Buda Castle: photo, address

Once consisting of three parts, each of which has its own history, today Budapest is one of the most beautiful and popular European cities, in which hundreds of thousands of tourists come annually. Buda Castle is the most visited monument in the city. It has a centuries-old history of ups, downs and complete destruction, but today anyone can touch his almost 800-year history.

History of Budapest

Even before the mention of Budapest was first mentioned in the chronicles of the 13th century, on these lands there were settlements of Celts and Romans, and Hungarians first came here in the late 9th century. Having each their own path of development, three separate settlements, known by 1148 as Buda, Pest and Obuda, later became the historical part of the city.

All three towns were destroyed by the Mongol-Tatars in 1241, and after their restoration in a year Buda became the capital. By 1350, Buda received the status of the residence of the kings of Hungary for almost 200 years. After Buda, Pest and Obud were under the rule of the Turks at first, then the Habsburgs, only in 1867 Budapest became the capital of Hungary, having become part of the Austro-Hungarian Crown. The final unification of the three cities occurred in 1873.

The city became a major metropolis of Europe in 1950 after joining to it 7 nearby cities and 16 settlements. Today in Budapest there are 23 districts, most of which fall to Pest, located on the flat part of the Danube. Buda 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 in tourists is Buda Castle - a Buda fortress of the 13th century. On the territory of the castle there are museums, palaces, a church and a cathedral, which in themselves are of great historical interest.

Royal Palace

Founded at first as a fortress, Buda Castle later became the residence of Hungarian kings. This was facilitated by the formation of a special architectural ensemble, which included the Royal Palace, which belonged to King Zhigmand.

The modest building, which became the first residence of Hungarian kings, was rebuilt in the 15th century into a real palace by order of Sigismund of Luxembourg. They were invited well-known at that time by their mastery of European architects and artists. So it was the beginning of construction, but the real "pearl" and the best palace in Europe, he became under King Matthias.

Italian masters "turned" the residence of Hungarian kings into the best example of a Renaissance style. The interior decoration of the halls and chambers points to the power and wealth of the King of Hungary, but this grandeur did not last long. In 1541 the country was captured by the Turks for a long and a half century.

During this time the palace was plundered and partially destroyed. Only in the 19th century began its restoration, which was also short-lived, since at the very end of World War II Buda Castle (Budapest) was completely destroyed.

The restoration of the Royal Palace could be realized already in the 20th century thanks to the surviving drawings and sketches. Today its facade is a majestic example of Baroque style, while its rear is represented by partially preserved buildings from the Middle Ages.

Cathedral of St. Matyasha

One of the most beautiful architectural monuments that the Buda Castle presents to tourists is the Cathedral of St. Matyasha.

Its construction lasted almost 200 years, but thanks to this a beautiful Gothic cathedral was built, which was not destroyed even by the Turks, for which the Christian shrines meant nothing. They just painted the frescoes and for a long 150 years made it the main mosque of the city.

It was this cathedral that greatly contributed to the liberation of Hungary from the Turkish yoke. During the shelling in 1686, a wall collapsed near the building, presenting to the Turks worshiping in it the statue of the Virgin Mary. This event shocked the Turkish soldiers and undermined the spirit, turning them into flight.

The next restoration of the cathedral was at the end of the 19th century. Reconstruction works were led by Fridesh Shulek, a well-known 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 construction years. Proof of this are the columns of 1260, miraculously survived for so many centuries.

National Picture Gallery

As many as 3 wings of the Royal Palace is occupied by the Hungarian Art Gallery, which opened its doors to visitors in 1957.

The collection consists of paintings, sculptures, works of folk artists, both private individuals and museums of other cities in Hungary. In total there are more than 100 000 copies of works by Hungarian painters, sculptors and wood carvers, from Gothic times to the realism of the 19th century.

It's amazing that all the variety of works of art is represented by Hungarian artists, or by 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, closed on Monday.

Fishermen's Bastion

Buda Castle (photo it confirms) has in its architectural ensemble an amazing structure, representing a symbol of the history of the Hungarian people.

The Fisherman's Bastion, built by Fridesh Shulek at the end of the 19th century, represents a powerful fortification in the Gothic and neo-Romantic style that once was on this site. The name is due to the fact that the fishing guild was responsible for this site of the tower with powerful walls in the Middle Ages.

The bastion has 7 towers - 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, from which a magnificent view of the Danube and Pest opens. The area of the bastion is decorated with a monument to the first King Istvan the Great, under whose administration the Hungarian state arose.

In 2013, on the Fisherman's Bastion Square, the opening of the restored underground chapel of the church of St. Mikhail. A visit to the bastion is free, except for the upper towers and the chapel.

The Palace of Sandor

Once built in 1806 for the Count Vincent Sandor, the palace today is the residence of the Hungarian president. Unobtrusive from the outside, a two-story building with bas-reliefs on the themes of ancient Greek mythology has a stunningly beautiful decoration 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 the Second World War, it was plundered and completely destroyed. The restoration ended in 2002, and since 2003 it is the presidential palace, near which a guard change is being held every day at 12.00, which is liked to be photographed and filmed by tourists.

Pictures, tapestries and crystal chandeliers of the palace can be seen only in September during an exhibition dedicated to the Day of Cultural Heritage of Hungary. In the remaining months the palace is closed for public inspection.

Hungarian Wine House

Hungary is famous for its wines for a long time. Today it is produced in 22 districts of the country, which is favored by the climate and love of this drink by the Hungarians themselves. The wine museum is located in the square of the Holy Trinity, 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 kinds of wine. The wine guide provides complete information on the place of production, composition and brands of wines.

It is recommended that tired tourists visit the wine house at the end of the castle's inspection.

UNESCO heritage

Buda Castle (Budapest, address St. George Square, 2) in 2002 was included in the list of UNESCO properties, although not all architectural monuments of this ensemble have been completely restored. In addition to the castle, the remains of the ancient Celtic settlement and the ancient Roman town of Aquincum are included in the list.

Today Buda Castle is the most visited sight of the Hungarian capital.