Buda old photos. History of Budapest

An uncommon route in a completely different Budapest
Most tourists, once on the Buda Hill, walk along the main street filled with restaurants and people. I will lead you along cozy, quiet streets with two-storey residential buildings - every second one has a sign "a monument of antiquity". There are numerous monuments and statues here - I will tell you about the stories and stories associated with them, as well as the importance of this area for the city.

The main thing in Buda and about her
Admiring the decoration of the late Gothic church of St. Matthias, you will learn about the great deeds of the king, after whom the church is named. After that, take a look at the facades of the Royal Palace, the Trevi Fountain in Budapest, representing the hunting scene, and the modest Sandor Palace, the home of the President of the Republic, while I will tell you about the origin and development of the residence of the Hungarian kings. And of course, you will find yourself at the romantic Fisherman's Bastion, learn about the symbolism of its towers, admire the view of Pest and take pictures of the Parliament from one of the best angles. Panoramas await you on the non-tourist observation deck, from where you will see the whole of Buda.

Who is the excursion suitable for?

Organizational details

Meeting point in the center by appointment. From there we will take a direct bus to the fortress.

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Book an excursion on any of the available days in the calendar

• This is an individual excursion in Russian, the guide will conduct it for you and your company.
• On the site you pay 23% of the cost and the rest of the money - to the guide on the spot. You can

A young capital with a thousand-year history
Budapest is a very ancient and very young city at the same time. It is a city with an unusual and confusing history. And everything unusual and even more confusing is always interesting and attractive. To begin with, at least with such a question as the celebration of the City Day. In Budapest, it is celebrated twice, and one of the festivities has a very indirect relationship to the birth of the capital. The first time the City Day is celebrated on the last weekend of June, in memory of the fact that in 1990 the last Soviet soldier left the country. However, the official birthday of Budapest is still considered November 17, 1873, when at a general meeting of three cities - Buda, Obuda and Pest - it was decided to form the city. It turns out that Budapest is one of the youngest capitals in Europe, but at the same time with more than a thousand years of history.

Generally speaking, it is rather difficult to determine a more or less exact date of birth of the capital of Hungary. One thing can be said with a considerable degree of certainty - the first settlements arose on the Budai side of the city: Celts, Scythians, Sarmatians, Huns and other peoples built their fortresses and cities here. And thus they provided historians with a topic for numerous disputes about which ruins of a particular settlement should be considered a prototype of the future capital. And yet, despite the existing differences of opinion, the chronicle history of Budapest begins from the moment when here in the 1st century AD. NS. settled by the Romans. On the hills of modern Buda, they founded the city of Aquincum, the capital of the province of Pannonia, which was part of the Great Roman Empire. The Romans discovered many thermal springs gushing from the depths of the mountain, and built in their place the first baths, the remains of which have survived to this day. Incidentally, the very name of the Roman city, which translates as "teeming with water", is associated with these sources. Aquincum was both a military camp and a civilian city, where merchants and artisans lived. The ruins of an ancient amphitheater, several temples, baths, the remains of streets and houses of Aquincum have survived to this day and are located on the territory of modern Obuda. Internal strife and constant raids of the Asiatic and Germanic tribes gradually led to the collapse of the once powerful empire. Pannonia, as well as its other areas, were in danger. The Romans had to leave these territories.

Magyars appear on the scene
In the 9th century, a significant part of the territory of the Carpathian basin was inhabited by the warlike nomadic tribes of the Magyars, who came from the steppes of the Southern Urals. They were the ancestors of the modern Hungarians. The Magyars founded a strong state on the site of the lands they conquered, which reached its greatest power under King Istvan. At that time, Buda and Pest were two independent provincial towns, since the royal palace was located in the city of Szekesfehervar, the residence of the queen was in the city of Veszprem, and the main religious center was Esztergom, the residence of the head of the Hungarian Catholic Church.

Arpad dynasty: the first fortress on the Buda Hill
After the death of Istvan, canonized for spreading Christianity in Hungary, kings from the Arpad dynasty began to rule Hungary. The beginning of the Middle Ages was an era of calm and prosperity until, in 1241-1242, the country had to face danger: the Tatar-Mongol tribes, led by the legendary Genghis Khan, invaded Hungary, plundering and destroying many cities, including Buda and Pest. In addition, the Tatar-Mongols burned all crops and massacred most of the country's population.
Under King Bela IV, work began on the revival of Hungarian cities. According to the chronicle sources, Bela IV drew attention to the mountain located on the right bank of the Danube, which has an extremely convenient strategic position, and decided to build a fortress here. This fortress, named after its location Buda, had an irregular layout and was located on the southern slope of the mountain. A new city began to form around it, taking the place of the destroyed Buda. The Istvan Tower and other buildings that have not survived to this day became the core of the Fortress District. The royal palace, defenses, courtyards and the outer wall of the fortress were repeatedly completed and rebuilt under the subsequent kings of Hungary over the centuries. Buda became a royal residence, an increasing number of aristocrats and wealthy merchants began to build their houses here.
In the same period of time, an ancient settlement that arose on the site of the Roman city of Aquincum was named Obuda, which translates as "old Buda". By 1347, during the reign of King Lajos I the Great, the entire royal court had already moved to Buda, and the palace itself was rebuilt in the Gothic style.

