposing sight and a prominent feature of the city's panorama. With its red dome, white stone lace ornamentation and spires, it is the city's most decorative structure. Stone lions flank the entrance guarding a rich interior of marble and gold, statues and columns, and magnificent artefacts, including the 1,000-year-old crown of the first Hungarian King, all of which can be viewed on a guided tour. The grand edifice, stretching for 820 ft (250m) along the embankment, is one of the biggest national assemblies in the world.
Address: District V, Kossuth Lajos tér 1-3; Statue Park BudapestOne of the city’s popular but more bizarre attractions is Statue Park, containing the giant figures of the Communist era that once filled the streets of Budapest. After the change in the political system the monuments glorifying Communism were banished into the exile of this outdoor museum and among the statues, busts and monuments are the forms of Lenin, Marx and Engels, as well as memorials to the Soviet Soldier and the Communist Martyrs. This is the only collection in the world from the time of Communist politics. Some of the interesting souvenirs sold at the park are cans of air from the ‘last breath of socialism’ and Stalin and Lenin shaped candles.
Address: District XXII, corner of Balatoni út and Szabadkai út; Telephone: +36 (01) 424 7500; E-mail: office@szoborpark.hu; Website: www.szoborpark.hu; Opening time: Daily from 10am until sunset; Admission: 600 Ft (concessions available) The Fine Arts Museum Budapest (Szepmuveszeti Muzeum)With over 120,000 exhibits, this museum holds the country's finest collection of foreigh art. The designers Albert Schnickedanz and Folop Herzog, finished the building of the museum in 1906 and it truly represents the last bit of eclectic arhitectural construction in Hungary. The museum is located in Heroes Square and is worth the visit in its own right. The old masters section of the gallery is world famous with works by Raphael, Breughel, Rembrandt, El Greco, Goya along with other famous artists. There are also works by Monet, Cezanne, Picasso and others to keep you busy. Another key feature of this museum is the Egyptian art collection which includes a variety of ancient egyptian pieces quite unique and some fine statues. All in all the Fine Arts Museum is impressive and worth a few hours of your time. Margarit-sziget : Margaret Island BudapestMany of the citizens of Budapest will claim that Margaret Island is one of Europes finest parks, and given that it is sitting in the middle of the Danube makes it all the more pleasant. Margaret Islands was originally three seperate islands which the Romans connected by bridges. A huge amount of work went into the park in the early 1800's when the Habsburg gardeners planted more than 10,000 trees and the park is brimming in Spring and summertime. There is also a wide variety of things to do on the Island including the famouse Margaret spas now run by Danibius Hotels, a theatre, a zoo, swimming pool, a rose garden, Japenese garden as well as a garden of Statues. At the Northern end stands the famous old Grand Hotel which has a nice veranda which you can sit out on and relax. St Stephen Basilica : Szent Istvan Bazilika
The Basilica took over 55 years to build and is a true masterpiece worth seeing. The huge building accommodates over 8,500 people and no expense was spared in its construction. In all 24 carat gold was used for the gilding and over 80 statues adorn the exterior edges. The interior is equally ornate with painting, tapestries, sculptures, frescos and more by Hungarian artists. St Stephen is the Countrys patron saint who was crowned King of Hunary in the year 1000. It was Stephen who adopted Chrisianity. His mummified right hand is preserved in a richly ornamented glass case in one of the chapels. It is the Hungarian Roman Catholic Church's most precious relic carried in the St Stephens day procession on the 20th of August each year. In our portfolio of Budapest Apartments the Basilica Apartment is located within a 100 metres of St Stephens Basilica.
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