Budapest: Sightseeing Highlights

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·         Chain Bridge:  Buda and Pest are separated by the mighty Danube river; and no less than eight bridges link the two city parts. The most well-known of these bridges is the Széchenyi Chain Bridge.

·         Parliament Building:  One icon of Budapest is the Neo-Gothic Parliament building, often photographed from across the river at Fisherman’s Bastion. But it’s even more spectacular up close. The third largest parliament building in the world, it’s over 100 years old.  You can visit the inside of this limestone building if parliament isn’t in session for a 45-50 minute tour at specific times of the day. Tickets can be purchased online in advance by clicking here.

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    Shoes on the Danube:  This is a very moving memorial what you will see while walking along the Danube promenade. The shoes on the Danube banks tell the horrific war story of the many Jewish people who, during 1944-1945, were forced to strip naked on the banks of the Danube and face the river. A firing squad then shot the prisoners at close range in the back so that they fell into the river to be washed away. The shoes are a fitting tribute to all those who lost their lives, but also a sad reminder of a very dark time.

·         Buda Castle is a beautiful historic building right in the heart of the city.  Just across the Chain Bridge from Pest you’ll find a funicular (for a fee) that ascends to Buda Castle. If you’re feeling fit, you can climb the stairs that wind their way up the steep hill to see the intricate Houses of Parliament, Chain Bridge, and the vibrant city of Pest from above.  Enjoy the stunning view of the city from here. Don’t forget to explore the Labyrinth inside… but don’t get lost!  Trivia: Buda Castle is also that place where Katy Perry shot her “Firework” music video. You can purchase tickets for a Buda Castle Tour here.

       

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 Buda Castle Hill Funicular: This funicular, which first opened in 1870, is the second oldest funicular of its kind in the world. A system of weights and counterweights is used to help to raise the carriages up and down the hill. The funicular is the fastest way to get to the top of Castle Hill, and is exceedingly popular because of its panoramic views out across the Danube.  It’s is open daily until 10pm, so it is also a great way to enjoy views of Pest at night.

·         Fisherman’s Bastion:  named after the Guild of Fishermen, which was responsible for defending that stretch of the city walls during the Middle Ages, this is one of the most visited places in Budapest so get there early to avoid the crowds. It’s open 24/7 so there’s really no such thing as too early.  Fisherman’s Bastion (aka TheHalászbástya in Hungarian) is a terrace in neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque style situated on Castle hill.  Although the Fisherman’s Bastion looks like a medieval monument, it was actually built in the early 20th century in a neo-Gothic style, specifically to act as a panoramic viewing platform across the Danube, Margaret Island and Pest. The seven towers of the Bastion represent the seven Magyar tribes that helped to settle the Magyar people in the Carpathian Basin. Come at sunset to see a particularly beautiful view of the city.

·         Hungarian State Opera House: TheOpera House offers daily tours at 3pm and 4pm in English, German, French, Spanish and Italian. These last around 45 minutes and there’s a fee for admission.  You can sit in the stalls, visit the Royal Balcony, and wander around parts rarely seen by tourists.   You may be lucky enough to sit in on a mini opera concert after the tour (for an additional fee).

·         Heroe’s Square:  (Hosök tere), which marks the end of Andrássy Avenue is home to an iconic monument which features depictions of the Seven Chieftains of the Magyars, who are believed to have led the Hungarian people from central Asia to the Carpathian basin. At the top of the central pillar is the Archangel Gabriel, who is holding the Hungarian crown. At either side of the central column are two matching colonnades, which depict a variety of other historical Hungarian figures. The impressive buildings at either side of the square are art galleries. Take care when crossing to the statue, because traffic around the monument can be chaotic.

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·     The House of Terror Museum contains exhibitions about the fascist and communist regimes which ruled Hungary during the 20th Century. The building itself was the former headquarters of the Fascist Arrow Cross party, and the building was subsequently used as a prison and torture venue by the State Security services of Hungary. There is the opportunity to tour some of the prison area in the basement. The House of Terror is also a memorial to the victims who were detained, tortured, or killed in the building.   