King Matthias Corvin and the golden age
At the beginning of the XIV century, the last representative of the Arpad dynasty, King Andras III, died. In the centuries that followed, monarchs from other European houses succeeded each other on the Hungarian throne. The Hungarian state reached its greatest prosperity during the reign of King Matthias Corvinus. It was under him that Buda turned into a major cultural center. The Gothic fortress at the top of the Buda Hill was rebuilt into a magnificent Renaissance palace, the fame of whose beauty spread throughout Europe. In addition, Matthias is credited with creating the largest royal library on the continent. The memory of the great king of the Renaissance is kept not only by the royal palace, but also by the buildings surrounding it. It is enough to walk along the streets of the Fortress Quarter, such as, for example, Tarnok, Fortuna or Uri, whose graceful buildings have preserved the spirit of antiquity to this day.

Turkish yoke: pros and cons of Ottoman rule
The era of prosperity and prosperity came to an end, as new invaders invaded the territory of Hungary - the troops of the Ottoman Empire. In 1541, the Turks occupied Buda and Pest and held both cities under their rule for 145 years. Only in 1686, the united army under the leadership of Charles of Lorraine, after a long and difficult siege, managed to liberate the cities, which at that time were small settlements with a very small number of inhabitants. Despite the enormous damage inflicted by the Turks on the Hungarian cities, this people nevertheless made a certain contribution to the culture of the country, because the times of the Turkish invasion became a period of new heyday for the Budai baths. Rudash, Kirai, Lukach, Chasar (under the Turks it was called the Veli Bey Bath) - modern Budapest cannot be imagined without these colorful oriental structures. Turkish baths are distinguished not only by their magnificent interior decoration, but also by a special atmosphere conducive to relaxation, both physical and mental.
Thanks to the Turks, Hungarians first learned about paprika and other types of vegetables, which are now considered an integral part of the national Hungarian cuisine. The coffee culture, which was further developed in the famous coffee houses of Budapest, also appeared here thanks to the Turks.

The birth of a new capital
Some invaders were soon replaced by others: after the liberation of Buda, Pest and other cities captured by the Turks, Hungary became part of the empire of the most powerful European dynasty of that time - the Habsburg dynasty.
After a long siege to liberate Buda and Pest, both of these cities were almost completely destroyed, so their restoration was the primary task. At the beginning of the 18th century, an extensive reconstruction plan was drawn up, and soon new baroque houses, palaces and churches were erected on the site of the destroyed buildings on both sides of the Danube. Many of them have survived to this day (for example, the Servite Church, the building of the Budapest Administrative Office, the Church of St. Anne in Pest, the Zichy Palace, the parish church of St. Peter and Paul in Obud). At the same time, the territory of Pest expanded: a new district appeared in its northern part - the Jewish quarter Lipotvavrosh (now part of the Budapest downtown).
The appearance of the Fortress District of Buda has also significantly changed, most of the buildings of which, including the royal palace, were also rebuilt in the Baroque style. The active reconstruction of Buda and Pest, the gradual growth of their population, led to the fact that by the beginning of the 19th century, these two cities became the main economic and cultural centers of the country. However, as has often happened in the history of Budapest, another catastrophe soon happened, leading to the almost complete destruction of the city. On March 15, 1838, there was a severe flood, and if the enraged Danube could not reach the buildings on the Buda side, then a significant part of the houses of the lowland Pest were buried under its waters. The newly carried out reconstruction made the city one of the most beautiful and modern in Europe. The disadvantageous position of Pest in comparison with Buda has led to the dynamic development of this side of the city, while the Old Town on the top of the mountain has always carefully preserved the traces of bygone eras.
Despite the growing importance of Buda with each new day, the adjacent Obuda and Pest, they continued to remain autonomous cities on different banks of the Danube, between which at that time there was not even a single permanent crossing. The first stone bridge connecting Buda and Pest was built on the initiative of one of the prominent figures of the Hungarian state, politician-reformer Count Istvan Szechenyi in 1842-1849. As mentioned above, until the middle of the 19th century, there were no permanent crossings across the Danube - only pontoon ones that operated in the summer. In winter, the river was crossed on ice, and during the off-season there was an irregular ferry. In December 1820, Count Istvan Szechenyi received news of his father's death. In the shortest possible time, he rushed from Debrecen to Pest, but on the Buda side, where his family was, he could not cross within a week - the ice was broken. Széchenyi spent a week in Pest and only after this time was able to cross to the other side. This sad event led the count to the idea of ​​building a permanent bridge over the Danube. A very energetic man, the earl went to England in order to study the advanced technology of building bridges. There he met the talented engineer William Clark, the creator of the suspension bridge in Buckinghamshire, and his namesake, the Scottish engineer Adam Clark. The grand opening of the Chain Bridge took place on November 20, 1849. In 1945, the Széchenyi Bridge suffered the fate of all Budapest bridges - it was blown up by the Nazi army. The crossing was restored in its previous form in 1949. The construction of the Széchenyi Bridge greatly contributed to the unification of Buda, Obuda and Pest into a single city called Budapest. This significant event took place in 1873.

