Budapest: Buda Castle, Citadel, bridges, panoramas (Hungary). About Mount Gellert and all its attractions How to get to Mount Gellert

Budapest is photogenic at any time of the year, any day and in any weather. Now, I’m not at all a professional photographer, I’m too lazy to edit photos, but even I can do this city well. I added a little sharpness to the photos, that’s all the processing was. I will devote this post entirely to Buda, that is, to the left bank of the Danube, where the Buda Fortress and Royal Palace. I want to emphasize right away that I am a fierce hater of any tourist “pop”, so I try to visit tourist sites either in the off-season or at inhumane times (early morning or late evening). And it’s even better when both factors are combined: January, wet snow, and even early morning. This is the time when tourists sit out hotel rooms and you can thoroughly enjoy a walk along the ancient streets and take photographs without unwittingly getting into them tourist groups -

Compare approximately the same thing, but filmed at night -

Almost the same, but also at night -

Yes, yes, it's day again -

It's the same at night -

The best panoramic views of Budapest, in my opinion, open from Mount Gellért (see the following photo, the mountain is on the right side of it, the monument is still visible there), or rather from the fortress called Citadella (Chitadella) -

The fortress itself is relatively uninteresting, an ordinary military fort, which, by the way, never fulfilled the function assigned to it. You will have to climb up here along twisting paths and become significantly out of breath -

But the views from the walls of the fortress are so fantastic that it’s worth it -

Royal Palace -

Connoisseurs, pay attention to the GDR Trabant below -

Views from the Buda Castle towards Pest -

Hungarian Parliament -

Parliament is wonderful, I think even cooler than its London brother -

Connoisseurs will notice the historic IFA truck made in the GDR -

p.s. By the way, for those interested in old cars, in the Bulgarian town of Stara Zagora I discovered that time had turned back. There most of cars reminded me of my father's ancient magazines "Behind the wheel" of the 70s, carefully stored in the storage room

Mount Gellert is one of the most famous tourist places Budapest. Usually tourists visit the popular ones - the Citadel, the observation deck, the Statue of Liberty and the Gellert Baths. In this article we will present a walking route that also includes other original, lesser-known attractions of Mount Gellért. And for travelers with children, we will tell you about interesting local children's trailer parks and playgrounds.

Mount Gellert with the Statue of Liberty is visible from afar. The height of the hill is only 235 m. The mountain is named in honor of the Catholic martyr saint Gellert, who was killed here by the pagans. There is a monument to him here. At the top, the Habsburgs built a Citadel with powerful walls in the 19th century. It’s worth going up here for the amazing panorama of the Danube, bridges and the entire capital of Hungary. The banks of the Danube and the urban landscape of Budapest are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

How to get to Mount Gellert:

By metro + on foot: are you going to The Szent Gellert ter metro station is further up the hill on foot, 1.3 km. Opposite the Gellert Bath (across the road) the paths up begin. There are paths with a steep climb - shortcut or other paths that are longer, but gentler and easier to climb. Walking route is on the map in the article below. First, you can go to the cave church at the foot of Mount Gellert.

By metro + bus: from the Móricz Zsigmond körtér metro station (green line) to Mount Gellert, bus number 27 runs to the Búsuló Juhász (Citadella) stop. Drive 5 minutes.

The easiest option- go up to the Citadel by bus, and then, exploring everything along the way, go down to the Gellert Baths.

By car: We were driving up GPS navigator across Szirtes út street (blue route on the map). Parking address near the Citadel: Budapest, Szirtes út 36,1016. Parking is paid using parking meters installed nearby.

The map shows two routes to the top of Mount Gellert in blue and gray:

I really like maps in guidebooks. According to them independent travelers It’s easy to find your way around the area))) So I made for you, friends, my hiking map on Mount Gellert. We went down from the parking lot to the cave church, and then went back up. !!! Comfortable shoes and water (in summer time) are very desirable)))

Walking route along Mount Gellert:

For your convenience, we have marked the main points of the route with numbers:

1 — parking + observation decks;

2 — Citadel, bunker-museum

3 — Statue of Liberty, panoramic platform.

