Budapest Tour

Budapest was founded in 1873 after the unification of three separate towns, Buda and Obuda on the west bank of the Danube and Pest on the east.

What you should see in Buda:

Royal Palace: King Bela IV(1235-1270) built a royal castle in Buda, but its exact location is unknown. Around 1400 it was replaced by a Gothic palace, remodeled in Renaissance style by King Matyas in 1458. Under Turkish rule, the palace was used to stable horses and store gunpowder, leading to its destruction in 1686 during the reconquest. A new palace, begun in 1719 by the Habsburgs, grew in size and grandeur under Maria Theresa, but this too was destroyed in the uprising of 1849 and had to be rebuilt in the second half of the 19th century. When the Habsburgs palace was again razed to the ground in February 1945, remains of the 15th-century Gothic palace were uncovered. These were incorporated into the restored palace that visitors see today.

Various statues, gateways, and fountains have survived from the 19th-century palace. Today the palace houses a series of important national collections, including the Szechenyi National Library, the National Gallery, the Budapest History Museum and the Museum of Contemporary History and Ludwig Collection.

Hungarian National Gallery was established in 1957. The permanent exhibitions include a section of sculpture and stonework – the Lapidarium. There are also regular temporary exhibitions.

Budapest History Museum, also known as the Castle Museum, illustrates the city`s evolution from its origins under the Romans.

Matyas Church is mainly a Neo-Gothic reconstruction dating from 1874-96. Most of the original church (13th-15th centuries) was lost when the Turks turned it into their Great Mosque in 1541. The building had to be restored again after damage in World War II. The great rose window has been faithfully reproduced in its original Gothic style. The tombs of King Bela III (13th century) and his wife, Anne de Chatillon, can be seen in the Trinity Chapel, while the Mary Portal (near the main altar) is considered the finest example of Gothic stone carving in Hungary. Also fascinating is a Baroque statue of the Madonna: according to legend, the original was set into a wall during the Turkish occupation. When the church was virtually destroyed in 1686, the Madonna made a miraculous reappearance, which the Turks took as an omen of defeat.

In front of the church is Holy Trinity Square, with a memorial column to those who died in the devastating plague of 1691. On the square stands the Old Town Hall, an elegant Baroque building with an onion-domed clock tower.
What you should you see in Pest:

Inner City Parish Church is the oldest building in Pest. On the south side of the church is a Renaissance tabernacle bearing the Crest of Pest, created in the 16th century. Close to the main altar is a reminder of Turkish occupation: a mihrab, or prayer niche, indicating the direction of Mecca.

Hungarian National Museum was founded in 1802, when Count Ferenc Szechenyi gave his personal collection to the nation. It is housed in an impressive Neo-classical edifice. The museum`s eclectic exhibits span the 11th century to the present day. Items on display include an 18th-century campaign chest from the time of Frenec Rakoczi ²², decorative weapons of Transylvanian princes and a printing press used to print nationalist propaganda in 1848. The museum is home to the Coronation Mantle donated by St. Stephen in 1031. It is made of Byzantine silks and is one of the oldest and best-preserved textile masterpieces in Europe.

St. Stephen`s Basilica is a neoclassical church, dedicated to St. Stephen, or Istvan - Hungary`s first Christian king (1001-38). It was built in 1851-1905 on a Greek cross floor plan. The church received the title Basilica Minor in 1938, the 900th anniversary of the king`s death. On the main altar is a marble statue of the saint; scenes from his life are depicted behind the altar. The main entrance to the basilica is a massive door, decorated with carved heads of the 12 apostles. The dome reaches 96 m (315 ft) and is visible all over Budapest.

The Parliament is Hungary`s largest building – 268 m (880 ft) long, 96 m (315 ft) high, with 691 rooms. Built between 1884 and 1902, it was based on London`s Houses of Parliament. Although the façade is Neo-Gothic, the ground plan follows Baroque conventions, with a magnificent dome at the center. Beneath it is the Domed Hall, off which is the Gobelin Hall, with a Gobelin tapestry of Arpad and fellow Magyar chiefs taking a blood oath. Between the Domed Hall and the south wing is the National Assembly Hall. On the opposite side is the Congress Hall, a virtual mirror image of the National Assembly Hall. Both have public galleries. Since 2000, the royal insignia have been displayed here.

Vajdahunyad Castle stands among trees at the edge of the lake in Varosliget. It is in fact a complex of pavilions illustrating the evolution of Hungarian architecture. Created for the 1896 Millennium Celebrations as a temporary exhibit, it proved so popular that it was rebuilt permanently, in brick. The pavilions are grouped in chronological order of style: Romanesque is followed by Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and so on, but the elements are linked to suggest a single, cohesive design. Details from more than 20 of Hungary`s best-loved buildings are reproduced. The greatest emphasis is given to the medieval period, considered the most glorious in the country`s history, while the controversial Habsburg era is pushed into the background.