1873-1914: Budapest - the golden capital of Europe
The period from the moment of the unification of the three cities until the outbreak of the First World War became a century of unprecedented prosperity of the newly formed capital. It was during this period that Budapest acquired that uniquely charming appearance that fell in love with millions of travelers from all over the world. The grandiose Basilica of St. Stephen, the majestic building of the Parliament, the Millennium monument on Heroes' Square, the Varoshliget park with its amazing castle, the Grand Boulevard Ring, the imposing Andrássy Avenue, included as a masterpiece of urban planning of the late 19th century in the UNESCO World Heritage List ... All these sights arose in a very short time: their construction was timed to coincide with the magnificent festivities of 1896, dedicated to the millennium of "the acquisition of the homeland by the Hungarians." At the same time, the Budapest metro line M1 appeared, passing directly under Andrassy Avenue and connecting the city center with Varoshliget Park. By the way, it became the first subway on the European continent!
The economy and cultural life of the city reached unprecedented heyday: Pest turned into one of the largest commercial centers, and its many coffee houses became a favorite meeting place for intellectuals and bohemians. Yes, indeed, this short but eventful period between the two world wars marked the second golden age of Budapest.

History of Budapest during the First and Second World Wars
It just so happened historically that in both world wars Hungary was on the side of Austria and Germany. And although at the end of the First World War Hungary became an independent state, the Treaty of Trianon, concluded by the Entente countries on June 4, 1920, became a real wound in the heart of every Hungarian. According to this agreement, Hungary lost 2/3 of its territory, millions of the country's inhabitants found themselves on the other side of the new state border.
Both wars caused significant damage to the capital of the state, especially the Second World War. Despite the rapid advance of the Soviet army, the Germans decided to offer the last resistance to the enemy forces, choosing Budapest as their stronghold. As a result of heavy fighting, which lasted for several months, the city was almost completely destroyed, and many historical buildings were turned into ruins. In addition, Hitler's troops, retreating, blew up all the bridges over the Danube. It took as long as 30 years to restore the city's former appearance.

Post-war history of Budapest
Having liberated the city from German troops, the Red Army supported the Hungarian Communist Party, which for many years became the only ruling force in the country. This period, despite all its negative aspects, became an important stage in the transformation of Budapest into a large metropolis. On January 1, 1950, 7 more small towns and 16 settlements were added to it, which led to an increase in the number of districts from 10 to 22. In a short period of time, many dull, similar houses were erected here - typical brainchilds of social construction.
In the fall of 1956, the masses rose up against the communist dictatorship. This uprising, dubbed the "revolution of the minds", was led by then Prime Minister Imre Nagy. In response to this, the forces of the Warsaw Pact were introduced into the country, brutally suppressing the uprising. Many Hungarians were killed, many were forced to leave the country, and Imre Nagy himself and his associates were soon executed. To this day, traces of shrapnel can be seen on some houses in the very center of Budapest - evidence of the bloody drama of 1956.
During the 70s in Hungary there was a gradual weakening of the communist regime. At that time, Janos Kadar was the General Secretary of the Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party. Kadar was loyal to the Soviet Union and was generally obedient to the Kremlin, but his period in power was marked by a noticeable weakening of state control over various spheres of public life. This time, called "goulash communism", was marked by the revival of culture and science. In addition, Kadar carried out a series of reforms aimed at reviving the private sector, thereby preparing the country for entering the European market. These reforms and their consequences were the first crack in the Iron Curtain that separated Hungary from the rest of Europe.
In 1990, the first free democratic elections since 1945 were held in Hungary, and in the same year the last Soviet soldier left the country. Following these events, privatization began, accompanied by significant investments from other Western European countries in the development of the country's economy. Hungary joined NATO in 1998, the European Union in 2005, and in December 2007 became a member state of the Schengen Agreement. These changes were reflected in the urban landscape of Budapest. All statues from the times of the communist regime were removed from the streets of the city. However, they did not begin to destroy them, but decided to create a so-called reminder park dedicated to the dark era of totalitarianism. Now this park is called the Museum of Monuments "Budapest XXII" and is located on the territory of Obuda.
The era of totalitarianism and general depersonalization is in the past, modern Budapest is one of the most dynamically developing European cities. More and more new hotels, restaurants, cafes, shopping centers appear here, plans are being developed to improve urban development and restore cultural monuments. And, perhaps, this is the new golden age in the history of the great capital.