4 — Cave Church

5 — Monument to St. Gellert and waterfall

6 — Philosophical garden and sculptural composition “Meeting of the King of Buda and Queen of Pest”

7 and 8 points - for little travelers. These are children's trailer parks - playgrounds with original slides, swings, and entertainment.

1 Parking and Observation platforms.

Our Susanin (GPS) successfully led us to the parking lot. We paid for it at the parking meter and the first thing we took was a photo of Budapest from the heights of Mount Gellert. There is an observation deck everywhere - a stunning view of the capital of Hungary))) The urban landscape on the banks of the Danube is included in World List UNESCO heritage. Amazing beauty! Breathtaking!

In 1873, the three cities of Buda, Pest and Óbuda united into one under the name Budapest. In the photo on the left is green, hilly Buda. On the right in the photo is the flat administrative and business Pest, in the distance along the Danube you can see the buildings of the most ancient part of the capital of Hungary - Obuda. In the middle of the Danube is my favorite Margaret Island, a green oasis of calm and tranquility.

We are against the backdrop of Budapest)))

This is such a hilly and green elite Buda. The fortress mountain is clearly visible: the Royal Palace, St. Matthias Cathedral, Fisherman's Bastion. The Buda Castle area is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. In the distance is the highest mountain of the Buda Hill (529 m) - Janos with the ancient Erzsebet Tower.

Read how to climb the highest mountain in Budapest in our author’s children’s guide, route No. 4:

But the lowland hard worker is Pest. This is the business, administrative and commercial part of Budapest. Its unique Andrássy Avenue is also on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The luxurious building of the Hungarian Parliament rises above Pest.

Seven bridges connect the two banks. In the photo closer: the main bridge of Budapest - the Széchenyi Chain Bridge, further - the Margaret Bridge and very far beyond Margaret Island - the Arpad Bridge.

2. Citadel on Mount Gellert. Bunker-museum.

The citadel is a powerful military fortification 220 m long. The height of the walls is 16 m. It was built over 4 years from 1850 to 1854. Typically, fortresses served to protect the entire city from enemies. But the citadel was built by the Habsburgs, rulers of the Austrian Empire (of which Hungary was then part), for defense against the Hungarians, control over the city and convenient shelling of Budapest. After all, Mount Gellert is an excellent strategic location. From here you have a great view of the entire city.

The reason for the construction of the fortress was the Hungarian revolution of 1848-1849. One of its goals was the independence of Hungary from Austria. Walking around Budapest, you will definitely come across the names of the organizers of this revolution, who became national heroes of Hungary, in the names of streets, metro stations, bridges, and monuments. For example, the famous city's main Szechenyi Chain Bridge is named after Count Istvan Szechenyi. The square and metro station on the Buda side are named after Count Lajos Battyany. The central square of Budapest and the metro hub station on the Pest side are named after Ferenc Deák. Streets, squares and the Petőfi Bridge are named after the poet Sándor Petőfi. The streets, square and metro station next to the Hungarian Parliament are named after Lajos Kossuth.

The uprising was defeated “thanks” to the intervention of the Russian army, which came to the aid of weakened Austria. To protect themselves from future Hungarian revolutionaries, the Habsburgs ordered the construction of a Citadel on Mount Gellert after the uprising. Upon completion of construction, an Austrian military garrison was located in it. He left the fortification after the compromise proclamation of the state of Austria-Hungary in 1867. Local residents tried to remove the empty fortification over the stones, but it ended with the dismantling of only the main gate of the fortress.

We go up the street with souvenir shops to the Citadel. As always, there are a lot of tourists here. Near the walls of the Citadel there is a small exhibition of weapons from the Second World War. These are mostly guns different models and types. Traces of shells and bullets are still visible on the walls of the fortress.

During the war, the Citadel served as an air defense center for German troops. There were German barracks, a hospital, and an ammunition depot here. In February 1945, Soviet troops, liberating Budapest, stormed the Citadel. This was difficult, because the thick walls of the underground bunkers easily withstood powerful bombings. German garrison impregnable fortress became the last stronghold of resistance against Nazi troops in Budapest.

