Budapest Hungary description I

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When you arrive in Budapest, head to the centre and drink in the view of the city’s two parts, divided by the Danube and linked by the bridges that cross it. Choose a look-out point – whether the terrace on Gellert Hill, the arcades of the Fishermen’s Bastion, the Danube shore, the cupola of the Basilica or the girders of Margaret Bridge – and you’ll see sights to remember forever. A lot of water had flowed along the Danube before the year 1873, when the three separate cities of Buda, Obuda and Pest were joined to form the metropolis of today. Prehistoric man was probably less attracted by the panorama than by the river and the hills providing fish, game and shelter. The history of settlement on the site of present-day Budapest began during the Roman age. Aquincum, the flourishing Roman camp and was the “capital” of the colony of Pannonia Inferior. (“Aq” is a Celticstem word meaning “water”; it is possibly the earliest reference to the thermal springs near the Danube that later came to feed the city’s spas.) The conquering Hungarian tribes also decided to stop here, seeing that the area had natural resources and strategic advantages, and probably because there were still surviving ruins from the Roman period. From the 13th century onwards, the royal and civil settlement in this area had a growing importance, but Esztergom and Szekesfehervar still maintained their leading role. The “town of three” was formed that still represents the core of the city: Buda, situated on Castle Hill and surrounded by walls, and with the Royal Palace next to it; Pest, the commercial and handicrafts town on the plain area, also surrounded by walls; and Obuda, the town of queens, with palaces and churches. Unfortunately, remains of this age can only be found in museums and in certain parts of the Castle District or in the Gothic sanctuary of the Downtown Parish Church. In the 16th century, the Christian cross was replaced by a new symbol in Hungary – the crescent. Ottoman occupation lasted 140 years. The development of the cities slowed and took new directions. The affluent, Western-style settlements turned into noisy, bustling, Eastern-style cities. Very few new buildings were erected in this period, although many of the existing ones collapsed. The rare cultural heritage left from this time is again linked to the waters – in the form of Turkish characterful bathhouses like the Rudas, Rac, Kiraly and Lukacs. Following the end of Turkish occupation in 1686, life began to flourish again. The golden days, however, didn’t come until the 19th century. The cityscape of Pest was formed by nature, more specifically by the water. The flooding of 1838 washed away the provincial, one-storey mud houses and cleared the space for the characteristic palaces and multi-level residential homes. The partial political autonomy gained through the 1867 Compromise triggered rapid development and the birth of a new capital. Budapest at this point had 300,000 inhabitants; within 20 years this figure had doubled, and the avenues and ring boulevards had been built. The turn of the 19th and 20th century and the first third of the new century were characterised by an individual development of the national identity. It was reflected in the “Secessionist” style – a Hungarian form of Art Nouveau – that appeared in arts and architecture. World War II caused just as much destruction as the 150 years of Turkish occupation. Though the reconstruction started soon afterwards, some of the wounds inflicted by the war can still be seen. Many of the ugly constructions dating from the socialist period can also be considered “wounds” on the city. Luckily, the city was able to conserve its friendly, human features and an atmosphere that reminds us of the “happy times of peace”. These features are appreciated by 1.7 million residents – and by millions of guests. The capital of Hungary harbours many unique treasures. Its most important value, however, is its splendid location. The section of the Danube here, surrounded by Castle Hill in Buda and the old buildings of Pest, and with its atmospheric bridges, was the first Hungarian sightto be added to the UNESCO World Heritage list. This panorama can be enjoyed from many viewing points in the city. Budapest’s most-elegant road – Andrassy Avenue – is also a World Heritage Site. The Opera, the old Music Academy, the Academy of Fine Arts, Kodaly korond (ornamented with statues), and Heroes’ Square (with its Millennium Monument) can all be found on Andrassy Avenue. There are many ways to explore the city. You can go sightseeing by bus, boat or taxi. You could get a ride from a friend or take a long walk on foot. However, a tram is an especially good option in Budapest. The Danube side panorama can be best appreciated from tram No 2. Let’s board at the Jaszai Mari Square terminal on the Pest side of Margaret Bridge (avoiding the morning or afternoon rush hours) and take a seat next to the window on the right-hand side. We will soon arrive at Kossuth Square with its statues, memorials and Parliament, a huge palace in Neo-Gothic style. After leaving the square, we’ll proceed to the Danube shore where we can admire the panorama of Buda, with the churches of Vizivaros (Water town) and the Castle District, where the slim tower of Matthias Church reaches to the skies. On the journey between the historical Chain Bridge and the modernElizabeth Bridge, you’ll see the impressive Castle Palace and Gellert Hill’s steep wall of rock.

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Budapest Hungary description I

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