All European City Guides

Budapest Overview

Budapest is first documentated as the Roman town of Aquincum which was founded in AD89 near an an old Celtic settlement. in an area which for the following four centuries was known as Obuda. The word Pest (meaning sentry point) is thought to have Turkish origins and referred to another settlement that dates back to Roman times - but this definition is sometimes disputed. In the 9th century the Slavs settled in the area along with the Maygars from Central Asia. Most historians cite this migration as being the ancestral foundation of the Hungarys culture and language.

In 1241 Pest was briefly invaded and destroyed by Mongol invaders.The town was quickly rebuilt but it was in Buda, six years later, that the Royal castle was built. In 1361 Buda became the capital of Hungary. Buda and Pest where both invaded by armies of the Ottoman Empire in 1541. During the occupation both towns (especially Pest) saw a decline in population and industry. The cities were recaptured in 1686 by the Austrias Habsburg rulers. In the following two centuries Pest grew rapidly. By the 19th century its population was larger than that of Buda and nearby Obuda combined. In the nineteenth century Pests population increased twenty fold four times greater than the other two towns. In 1849 the three town were for a short time incorporated under a single administration by a new revolutionary.Hungarian Regime. The incoporation was revoked when the Habsburgs regained power, but then reintroduced in 1867 by Hungarys Government in 1867.

At the end of WW1 Budapest remained Hungarys capital but two thirds of the country's land had been lost. Budapest though continued to grow and by 1930 greater Budapest had 1.4 million residents. In 1944 some parts of Budapest were destroyed by British and American air raids. Further serious damage occured during a 50 day siege of the city which began on December 24th as German troops stood their ground against the advancing Red Army. During this battle nearly 40,000 civilians were killed on top of the 100,000 Jews who had been slaughtered by the Nazis in the previous year.

Close to Budapest

About 20 klm from Budapest on Highway 11 is the picturesque town of Szentendre.This town which dates back to Roman times has been occupied by the Greeks, Turtkish, Dalmatians, Serbians and the Germans.

Todays its buildings are a historical legacy to this chequered past and it is a rural experience that is calming to say the least. It is also served by a rail service.

Sightseeing & Attractions in Budapest

The most thought provoking sight in Budapest is The Eternal Flame. This flame, which permamently burns outside The Parliament Building was lit on the 40th anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Uprising, It is a symbolic trubute to those who died including the then Hungarian President Imre Nagy -who's statue stands near by. The Parliament Building at Kossuth Lajos Ter 3 in district v, in some respects is strikingly similar to The Palace of WestMinster in London. It was built before WW1 and is exudes power and imperialism. At night it is floodlit and even more impressive - especially if viewed from the Bude on the other side of The Danube. Only part of it now functions as a government building. It opens daily from 10 - 2pm and provided The Parliament is not sitting you can join a guided tour.

Close by is The Statue of Attila Josef a Hungarian Poet born in 1905 who at the age of 32, severely depressed, through himself in front of a train. The statue shows a man sitting on steps, apparently exhausted, with his arms on his knees and a face haunted by pain. The Opera House at Andrassy U.22 was built in 1878 in a Renaissance style and lavishly decorated internally with marble, gilt, fresco's and cherubs. It includes a museum. In the afternoons around 3pm you can go on a guided tour for around 900 huf. The Hungarian National Muzeum, at Krout 14 in district V1,1 is another building with stunning architecture, Liberally decorated with marble it gives visitors a detailed insight into the history of the Hungarian and the changing borders of their nation.

The Great Synagogue at Dohany utca 2 in district V11 has recently been restored and is a very grand building. It a museum. It stands on the edge of a former Jewish Ghetto part of which is now being redeveloped whilst the remainder seems to have been forgotten by time. Guide tours are available: Mon - Thursday 10.00 - 4.30, Friday 10.00 2.30, & Saturday 10.00 - 1.30. The Textile Museum at Lajos utca 138, district 111, is an exhibition of the Hungarian Textiles industry and features some enormous machinery from years gone by.

On the Bude side of The Danube is The Castle District. It includes The Matyas Church and the ruins of The Dominican Monastery. This area is very up and best accessed via The Cable Lift by The Elizabeth Bridge. This ride and The Castle District offer the most amazing view of The Danube and Budapest especially at night.

The focal point In The Castle District is The Royal Palace at the top of Castle Hill. Since the 13th century there have been several palaces here all of which have been destroyed in various wars. The present palace was rebuilt during the 60s & 70s having been nearly totally destroyed in fighting between the Russians and German at the end of WW2. Close to the palace is The Museum Of Music History at Tancsics Mihaly utca 7. Part of this museum is dedicated to the memory of the Hungarian Composer Bela Bartok. It also contains a large number or orchestral instruments some of which are very old.