HUNGARY
- Nemzeti Ereklyék
National Relics - Hősök
Heroes - Muzsika
Music Downloads
GALLERY
- Magyarország
Hungary - Budapest
Budapest
DOCUMENTS
- Nyelv
Language Notes - Himnusz
National Anthem - Szózat
National Hymn - Nemzeti Dal
Song of the Nation - Links
HOME
contact me
Budapest Gallery
The following is a gallery of pictures (mostly taken from the official tourism site) of Budapest, the glorious capital city of Hungary. I arranged the pictures in a manner generally following a route through the city originating and ending in Buda, with a large section of Pest covered as well. The most important geographic features of Budapest to keep in mind: the city, like Rome, was built on top of a river flowing through a valley formed by several large hills. The city was originally founded by the Huns built near the ruins of the Roman town of Aquincum they had just destroyed. Obuda, as the Huns called their city was eventually sacked, and a new city was built next to it, called Buda. Both Buda and Obuda were built on the Western side of the Danube (called Duna). Buda-Obuda became the throne city shortly before King Matthias Corvinus, and the twin cities (actually, Buda had mostly swallowed up the remains of Obuda) became a regal city with few "vulgar" installations (today, what we call NIMBYs) such as ports, docks, common stables, shipping centers, etc. To meet the capital's need for these commercial buildings, as well as to provide a residential district for poorer citizens away from the regal palace area, a smaller "daughter city" formed on the other side of the Duna, called Pest. Pest, originally a small, filthy town, gained prestige with the building of major monuments, such as St. Stephen's Basilica and the Parliament. In 1873, with completion of a number of bridges connecting the Eastern and Western banks, Buda, Obuda and Pest unified into the modern-day Budapest.
The next set of pictures provide some stunning, seemingly aerial views of the city. These are in fact taken from the Citadel, located on the top of one of the mountains, which is also home to the Freedom Statue, the memorial begun by the Soviets as the "Liberation Statue, and which ended up celebrating liberation from them.
A statue of St. Gellért tops a mountain of the same name. Gellért was a priest, sent by Rome to aid in the Christenizing of the Hungarians. He was eventually kidnapped by pagan traditionalists, and rolled down that same mountain in a barrel studded with nails.
Buda Castle overlooks the city from the peaks of Mt. Eagle, a massive, massive structure that served as both a magnificent palace for the reigning monarchs and a solid fortress against all invaders for hundreds of years. Every year, a "trade festival" is held within it, with displays of archery, sculpture, ironworking, and all sorts of medieval crafts. The President of the State, a purely ceremonial ruler, resides in the palace.
In front of castle, standing atop the sheer cliffside, is Trinity Square, with the Trinity Monument at its center. On the left side is the Mátyás Coronation Cathedral. Closing off the cliffside is the large and ornate Fishermen's Bastion. From the Trinity Square area is accesible the Sikló, a cablecar-like diagonal elevator that ascends and descends the mountainside.
At the foot of the Sikló is the Széchényi Bridge, commonly called the Chain Bidge, built in the 1800s by the famous patriot from whom it took its name. It was the first bridge spanning the Budapest Duna.
On the other side of the Duna sits the magnificent House of Parliament. It is both a historic landmark and the seat of the government.
Leading into the heart of Pest is the beautiful Andrássy boulevard. Underneath the large, upscale avenue is a mini-subway, running its length. Andrássy is the home of the Budapest Opera House, and at is end begins the City Park.
The City Park opens onto Andrássy boulevard with the spacious Heroes' Square, featuring statues of the greatest Hungarian historical figures. In its center is a pillar atop which the personification of Freedom takes flight; at its base, the 7 horsemen who first led the Hungarians into the Verecky Pass, led by Árpád.
The City Park holds many attractions such as The National Zoo, a small amusement park, and ice skating in the Winter. The Vajdahunyad castle is here. Vajdahunyad was the residence of the Hunyadi family in Transylvania. In the millenial festivities in 1896, a replica was erected in the City Park. Today, it holds the Agricultural Museum.
The next set of pictures feature assorted buildings in Budapest. One item of particular interest is that that the Western Rail Station was designed by the famous French architect Eiffel. The Váci boulevard leads back towards the Duna, and is the city's foreign district. Expensive shops meant for tourists, fine dining not easily affordable for the locals, embassies, and fast-food stores dominate here.
Arriving again at the waterfront, The Vásárcsarnok and the Vigadó stand side by side. The Vásárcsarnok is a giant market building. On the bottom story, food merchants sell ethnic cuisine and everyday goods. On the top floor, souveniers and folk art items can be purchased. Underground is a supermarket. The Vigadó is an old entertainment center, that at one time contained ball rooms and dance halls. Today, it is much more theatre-oriented.
St. Stephen's basilica is a humongous cathedral that dominates the waterfront on the Pest side. Inside are beautiful frescoes, sculpture and stained glass windows. Within it resides the Holy Right, the uncorruptible right hand of St. Stephen.
Corssing over the bridges, one can visit Margit Island, named for a princess-turned-nun who set up an abbey there. Today, it is the site for an extenisve baths and spa resort, and is very popular for its isloated, relaxed atmosphere in the middle of the giant city.
On the Buda side again, the Children's Railroad, a small railway run entirely by children, provides transportation to the luxurious Rose Hill district. Here, one finds the tomb of Gul Baba, a Turk who ravaged the nation in the 1500s. His mausoleum is maintained by funding from the Turkish government. On the shores of the Duna is the Gellért Spa, an elite recreation center. Providing every type of pool and bath possible, it is a popular location with the wealthy and foreigners. It is as renowned for its decadent facilities and services as it is for its incredible ornamentation and architecture.
The tour concludes with a fireworks montage. August 20th, even more so than March 15th or October 23, is Hungary's most prominent national holiday. It is not only the feast day of St. Stephen, but also the day of the ratification of the the first constitution, and founding of the modern state. It is celebrated by military demonstrations, parades, flotillas, and fireworks.