Inside, the Citadel had many tiers, rooms, and secret passages leading to the slopes of the hill. The last three tiers were reconstructed and a bunker museum dedicated to the Second World War was created. Entrance to it is paid. In its corridors and rooms there are exhibitions that tell about Budapest during the period of occupation and liberation from Nazi Germany. By using wax figures The life of the German invaders of the Citadel is shown: hospital, rest room, headquarters, living quarters.

The exhibition contains many archival documents, photographs, and personal belongings. The museum leaves a difficult impression. But you need to visit it to remember again and understand that war is creepy, cruel and scary. This horror must not be repeated.

3. Statue of Liberty and panoramic platform.

The 40-meter Statue of Liberty on Mount Gellert is visible from afar. In 1947, this monumental composition was created in honor of the liberation of Budapest by the Soviet army. In the 90s, the sculpture of the Soviet liberator warrior was removed from here. She was taken to Memento Park, a special museum under open air on the outskirts of Budapest, where all the monuments from Hungary's communist era are kept. And the figure of a woman holding a palm branch in her hands is called the Statue of Liberty.

After the events of October 1956, when Soviet troops, using tanks, aircraft, and artillery, brutally suppressed the uprising against the communist dictatorship, Hungarians stopped perceiving Soviet troops as liberators. They believe that the German fascist dictatorship was replaced by another communist one.

At the foot of the Statue of Liberty there is a large observation deck with comfortable benches. This is the view of the beautiful Pest from here.

And another photo: One of seven bridges connects the two banks of the Danube. This is the Petőfi Bridge, named after the poet Sándor Petőfi, an active participant in the Hungarian uprising of 1848-1849, after which the Citadel on Mount Gellert was built.

Closer to the photo - green domes and red roof - this is the luxurious building of the Gellert Baths at the foot of the mountain.

From the observation deck we go down steep paths and steps to the Cave Church. Opposite, across the road, are the famous Gellert Baths.

4. Cave Church and Gellert Bath

Hot springs at the site of the Gellert baths were known already in the 8th-9th century. In the Middle Ages, the hermit Istvan lived in a cave on the mountainside, who healed people with hot muddy springs that flowed at the foot of the hill. After his death, he was canonized and the Cave was named in honor of St. Stephen.

Due to the presence of silt in the water, this place was long called the Mud Bath. The luxurious Gellert baths and the luxurious Danubius Hotel Gellert in the Art Nouveau style were built on the basis of thermal mud springs almost 100 years ago. Find out more about this hotel here:

The Gellert Baths impress with their refined and original interior. We wrote more about the baths of Budapest in this article:

At the entrance to Cave Church- a monument to King Saint Stephen, the first king of Hungary from the Arpad dynasty. He holds the church in his hands. This symbol in the sculpture is not accidental. After all, it was King Istvan who converted the country to Christianity and founded the first bishopric in Esztergom. For this he was canonized. The Hungarian people deeply revere the king. He is called the patron saint and protector of Hungary. Stephen's baptism day, August 20, is the country's main national holiday.

It is interesting to travel from Budapest to Esztergom and learn more about István. Read:

Behind the monument - beautiful bridge capital of Hungary - Freedom Bridge. An elegant, as if openwork, bridge with metal spans looks surprisingly light and airy. Its four towers are decorated with the mythical Turul birds, which in legends were messengers of the gods and predicted the most important events in the history of Hungary.

By the way, one of the legends is associated with Palanok Castle in Mukachevo. We wrote about this here:

The Freedom Bridge was built in 1896. At first it was called the Customs Bridge, later in honor of the Emperor of Austria Franz Joseph, who participated in its grand opening. In 1945, during the liberation of Budapest from Nazi troops, the bridge was blown up. But after 1.5 years the honey mushroom was restored.

That's entrance to the cave church. Payment is 600 forints, including an audio guide, but there is no audio guide in Russian. The temple is operational and services are held here.

People have lived in St. Stephen's Cave since ancient times. In addition to the medieval hermit Istvan, a poor family lived here in the 19th century. This is evidenced by paintings and photographs from 1860 and 1877. The residents built a small clay house nearby, and blocked the entrance with a wooden fence. The cave was used by the family as the master's courtyard.