What to see in Budapest. Sights. Walk through the old town in Buda. Self-travel report to Hungary

Keywords: Attractions of Budapest, tourist routes, Excursions in Budapest, what to see, reviews about the trip.

Literally every European capital has its own "old city" - as a rule, a small part of the city center, which has been preserved in its original form. Well, or almost pristine. And, as a rule, it is the Old Town that attracts tourists. I will say more - often a simple tourist does not even stick out behind the old fortress walls and the rest of the city sees only a glimpse from the window of a taxi or bus on the way from the airport and back. At best, you can get a general idea of ​​the rest of a particular capital by taking a ride on the Hop-On-Hop-Off sightseeing buses. In general, by and large, outside of the Old City there is nothing for a tourist to do: administrative districts, business center and residential districts. Nothing interesting, "everything is like everywhere else." Take Prague, for example. Honestly, there is nothing to see further 500 meters from the Charles Bridge on both sides of the Vltava. Why is there Prague, in Riga and in Tallinn outside the Old Town, which can be bypassed in a couple of hours, it is better not to go out at all - you want to cry. Budapest is another matter! There are two whole Old Towns here! And if the historical part of Pest has a rather modern look, then on the opposite bank of the Danube, in Buda, there is the very old town with classic medieval houses, palaces and cathedrals.

The introduction was quite long, but the content will, alas, be short. Usually Old Town makes an indelible impression and you want to wander through the narrow streets endlessly. But not in Staraya Buda ... You can deprive me of the title of "Honorary Tourist", but the historical center of Buda did not make a proper impression on me. And I even know why. This part of Budapest does not shine with any remarkable and special architecture, but it seems to me that a lot of historical events have happened here. And if we had agreed on a tour of Buda and the Old Town, it would be a completely different story ... But, alas, when "woke up the day before" all the guides were already taken. So I had to walk around the old town on my own.

Old Buda - a very small part of modern Budapest, is located on the top of the Buda hill directly opposite (across the Danube) Pest. Tourists get to Buda, as a rule, by funicular, which goes to the top of the hill exactly from the zero kilometer. But the most desperate tourists, of course, climb the hill exclusively on foot. Honestly, this is not a big problem, it is not so difficult to overcome a hundred meters, in my opinion even the Potemkin Stairs in Odessa looks more ominous for an unprepared tourist :) And the views from the path make you forget about slightly increased physical exertion.

The queue for tickets for the funicular

And you have to overcome "nothing at all" ...

The most daring :)

Five minutes with stops to view the views and you are almost there. A sculpture of an eagle with spread wings eloquently informs that you are already at the walls of the Royal Palace

From here you can clearly see the Parliament on the opposite bank of the Danube

A little further, you can see the entire coast and the panorama of Pest well (photo can be enlarged)

The picture can be enlarged

As in any self-respecting country with a history, Budapest has its own guard of honor, which serves at the walls of the Royal Palace. I will not show you postcard photos of the changing of the guard, on the contrary, I will show you a couple of photos from "everyday life". These guys must have nerves of steel! Tourists from China are truly becoming the number one problem in the world. Even the Russian "Tagil" already pales against the background of the Chinese arrogance. Only this Chinese "photo artist" and his family spent fifteen to twenty minutes asking the soldiers. Honestly, I wanted to give the guys a couple of live ammunition ...

Several "sketches" from Staraya Buda

And, of course, the main attraction of the old city is the Church of St. Matthias. The structure is simply awesome, and the roof is simply a masterpiece - covered with tiles from the famous Zholnay stove factory (photo can be enlarged):

The picture can be enlarged
The picture can be enlarged

Cheerful and proud Hungarians, every time after numerous wars and invasions, lovingly restored Budapest, at the same time a European city, but exclusively Hungarian. The picturesque countryside, beautiful nature and magnificent architecture give the capital its charm. But its main treasure is thermal springs.

Budapest (Budapest) - the pearl of the Danube, the industrial center of Hungary. It is a city with a vibrant character, unique architecture and rich cultural traditions. The romantic atmosphere of Budapest streets is often equated with the Parisian one. During the high season, there are many tourists here - both during the warmer months and during the Christmas holidays. Periods of tourist lull are considered the best times for shoppers. All year round, people go to Budapest for treatment and recovery: the city is famous for its thermal springs - there are more than 120 of them.

Budapest has become a unified city relatively recently - since 1873. It was then that the three settlements were finally united: Buda, Obuda, Pest. And the history of the Hungarian capital began with the settlement of the ancient Celts Ak-Ink, which arose near the Danube in the 1st century AD. The Celts were replaced by the Romans, Ostrogoths, and Huns. Hungarian tribes appeared on these lands at the end of the 9th century. The city survived the Turkish seizure, was liberated by the Austrians, and became the possession of the Habsburgs. After the conclusion of the Austro-Hungarian Agreement and the unification of the three cities, Budapest began to develop rapidly. He endured the German occupation and the Soviet assault in 1945, until 1989 he lived under the pro-Soviet regime.

