Once consisting of three parts, each of which has its own history, today Budapest is one of the most beautiful and popular European cities, which attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. Buda Castle is the most visited monument in the city. It has a centuries-old history of ups, downs and complete destruction, but today everyone can touch its almost 800-year history.
History of Budapest
Even before Budapest was first mentioned in the chronicles of the 13th century, there were settlements of the Celts and Romans on these lands, and the Hungarians first came here at the end of the 9th century. Each with its own path of development, three separate settlements, known by 1148 as Buda, Pest and Obuda, later formed the historical part of the city.
All 3 towns were destroyed by the Mongol-Tatars in 1241, and after their restoration a year later Buda became the capital. By 1350, Buda receives the status of the residence of the kings of Hungary for almost 200 years. After Buda, Pest and Obuda were ruled first by the Turks, then by the Habsburgs, only in 1867Budapest became the capital of Hungary, becoming part of the Austro-Hungarian crown. The final unification of the three cities took place in 1873.
The city became a major metropolis in Europe in 1950 after joining it with 7 nearby cities and 16 villages. Today in Budapest there are 23 districts, most of which are in Pest, located on the flat part of the Danube. Buda is spread out on the hills of the opposite shore.
Arriving in this city, you can get acquainted with the history of each district, but the greatest interest among tourists is the Buda Castle - the Buda fortress of the 13th century. Museums, palaces, a church and a cathedral are located on the territory of the castle, which in themselves are of great historical interest.
Royal Palace
Founded at first as a fortress, Buda Castle later became the residence of the Hungarian kings. This was facilitated by the formation of a special architectural ensemble, which included the Royal Palace, which belonged to King Zygmand.
The modest building, which became the first residence of the Hungarian kings, was rebuilt into a real palace in the 15th century by order of Sigismund of Luxembourg. He invited European architects and artists known in those days for their skill. This was how construction began, but it became a real “pearl” and the best palace in Europe under King Matthias.
Italian masters "turned" the residence of the Hungarian kings into the best example of the Renaissance style. Interior decoration of the hallsand chambers indicates the power and we alth of the king of Hungary, but this greatness did not last long. In 1541, the country was captured by the Turks for a long century and a half.
During this time, the palace was looted and partially destroyed. Only in the 19th century did its restoration begin, which was also short-lived, since at the very end of World War II, Buda Castle (Budapest) was completely destroyed.
Restoration of the Royal Palace could be realized already in the 20th century thanks to the surviving drawings and sketches. Today, its façade is a majestic example of the Baroque style, while its rear part is represented by partially preserved buildings from the Middle Ages.
Cathedral of St. Matthias
One of the most beautiful architectural monuments that Buda Castle presents to tourists is the Cathedral of St. Matthias.
Its construction dragged on for almost 200 years, but thanks to this, such a beautiful Gothic cathedral was built that even the Turks, for whom Christian shrines meant nothing, did not destroy it. They just painted over the frescoes and made it the city's main mosque for 150 years.
The liberation of Hungary from the Turkish yoke was largely facilitated by this particular cathedral. During the shelling in 1686, a wall collapsed near the building, presenting the statue of the Virgin Mary to the Turks praying in it. This event shocked the Turkish soldiers and broke their spirits, putting them to flight.
The next restoration of the cathedral took place at the end of the 19th century. Reconstruction work was led by FrideshSchulek, a famous architect at that time. It is thanks to his efforts that the Cathedral of St. Matthias was returned to the Gothic appearance of the 13th century.
Buda Castle partially retained the features inherent in it during the years of construction. Proof of this are the columns of 1260, miraculously surviving for so many centuries.
National Art Gallery
As many as 3 wings of the Royal Palace are occupied by the Hungarian Art Gallery, which opened its doors to visitors in 1957.
The collection consists of paintings, sculptures, works of folk artists, provided both by private individuals and museums in other cities of Hungary. In total, there are more than 100,000 copies of works by Hungarian painters, sculptors and woodcarvers, from Gothic times to realism of the 19th century.
It is surprising that the whole variety of works of art is represented by Hungarian masters, or the works of foreign painters who preferred to live and create in this country.
Entrance to the gallery is free, opening hours are from 10.00 to 18.00, the day off is Monday.
Fisher's Bastion
Buda Castle (the photo confirms this) has an amazing building in its architectural ensemble, which was a symbol of the history of the Hungarian people.
The fishermen's bastion, built by Frydes Schulek in the late 19th century, represents the powerful Gothic and Neo-Romanesque fortification that once stood on this site. The name is due to the fact that in the Middle Ages a fisherman's office was responsible for this section of the tower with powerful walls.guild.
The bastion has 7 towers - according to the number of leaders who united their tribes, creating a single Hungarian people at the end of the 9th century. The towers are connected by a single arched gallery, which offers a magnificent view of the Danube and Pest. The square of the bastion is decorated with a monument to the first king Stephen the Great, under whose rule the Hungarian state arose.
In 2013, the restored underground chapel of the Church of St. Michael. Access to the bastion is free, except for the upper towers and the chapel.
Sandor's Palace
Once built in 1806 for Count Vincent Szandor, the palace is today the residence of the Hungarian president. Unremarkable from the outside, the two-story building with bas-reliefs on the themes of ancient Greek mythology has a stunningly beautiful design inside.
Representatives of various noble families lived in the palace, but from 1881 to 1945 it was the residence of the prime ministers of Hungary. During World War II, it was looted and completely destroyed. The restoration ended in 2002, and since 2003 it has been the presidential palace, near which the changing of the guard takes place daily at 12.00, which tourists love to photograph and film.
Paintings, tapestries and crystal chandeliers of the palace can only be seen in September during the Hungarian Heritage Day exhibition. During the rest of the months, the palace is closed to the public.
House of Hungarian wines
Hungary has long been famous for its wines. Today it is producedin 22 regions of the country, which is favored by the climate and the love of this drink by the Hungarians themselves. The Wine Museum is located on Holy Trinity Square, Buda Castle (address Hungary, Budapest).
It stores 700 varieties of wine, 70 of which can be tasted on the spot. The museum is symbolically divided into halls of white, red, dessert and other types of wine. The wine guide gives complete information on the place of production, composition and brands of wines.
Recommended for tourists who are tired of the sights to visit the House of Wine at the end of the tour of the castle.
UNESCO Heritage
Buda Castle (Budapest, St. George Square, 2) in 2002 was included in the list of UNESCO heritage, although not all architectural monuments of this ensemble have been fully restored. In addition to the castle, the list includes the remains of an ancient Celtic settlement and the ancient Roman city of Aquincum.
Today, Buda Castle is the most visited attraction in the Hungarian capital.