The cave church was opened here only in 1924 by the order of monks - the Paulines. The monks were inspired to create such an original temple by visiting a French cave church in Lourdes. At first, services were held in a small room. In 1925, the cave was significantly expanded using explosives. A year later, on Trinity Sunday, the church was consecrated. The interior of the temple was very similar to its “inspiration” - the cave church in Lourdes. A few years later, next to St. Stephen's Cave, a monastery Paulinov. The temples were connected to each other by an underground passage.

During the Second World War, the premises of the Cave Church served as a military field hospital for German troops. After the liberation of Budapest from the Nazi army, services in the temple resumed. But this did not last long. On the night before Easter 1951, on the orders of the communist authorities, the church was seized by the Hungarian secret police. They arrested and imprisoned all the monks, and the head of the temple, Ferenc Weser, was sentenced to death. The entrance to the Cave Church was walled up with a concrete wall more than 2 meters thick. A dormitory for ballerinas was set up in the monastery nearby. This is how the Hungarian communist government fought against the Catholic churches in the country.

In 1989, the concrete wall that blocked the entrance to the cave church was destroyed. The temple gradually began to be restored. In 1992, the monks of the Pauline Order returned here and resumed regular services.

The inside of the Cave Church is peaceful. It's small but beautiful. The stones around create a special atmosphere. Everything here was created with love and reverence, with care for those praying.

Sculpture of St. Stephen.

Inside the Cave Church

Main altar.

A unique sculpture of the Virgin Mary with a crown on her head. According to legend, King Stephen, in order to unite the people of his country, invited the Virgin Mary to become the Queen of Hungary, its protector and patroness.

And some more photos of the cave church.

7-8. Park and original playgrounds on Gellert Hill

We climb up to the Citadel along more gentle paths. They lead through beautiful park with original sculptures. In the 18th century, vineyards grew here on the slopes of Gellert Hill, and the area at the foot was considered a major wine-growing area. At the top of the mountain there was a small church to which believers went during Easter.

You can lie down on the grass in the park and relax.

An unusual monument to the Hungarian writer Szabo Deszo.

Children's playgrounds on Mount Gellert are an excellent opportunity for little travelers to relax. In between visiting all the attractions, you can unwind and have fun.

At number 7 on the route map for walking along Mount Gellert ( at the beginning of the article)- children's park called Cerka-Firka.

And this is the Csuszdapark trailer park at number 8 on the map. It has a lot of different slides.

5. Monument to St. Gellert and waterfall

On the mountain, overlooking the Danube, is the monument to St. Gellert, after whom the hill is named. He raised the cross, blessing Budapest and the whole country. St. Gellert is considered one of the patron saints of Hungary. There are steps leading to the monument from the foot of the mountain. The waterfall cascades peacefully.

Gellert is a revered Hungarian saint. It is interesting that he is Italian by nationality, a representative of a noble Venetian family. Gellert was born in Venice in 977. His real name is Giorgio Sagredo. Giorgio spent his entire childhood and youth in monastery schools and university. After their graduation, he took monastic vows at the Benedictine monastery of St. George in Venice, and then in 1012 he became prior there.

How did the future educator of Hungary end up in this distant country? In 1015, Giorgio Sagredo went on a ship as a pilgrim to the Holy Land. But he never made it to Jerusalem due to a strong storm. On the way, Giorgio met an abbot from Hungary, who invited him to his country and promised to introduce him to King Stephen I.

Legend says that upon arrival in Hungary at the end of the solemn mass in honor of the Virgin Mary, George Sagredo had a vision of his death among the rocks. He took this as a sign from God to become a martyr and decided to stay in Hungary forever. King Stephen I highly appreciated the monk's wisdom and invited him to become a teacher for his son Imre. For 7 years Gellert lived as a hermit in the Benedictine monastery in the village. Bakonibel, Veszprém County. Here he healed sick people and animals. By order of King Stephen, he became a bishop in southern Hungary and preached Christianity throughout the country.

After the death of Istvan in 1038, the pagan tribes rebelled. Destroyed Christian churches, killed bishops and monks. On September 24, 1046, Gellert was captured by them, beaten into a barrel of nails and thrown off the high mountain Kelenfeld. The half-dead bishop was stoned and thrown into the Danube. The waters of the river were not able to wash Gellert’s blood from the rocks for another 7 years. Miraculous healings took place at his grave.