Many valuable architectural objects were damaged here during the war. The restoration lasted until 1960. Residents of Budapest cherish the heritage of the past and preserve their monuments.

sights

Buda Castle

Parliament

Ludwig Museum

Varoshliget Park

Cafe Gerbeau

Mount Gellert

Bath Rudas

Terror Museum

Museum of Ethnography

Parliament

Hungarian Parliament building, photo CROMEO

The most prominent secular building that has become the architectural symbol of Budapest is the Hungarian Parliament (Országház). A huge neo-Gothic complex rises above the Danube bank between two bridges - Chain and Margaret. The building was built in 1884-1906. in the neo-Gothic style influenced by the Parisian boz-ara.

Guided tours of the Hungarian Parliament building are organized for tourists. Also available in Russian. You will see the sacred coronation regalia of the Hungarian monarchs - the crown of the founder of the state, St. Stephen, a scepter with orb and a silvered saber. You can sit in the chair of the parliamentarian.

Address: Budapest, Kossuth Lajos tér 1-3, 1055 Hungary.

Buda Castle

Royal Palace, photo by Arian Zwegers

The Buda Castle (Budai Vár) is often referred to as a “city within a city”. This is the historical district of Old Buda, hidden behind powerful fortified walls, where there are the Royal Palace, the Church of St. Matthias, the labyrinth of Budavar caves, the Fisherman's Bastion, the Square and the Column of the Holy Trinity, the Plague Column, the bell tower of the Church of Mary Magdalene, the Chapel of St. Michael, the Sandor Palace, the monument Istvanu I, House of Hungarian Wines and the ruins of medieval castle buildings.

The fortress was founded in the 13th century and served as the residence of the Hungarian kings. It was damaged during wars and in fires, and it was restored more than once. The majestic Buda Castle is a UNESCO site. Today, Buda Castle houses the Hungarian National Gallery (Magyar Nemzeti Galéria), the Historical Museum of Budapest (Budapesti Történeti Múzeum) and the State Library. Széchenyi.

You can climb to the fortress on foot or on the Sciklo funicular (Budavári Sikló), or you can take a bus from the square im. Sell ​​Kalman.

The address of the Hungarian National Gallery is 1014 Budapest, Szent György tér 2., Hungary.

The address of the Historical Museum of Budapest is Budapest, Szent György tér 2, 1014 Hungary.
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 10: 00-18: 00; Mon - day off.

Matthias Church, photo ben_leash

In Old Buda, on the Holy Trinity Square, there is the Cathedral of St. Matthias (Mátyás-templom). The Gothic temple, atypical for Hungarian medieval religious architecture, was part of the Buda Castle, built in 1250–70. The Turks turned the Catholic Church into a mosque in the 16th century, but in the 19th century, the architect Fridesh Shulek returned the Gothic look to the temple. A bright ornament of multicolored tiles on the roof and domes was created by master ceramists from the city of Pécs. The last Hungarian monarchs of the Habsburg dynasty were crowned in Matthias Church.

Address: Budapest, Szentháromság tér 2, 1014 Hungary.

Fisherman's Bastion. photo by Manuela Vierke

Near the cathedral there is an architectural complex of seven towers - the Fisherman's Bastion (Halászbástya). This stylized building with towers, staircases, arcades and terraces was built for the millennium of Hungary, in 1899-1905, on the site of an old fish market. It has never served a defensive purpose.

Address: Budapest, Szentháromság tér 5, 1014 Hungary.

Monument to Istvan the Great

At the bastion there is an equestrian monument to the king - the heavenly patron of Hungary, István the Great (Szent István szobra). The monument by A. Strobl reflects all the significant achievements of the king who gave the Hungarians Christianity.

Sandor Palace, photo Neal1960

The two-storey building of the palace was built in 1806 for Count Sandor. Since 2003, Sándor-palota is the official residence of the President of the Republic. The facade is decorated with simple bas-reliefs. But the interior is known for crystal chandeliers, rich tapestries and paintings by Karoi Lotz. You can only get to the palace once a year, in September, during the exhibition dedicated to the Days of Cultural Heritage of Hungary.

Address: Budapest, Szent György tér 1-2, 1014 Hungary.

Tower of the Church of Mary Magdalene, photo MEGA4000 MISI

The tower is the only thing left of the church of Mary Magdalene (Mária Magdolna-templom), built in 1274 in the Gothic style. During World War II, the church was completely destroyed, only the foundation remained. In 1997 the tower was restored. Now there is an observation deck. There are 24 bells on the tower, the ringing of which is heard daily.

Address: Budapest, District I., Hungary.

Szechenyi Chain Bridge, photo by Nando Pizzini

Tourists climb to the Buda Fortress by funicular; its lower station is next to the Chain Bridge (Széchenyi lánchíd). This engineering monument is the oldest bridge in the city, which connects the two historical parts of the city - Buda and Pest. It was built in 1849, it was blown up by the retreating fascists and rebuilt a century after its construction - in 1949.