·         St. Stephen’s Basilica: is the biggest church in Budapest, Hungary with its capacity of 8,500 and one of the most important religious buildings in Hungary. The mummified right hand of the first Hungarian king, King St. Stephen I (reigned from about 975 to 1038), is on display at the Basilica; the relic is in the Szent Jobb Chapel. As this is a holy site, visitors who plan on entering the church are asked to keep their knees and shoulders covered.   If you want a great view of the city, you can head up to the base of the dome and look out over the city.  Classical music concerts and organ concerts regularly take place inside the Basilica, and sometime spill out into the square outside.  You can purchase tickets for an organ concert; but at the moment none are scheduled for the dates that we will be in Budapest!

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Photo by Kristzen Taborii on Unsplash

·         Central Market Hall: The Great Market Hall in central Budapest is Budapest’s most famous marketplace.  many locals still use the market hall as a place to buy their groceries, the market is incredibly popular with the tourists too.  Locally grown fruits, vegetables, and locally sourced meats are found on the lower floors, and souvenirs including lace, chess sets and leather goods are available in the upper floors.

·         Andrássy Avenue: This wonderful boulevard takes visitors from Elizabeth (Erzsébet) Square in central Pest, out to the City Park.  It was declared a World Heritage Site in 2002.  Taking a leisurely walk down Andrássy is a great way to see a number of Budapest’s different architectural styles, including the Hungarian National Opera House, neo-renaissance townhouses and mansions, and a number of different national embassies.  This is also one of Budapest’s well known “shopping streets” with designer boutiques… sort of like the Fifth Avenue of Budapest.

·         Matthias Church:  or in Hungarian, Matyas Templom is one of the top attractions in Budapest. Matthias was not named for St. Matthias, but rather the first name of the Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus, the son of John Hunyadi. He was not a saint, but a fair king, whose remembrance lives on in popular Hungarian cartoon films: Matthias the Fair. The interior of Matthias Church is quite unique with elaborate gilt walls. Despite being a Gothic Catholic church, the atmosphere is more mesmerizingly oriental and mystically exotic rather than the customary Baroque or Renaissance church interiors you would see in Europe.  Be sure to stop by a restaurant near church overlooking Danube and enjoy a Strudel.

Some quick and quirky facts about King Matthias Corvinus (from the website Top Budapest):

·         Matthias became the Hungarian king at the age of 15 with no dynastic ancestry and relationship (later on also Bohemian king and the duke of Austria) – unprecedented in the history of Hungary before. But his father, John Hunyadi was a remarkable statesmen and strategist.

·         King Matthias spoke several languages, Hungarian, Latin, Italian, Czech, etc. “Besides the learned languages, he was acquainted with most of the living tongues of Europe.” (Wikipedia)

·         King Matthias was knighted at the Siege of Belgrade where his father, John Hunyadi died of plague in 1456

·         The first wife of King Matthias was forced on him by the Bohemian king – the king kept Matthias hostage and released him under the condition of marrying his daughter (and he was already a widower at the age of 12 before his first marriage at the age of 20)

·         King Matthias was a great promoter of Italian Renaissance all over the kingdom of Hungary and Bohemia

His first wedding was with a Bohemian (Czech) princess, Katalin Podjebrad (Kateřina z Poděbrad) in 1463. The princess was 15 years old, King Matthias was 20. After the wedding she soon got pregnant, but unfortunately, she died in child bed fever in 1464, and so did the baby boy.

He didn’t hurry to get married again. 12 years after his first wedding he married the daughter of Ferrante I, the king of Naples. His second wedding to Beatrice of Naples in 1476 was childless and he decided to leave the throne Janos Corvin, his illegitimate son. But Beatrice thought that it was she who should be the rightful successor. In the end, neither of them became the Hungarian ruler in 1490, when King Matthias died. Instead it was the Bohemian (Czech) king, Vladislas II (originally Polish and the son of Elisabeth of Austria, Hungarian princess) who successfully advance his claims to the Hungarian throne supported by Beatrice of Naples.