In 1083, Gellert, the Hungarian king Stephen I and his son Imre were canonized. And Mount Kelenfeld was renamed in honor of Bishop Gellert. On September 24, the Catholic Church celebrates St. Gellert's Day.

6. Philosophical Garden on Mount Gellert

The original sculptural composition was installed on Mount Gellert in 2001. The author, sculptor Nandor Wagner, devoted the last 15 years of his life to its creation. The Philosophical Garden was cast in Japan, where the artist lived, and bequeathed to his native Budapest. This is a place for thought and contemplation.

There are only 8 figures in the composition. On the round pedestal there are 5 representatives of the main religions of the world: Jesus, Buddha, the ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, the ancient Egyptian pharaoh and religious figure Akhenaten, and on his knees is the biblical character Abraham. Nearby are three more statues of historical figures who became spiritual leaders for millions of people: the people's leader and fighter for Indian independence, Mahatma Gandhi; the founder of the Chan teachings in Buddhism and its first patriarch, Bodhidharma; Catholic saint, founder of the mendicant monastic order of the Franciscans, Francis of Assisi.

6. Sculptural composition “Meeting of the King of Buda and Queen of Pest”, or “Birth of Budapest”

Not far from the Philosophical Garden, about 10-15 m, on a round stone pedestal there is another interesting sculpture. It is small in size, so not all travelers find it right away.

This is a romantic story about King Buda and Queen Pest. Across the Danube River they stretch out their hands to each other, like bridges from one bank to the other. Thus was born great city Budapest. The possessions of Buda impress with luxurious castles and palaces on wooded hills. And the Pest side is famous for its craftsmen and artisans. All buildings in Pest are inclined. This means that the shore of Buda is higher than the shore of Pest.

We wish you bright travels!

The article was written with love and boundless gratitude to our dear Lyudmila and Alexey Yamkovenko.

The Citadel in Budapest is a fortress on Gellert Mountain, in the Buda region. Here you will see a panorama of the entire city. You will see and , and , and . This is a fortification, a fortress built to control the city. Now the citadel is included in the list of objects world heritage UNESCO. The dimensions of the fortress are truly impressive: 220 meters long, 60 meters wide and 4 meters high - a considerable massive structure, which Lately attracts many tourists.

History of the Citadel in Budapest

In Hungarian it sounds like “citadella” - the fortification structure was erected in 4 years: from 1850 to 1854. The citadel was built by the Habsburgs (one of the strongest and most powerful dynasties in Europe at that time) after the revolution of 1848 - the uprising of the Hungarians against the Austrian Empire.

The construction work was carried out by Hungarian workers under the project of Emmanuel Zitta and Ferenc Kasselik. The purpose of building the citadel was to control the population of Budapest and suppress uprisings by dissatisfied citizens. Since its construction, the Austrian garrison has been stationed here.

Almost two decades later, in 1867, when Austria and Hungary reached a compromise, the citadel ceased to be used for its intended purpose. There were barracks, a hospital, and later, in 1942, a bunker was built, which is now a museum where exhibitions are held. During World War II, the citadel was badly damaged, but was restored. Now a hotel has been built on the territory of the citadel, there are restaurants and cafes, as well as souvenir shops.

Attractions on the territory of the Citadel

• Statue of Liberty.

The Budapest Citadel is a structure that occupies almost the entire top of Mount Gellért, the highest point of the Hungarian capital. This large fortress can be seen from afar thanks to the 40-meter Statue of Liberty, which towers at the entrance to the citadel.

The figure of a woman with a palm branch in her raised hands can easily be called a symbol of Budapest and an attractive tourist attraction.

• Observation platform.

From the territory of the citadel, a fabulous landscape opens up of incredible beauty - this panoramic view on both parts of the city - Buda and Pest, as well as on the Danube, which is crossed by eight bridges, being an openwork decoration of the river and the entire city.

It is especially beautiful here in the evening, when Budapest shines with lights, captivating the eyes of any visitor. From the citadel you can see the whole of Budapest in full view, as it is one of the best observation platforms Hungarian capital.

• Wax museum, bunker.