The Andrassy út Avenue on the eastern Danube bank, in the former Pest, is also included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This avenue is the most pompous street in Budapest. It starts from Erzhebet Square and stretches 2.5 km - to Heroes Square.

Hungarian State Opera House

The beautiful building of the Opera House (Magyar Állami Operaház) is located on Andrassi Avenue. In terms of acoustics, it ranks third in the European ranking of opera theaters after Milan's La Scala and the Paris Opera House.

Erzsebet Square, photo bencze82

Erzsébet tér square got its sonorous name in honor of Queen Elizabeth - the legendary Sissi. There is a huge Ferris wheel and the Danube fountain (1880), created by Miklos Ibl, as well as the entire architectural ensemble of Andrasszy Avenue.

Nearby stands the grandiose 96-meter dome of St. Stephen's Basilica (Szent István-bazilika). The temple in the neoclassical style was erected on the square of the same name in 1851-1905, M. Ibl was finishing its construction. From the observation deck Szent István you can see the whole of Budapest.

Address: Budapest, Szent István tér 1, 1051 Hungary.
Site: bazilika.biz.

Great Synagogue, photo Anne and David

The Budapest Great Synagogue (Nagy Zsinagóga) is the largest functioning synagogue in Europe and the second in the world. It was built in 1859 in the Moorish style and can accommodate about 3 thousand worshipers. In the courtyard of the synagogue, on the site of the house where the founder of Zionism T. Herzl was born, there is the Jewish Museum.

Address: Budapest, Dohány u. 2, 1074 Hungary.

The ensemble of Heroes' Square (Hősök tere) was created from the beginning of the 19th century, to celebrate the millennium of Hungary. At the end of the century, a memorial project was developed for this vast space. The first to appear here was the Millennium Monument - the central Corinthian column. Then two semicircular colonnades were installed, which became a monument to the heroes of Hungary. Sculptural groups of War and Peace were erected on both sides of the composition.

The square overlooks the facade of the Museum of Fine Arts (Szépművészeti Múzeum), decorated with a classic portico. The basis of his collection was the personal collection of the Esterhazy family. Nowadays, thousands of exhibits belonging to different eras and genres are exhibited here.

Address: Budapest, Dózsa György út 41, 1146 Hungary.
Website: szepmuveszeti.hu.

Mucharnok

Exhibition Hall Műcsarnok, photo Scott

Opposite the Museum of Fine Arts is the Műcsarnok Exhibition Hall. Neo-Renaissance building with bright mosaics on the pediment and six columns, built in 1895. This is an art gallery in the capital. It hosts exhibitions of Hungarian and foreign contemporary art.

Address: Budapest, Dózsa György út 37, 1146 Hungary.
Website: mucsarnok.hu.
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 10: 00-18: 00; Mon - day off.

Behind Mucharnok is the unique Wheel of Time. The world's largest hourglass that measures the annual cycle.

House of Terror, photo by Américo Aperta

The Museum of Terror (Terror Háza) is located in a building built in 1880, which in the post-war period housed the Hungarian State Security Administration and a prison. The photographs and film depict the murder and torture of citizens by the special services. In these very rooms, opponents of the Hungarian totalitarian regime were interrogated, beaten, held in shackles and finished off.

Address: Budapest, Andrássy út 60, 1062 Hungary.
Website: terrorhaza.hu.

The Museum of Ethnography (Néprajzi Múzeum) is one of the largest such museums in Europe, it has more than 200 thousand exhibits and occupies the former House of Justice. In his collection there are objects of art and everyday life, a collection of clothes and photographs, jewelry from different eras.

Address: Budapest, Kossuth Lajos tér 12, 1055 Hungary.
Website: neprajz.hu.

Varoshliget

Behind Heroes' Square begins the main Budapest park Városliget. There are the famous Széchenyi fürdő baths, a circus and a zoo, and the popular Gundel restaurant. On the territory of the park is the Vajdahunyad vára castle - an eclectic stone building created in 1907 by the architect I. Alpar. The ensemble is stylized as a knight's fortress and is considered one of the most interesting tourist attractions in Budapest.

Confectionery Gerbeau. photo kukulu21

An elegant white palace rises in Vörösmarty Square. This is the iconic Café Gerbeaud, whose history began in the 19th century. It serves unique desserts that have no equal in all of Hungary.

Address: Budapest, Vörösmarty tér 7-8, 1051 Hungary.

Ludwig Museum

Museum of Contemporary Art, photo wunderskatz

On the Danube embankment stands the Museum of Contemporary Art (Kortárs Művészeti Múzeum), a branch of the Ludwig Múzeum Museum in Cologne.

Address: Budapest, Komor Marcell u. 1, 1095 Hungary.
Website: ludwigmuseum.hu.
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 10: 00-18: 00; Mon - day off.