Inside the citadel there is now a Wax Museum dedicated to the history of the Second World War. Here you can see many photographs, documents and other things that present the history of Hungary’s participation in this military confrontation.

In addition to the Citadel, you can visit many other attractions:

• Cave Church.
• Park and.
• Philosophical garden, various monuments and more.

How to get there

The nearest tram stops at the Citadel are called.

Updated 03/07/2019

Mount Gellert is one of the most visited locations in Budapest, but at the same time one of the most unexplored by tourists. Many attractions are comfortably located on its slopes, but few guests of the Hungarian capital were able to see all of them with their own eyes. This article was written to tell you about everything interesting that is on this hill, including places that are not written about in guidebooks and that few travelers know about.

Mount Gellert is mentioned by me in several articles on the blog. For example, in a post about or in one of the stories about unusual monuments of the Hungarian capital. The latter talks about the monument to the Hungarian educator and Catholic saint, after whom the hill was named. It is installed on the slope of Mount Gellert and is clearly visible while walking along the Danube on a river bus. Read in detail about the difficult fate of the saint.

Gellert is often called a hill rather than a mountain, since its height is only 235 meters. For comparison, Mount Janos in Budapest, which leads cable car, rises above the Hungarian capital by almost 530 meters. In Hungarian, Mount Gellért is Gellért-hegy (pronounced Gellert hegy).

In the 18th century, none of the attractions that can be visited today were even visible on the mountain. The Hungarians grew grapes on its slopes and dreamed of independence from the hated Habsburgs. How long does it take, but in the middle of the 19th century such an attempt was made. Alas, it ended in failure and went down in history as the Hungarian Uprising of 1849-1850. After the suppression of the protests, Vienna decides to build a fortress in Budapest, which in the event of another uprising should become a stronghold of the Austrians. The top of Mount Gellert was chosen as the location for the stronghold, from which (if necessary) it was possible to fire at both Buda and Pest. This is how one of the first attractions appeared here - the Citadel in Budapest.


The fortress was built in four years, and immediately after completion of construction it was occupied by the Austrian garrison. True, the citadel served its original purpose for only 17 years. In 1867, after the establishment of a dualist monarchy and the formation of Austria-Hungary, the need for it virtually disappeared. Joyful residents of Buda and Pest after the abandonment of the fortress by the Austrian garrison almost destroyed it, but limited themselves to only the gates. It is best to appreciate the power of the Citadel from above, so I am attaching this photo - not mine.

Now the Citadel in Budapest is closed and you can only see it from the outside. On the Internet you can find information that there is a wax museum inside, but this is not so. Tents with souvenirs and snacks have taken root near the walls of the stronghold. Here you can buy a copy of a map of Budapest at that time or eat lángos.

Literally 50 meters from the walls of the Citadel rises a huge monument, which is visible from many points in the city. Statue of Liberty (Budapest) – do not confuse it with the symbol of New York– appeared on the top of Mount Gellert in 1947. Initially, the bronze monument was erected in honor of the liberation of Hungary from the Nazis by the Soviet Red Army. In the center of the sculptural composition is a 14-meter bronze statue raising a palm leaf above her head. What makes it so tall is the 26-meter pedestal.


Next to the main statue there are two more sculptures, although originally there were four.




The other two moved to . After the fall of the socialist regime in Hungary, the purpose of the monument on the top of Mount Gellért was changed. If it was originally said that the memorial appeared as a thank you from Hungarians to the soldiers of the Soviet army, now it is dedicated to all those who died for the independence and prosperity of Hungary.


The Statue of Liberty in Budapest today is a place of disposition for petty swindlers. At its base (especially in high season) you will probably come across at least one thimble maker who, for money, offers tourists to guess under which lid a cube/ball is hidden. The minimum bet is 100 dollars or euros. I ask you to, don't give in to excitement and don’t put your hard-earned savings on the line.

The main thing (at least for me) at the top of Mount Gellert is not the Citadel and the Statue of Liberty, but the views of the Danube and Hungarian capital. The bridges of Budapest and the main attractions of Pest will appear before you in all their splendor.


There are several observation platforms on Gellert, I recommend visiting them all. And now it’s time to get acquainted with the lesser-known sights of the hill among tourists.