The most beautiful bridge in Budapest is the Freedom Bridge (Szabadság híd), an impressive 334-meter cantilever structure of openwork metal structures. It was built in 1894–96, blown up by the Germans during their retreat, and restored in 1946.

Margaret Island. photo by Sandra Kiraly

There is a real nature reserve in the center of the capital - Margit Island on the Danube (Margit-sziget) or Margarita Island, with an arboretum and rock garden, thermal springs and a large summer water park, a unique healing microclimate There is a musical well, the ruins of an ancient monastery, a water tower.

Mount Gellert

Mount Gellert (Gellért-hegy) is visited by all guests of the capital. At its top, there is a 19th century citadel (Citadella); at the foot is the famous Rudas Bath (Rudas Gyógyfürdő), address: Budapest, Döbrentei tér 9, 1013 Hungary. Gellert's main attraction is the Philosophical Garden sculptural complex. The mountain is named after St. Gerard of Hungary, who baptized the Hungarians and was thrown from this mountain in a barrel studded with nails and drowned in the Danube in 1046.

The Széchenyi Bath (Széchenyi Gyógyfürd) is the largest in Europe, it has 11 therapeutic pools and 3 saunas, where you can take mud baths. In the open air in hot pools, where water comes from a depth of 1240 meters from the source of St. Stephen, next to buildings in the form of palaces, surrounded by snow-white statues and flower bowls, people who are chronically tired and exhausted by civilization are improving their health, prettier and rejuvenated.

Address: Budapest, Állatkerti krt. 9-11, 1146 Hungary.
Website: szechenyifurdo.hu.

Gellert Bath, photo by Chiara Salvadori

The Gellert Bath (Gellért Gyógyfürdő) was built at the beginning of the twentieth century and is similar in style to the strict ancient Roman baths. Unique marble columns, Art Nouveau interiors, stained glass windows, sculptures and mosaics have been preserved here. The bathhouse has 10 indoor and 3 outdoor pools with a water temperature of 26–38 ° C (men and women bathe in the thermal pools separately), saunas and a jacuzzi.

Address: Budapest, Kelenhegyi út 4, 1118 Hungary /
Website: gellertbath.com.

Vaci street, photo by Yolanda TOlivera

Street Váci (Váci utca) is a street in the historic area of ​​Belvaros, which is full of shops, restaurants and cafes. It is very popular with tourists. Many facades of buildings on the street are decorated with cast-iron ornaments and mosaics.

Tropicarium-oceanarium, photo scharm60

Tropicarium - Oceanarium is the largest aquarium in Central Europe, with an area of ​​3 thousand square meters. m. It was opened in 2000. The life of the tropics and the ocean is presented in 8 halls. Here, little monkeys run freely, turtles move slowly, tropical birds fly, Mississippi alligators swim, thousands of colorful fish live in giant aquariums.

Address: Budapest, Nagytétényi út 37-43, 1222 Hungary
Website: tropicarium.hu.

Holidays and events

Hungarians love holidays. The brightest celebrations in Budapest take place at Christmas. During the Advent period, the city is renewed, blossoming with lights. The main fair takes place on Vörösmarty Square - this is where you can feel the authentic atmosphere of Hungary.

New Year, or St. Sylvester's Day, is celebrated noisily - it is believed that great fun is a guarantee of success and happiness for the whole year. In Budapest there is a custom: at New Year's midnight to turn the hourglass Wheel of Time.

The Budapest Spring Festival takes place in March-April; with him spring comes to the city. The program of long holidays includes concerts, theatrical performances, operas and musicals, operettas, dance competitions.

The Danube Carnival is a June holiday, one of the most colorful summer events. The Sziget festival Budapest with a musical and cultural program starts in mid-June and lasts almost until September. Festival performances and concerts can be seen on the islands of Varosmajor and Margitsziget.

The end of summer and autumn are the time for sporting events. The Formula 1 stage, the Nemzeti Vágta horse race, and the Vienna to Budapest international super marathon gather a lot of fans in Budapest.

In September, the most significant winemaking event is held - the international Budapest International Wine Festival. The main stages of this holiday take place in the Buda Castle.

Kitchen

Over 3,000 Budapest restaurants offer both traditional Hungarian dishes and international cuisine. Visit Szazeves Etterem or Matyas Pince, Cafe Gerbeaud or Nobu, co-owned by actor Robert De Niro.

Hungarian cuisine is distinguished by the fact that hot paprika is added to many dishes. Try Hungarian soups: gulyas, halaszlé - fish soup; main dishes: perkolt (pörkölt), paprikás csirke, lecsó. Desserts: somlói galuska, Dobos torta - biscuit with chocolate cream and icing, cottage cheese dessert - túrógombóc.

What to see in the vicinity

The historic town of Szentendre is located 20 km from Budapest. Here you can see magnificent temples: the Annunciation Church and the Cathedral.

In the town of Martonvashar, 30 km away from the capital, there is the neo-Gothic Brunswick Castle with a beautiful English park and the Beethoven Museum.