The Garden of Philosophers is not actually such and is a small area on which eight bronze sculptures are installed.


Five of them - Abraham, Buddha, Jesus Christ, Lao Tzu and Akhenaten - are placed on a round pedestal with a small ball (it represents the Earth) in the middle. Nearby, on an arc-shaped pedestal, stand Mohatma Gandhi, Daruma (we are talking about Bodhidharma) and Francis of Assisi. The Philosophical Garden in Budapest appeared on the slope of Mount Gellert in 2001, it was created by the Hungarian sculptor Nandor Wagner.


Jesus Christ and Buddha, I think, need no introduction. I'll say a few words about the rest.

1. Abraham is a character from the Bible, considered the ancestor of the entire Jewish people.
2. Lao Tzu is a Chinese philosopher who lived in the 6th–5th centuries BC. e., founder of Taoism.
3. Akhenaten is an ancient Egyptian pharaoh who carried out a large-scale religious reform and introduced the cult of the god Aten into the country.
4. Bodhidharma is a follower of Buddhism who preached in China in the 6th century, the founder of the Chan teachings.
5. Mohatma Gandhi - the most famous political and public figure modern India, author of the so-called philosophy of nonviolence.
6. Francis of Assisi, the founder of the mendicant order of Franciscans, who lived at the turn of the 12th-13th centuries, was canonized two years after his death.

The place is pleasant and uncrowded. Even on one Sunday in July, when people drove up to the Citadel and the Statue of Liberty one after another tourist buses, hardly more than 3-4 people gathered near the garden of philosophers. So here you can easily be alone with yourself, immersed in thoughts of the beautiful, the good and the eternal. I will mark the location of the philosophical garden on the map of all the attractions of Mount Gellert, located at the end of the article.

Buda monument meets Pest

200 meters from the Garden of Philosophers there is a sculptural composition, which is usually called “Buda meets Pest”. Literally from the Hungarian language Buda-király és Pest-kisasszony the name of the monument is translated as “King Buda and Queen Pest.” The sculpture, designed by architect Marta Lesenyei Márta, appeared here in 1982. It is noteworthy that the monument is installed on the lid, leading to the reservoir, which is located under Mount Gellert.


The monument is not very big and you might not even notice it from afar. I will mark it, like other attractions of the mountain, on the map. The composition symbolizes the two sides of Budapest, which are separated by the Danube. In the past, Buda and Pest were two separate cities. Many, upon seeing the monument, believe that it is dedicated to the formation of Budapest. This is not so, because Budapest was formed by the merger of not two cities, but three - Buda, Obuda and Pest. This event took place in 1873.


Buda and Pest extend their hands to each other, and behind it stretch, embodied in bronze, the cities of the same name. You can look at the monument as a whole and its individual details for a long time. From here it opens great view to the Hungarian capital.

Other attractions of Mount Gellert

Mount Gelert boasts other attractions. For example, a cave that houses a functioning church. It is often called the Cave of St. John after the monk who supposedly lived here. At the beginning of the 20th century, a chapel was built on this site, but it did not function for long. During the Second World War, the Germans converted the cave into a hospital, and under the Socialists they completely walled it up. Now services are being held here again, which does not prevent tourists from charging an entrance fee. In any case, in the high season it definitely exists. I haven’t been inside, but judging by the reviews, you won’t find anything particularly interesting there. The cave is associated with Pauline monastery, standing at the foot of the mountain.

Currently, the largest monastery of the Pauline Order is located in Poland, but it was founded in Hungary. The order received its name in honor of Paul of Thebes, a saint who lived in the 4th century and is considered the first Christian hermit monk. In the Middle Ages, the Pauline order was the most influential in Hungary.


Everything changed after the invasion of troops Ottoman Empire. The persecution of the Paulines in the 18th century was continued by the Austrian Habsburgs, under whose power Hungary fell. In the 20th century, the order found itself on the verge of destruction, from which it was saved, among other things, by the creation of a temple in the cave of St. John, which I described above. It is Paulina built a monastery near the entrance to the cave. Access to its territory, unlike the cave, is closed.

How to get to Mount Gellert

You can get to Mount Gellert on foot, by car or in a train. excursion group. Public transport doesn't go to the very top of the hill, but there is one bus route, which partially runs along the mountain. Its number is No. 27 - stop Búsuló Juhász (Citadella). From there it is 900 meters to the Statue of Liberty. True, the bus does not go to the Pest side; it starts from the Móricz Zsigmond körtér M metro station.

It is more convenient to climb the mountain on foot or from the Erzsebet Bridge - in this place at the foot there is small waterfall, or from the Liberty Bridge, where the Pauline monastery is located. In the first case, the ascent (without taking into account stops, photography and other things) will take about 15 minutes, in the second - 1-2 minutes longer. By own experience I will say that a leisurely walk looking at everything that comes along the way usually takes 30-40 minutes. Allow another one and a half to two hours to explore the mountain itself.

Don't forget to wear comfortable shoes! The road up is not the most difficult, but the unprepared will have to puff a little :).

They will take you to the foot of Mount Gellert:

From the Erezsebet Bridge

• Buses No. 8E, No. 108E, No. 110, No. 112 (stop Döbrentei tér);
• trams No. 19, No. 41, No. 56 and No. 56A (Rudas Gyógyfürdő stop).

From the side of the Freedom Bridge

• Metro M4 (green line), station Szent Gellért tér;
• buses No. 7 (stop Szent Gellért tér M);
• trams No. 19, No. 41, No. 47, No. 49, No. 56 and No. 56A (stop) Szent Gellért tér M.

Do you want to admire the panorama of evening Budapest from Gellért Mountain? Book a tour “The Magic of Evening Budapest”. The cost is only 23 euros per person. Sign up for a tour using the link above or via the widget below.

If you go by car, there is a parking lot next to the Citadel (marked it on the map). One minus is that it is expensive and there is a fee even on weekends. My advice: park on one of the streets located on the mountainside. Firstly, the cost per hour is cheaper there, and secondly, parking is free on weekends.

Hotels near Gellert Mountain

Living on the Buda side is considered prestigious by the Hungarians. There is even a saying that the people of Buda look down on the people of Pest, which has a double meaning. The Gellert Mountain area is one of the most comfortable for tourists. From here you can walk to large quantity attractions. Within walking distance are two famous baths - and. The most convenient way to look for hotels and apartments is on Booking.

Map of attractions on Mount Gellert

On the map I marked all the significant sights of Mount Gellert. Hover your mouse over the marker and the name of this or that place will pop up. You can get directions to any of the points.

If you still have any questions about Mount Gellert and its attractions, ask them in the comments. I will be happy to answer and help as much as I can. Mount Gellert is waiting for you - I wish you great walks along it!

Always yours, Daniil Privonov.

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The citadel was built by the Habsburgs in 1854, after the Hungarian democratic revolution of 1848-1849. The revolution was defeated, but the rulers chose to secure the rear and build a reliable fortress. The first fortifications began to be built in 1850 according to the design of engineer Emmanuel Sitt, and four years later the Austrian garrison was settled in barracks. The citadel was the main strategic object for shelling both Buda and Pest in the event of a future uprising, but it never served its intended purpose.

The citadel is a complex multi-tiered structure and has many secret passages, thanks to which one could find oneself far beyond the mountain in different parts of the city. Today, the citadel has been reconstructed; a three-story bunker with an area of ​​750 square meters houses a wax museum and an exhibition displaying many archival documents and photographs.

The walls of the citadel are also often used for various exhibitions, so when we walked there were hung various historical shots of Budapest:

Near the walls of the citadel there is a 40-meter-high Freedom Monument. It represents a female figure with a palm branch in her arms raised high. The statue was created by the Hungarian sculptor Zsigmond Strobl Kisfaludy in 1947. Initially, the monument was called the Liberation Monument and there was still a Soviet soldier there, but in the early 90s the soldier was removed and renamed, but in general you need to know that initially the monument was dedicated specifically to the liberation of Hungary from the Nazis, hehe

There are also a lot of interesting things inside the citadel, but we didn’t get there - everything was already closed at that moment. In general, the place itself is very popular for walking among both tourists and local residents, it is from here that the best views of the city open (because the most high point Gellert Mountains):