There is a unique animal shelter in the town of Vereshegyhaz, located 25 km from the center of Budapest - Bear Park.

In an hour and a half you can reach the "Hungarian Sea" - Lake Balaton. Fans of fishing, sailing, windsurfing strive to these fabulous places.

On the western coast of Lake Balaton, there is the town of Keszthely with preserved old streets and a baroque palace. The healing salt lake Heviz stretches 4 km from this town.

The town of Eger, located 140 km from Budapest, is famous for its ancient fortress, ancient temples, wine cellars and the Turkish Baths thermal complex.

Station Nyugati (Nyugati pályaudvar) - "West Station". photo Attila-N

By train

There are 3 railway stations in Budapest: South (Deli), West (Nyugati) and East (Keleti). Trains come here daily from major cities in Hungary and Europe.

By plane

Direct flights from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Budapest are operated by UTair, Wizz Air and Aeroflot. From Ekaterinburg, Kazan, Perm, Samara, Ufa, Nizhny Novgorod, Rostov-on-Don, Krasnodar, flights of Czech Airlines, Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines are possible with a connection in Prague, Frankfurt am Main and Vienna.

By bus

The main carrier companies are Eurolines and Ecolines. All international buses arrive at the Nepliget station.

On the ship

Passenger river traffic is handled by Mahart Passnave, which operates on the Danube and Tisza. In addition to local ones, it carries out transportation on the international route Budapest - Vienna.

Personal transfer

If you are traveling with 3 or more people, then it is quite profitable to order a transfer for about € 220.

How to get from the airport to Budapest

By train

There is a direct rail link between Terminal 1 of the airport and Nyugati pályaudvar West Railway Station. Travel time is about 30 minutes, the frequency is 2-3 flights per hour;

By bus

By bus 200E from Terminal 2 to the Kőbánya-Kispest metro station, the terminal station of the M3 line, and then by subway you can get to the place you need. Buses leave every 8-10 minutes;

By taxi

You can use a taxi service. ...

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Budapest is the capital and largest city of Hungary, as well as its economic, political, industrial and cultural center.

The origin of the city

Officially, the Hungarian city of Budapest as a single administrative unit was formed only in 1873 after the merger of three cities - Buda, Obuda and Pest. The history of the city begins in the 1st century BC. from the Celtic settlement Ak-Ink on the right bank of the Danube. After the occupation of the Danube lands by the Romans, the city became part of the province of Pannonia and was eventually renamed Aquincum. Originally a military garrison, the city grew and developed rapidly and very quickly became a major commercial center. The ruins of ancient Aquinca have survived to this day and today are one of the largest archaeological sites of the Roman era in Hungary.

In the middle of the 5th century, Aquincus was conquered by the Huns and renamed. According to one of the local legends, the city received the name "Buda" in honor of the Hunnic leader Bleda (Hungarian Buda). Subsequently, the city was alternately under the control of German tribes, Lombards, Avars, Slavs and Bulgarians. Hungarians settled on these lands only towards the end of the 9th century. The settlement of Pest on the opposite bank of the Danube already existed by this time.

Middle Ages

In 1241-1242. as a result of the Mongol invasion, Buda and Pest were thoroughly destroyed and plundered. The pest was soon restored, but Buda, which was assigned the role of a royal residence, was decided to be built on the nearby hills and thoroughly fortified. However, the old Buda was also restored over time and the name "Obuda" was stuck behind it. In 1361 Buda became the capital of the Kingdom of Hungary, while Pest became a prosperous financial center.

By the middle of the 16th century, the lands of Buda and Pest were captured by the Ottoman Empire. The occupation lasted 145 years and only in 1686 Buda, Obuda and Pest were liberated by Austrian troops, and as a result, they ended up under the control of the Habsburg Empire.

New time

The 19th century became an important page in the history of the Hungarian kingdom's struggle for independence. During the democratic revolution of 1848-49. the first attempt was made to unite Buda, Obuda and Pest (in the same period, the first bridge over the Danube was built, finally connecting Buda and Pest). The revolution was eventually suppressed, but its consequence was the formation of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1867. Soon the question of the unification of the three cities was raised again, which took place in 1873. Budapest quickly became a major political, economic and cultural center. The city did not escape the industrial boom that swept virtually all of Europe. In 1896, it was in Budapest that the first metro on the European continent was opened.

In 1918, after the defeat in the First World War and the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Hungary proclaimed itself a republic, the capital of which became Budapest, retaining this status after the restoration of the constitutional monarchy in Hungary in 1920.

During the Second World War, Budapest was thoroughly destroyed. The city was seriously damaged in 1956, becoming the epicenter of the anti-communist uprising. It took decades to rebuild Budapest. During this period, the city significantly expanded its borders, turning into a huge metropolis.

The fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989 largely determined the future fate of Budapest and became a kind of starting point on the path of the city becoming a major cultural and economic center of Europe.