Budapest during the Roman Empire. Budapest, capital of Hungary: photos and interesting facts

Characterized by its color and interesting story. The city attracts a significant number of tourists every year due to its unique architecture and healing mineral springs. Knowing where it is, you can always make an exciting trip to the capital of Hungary.

Where is the city of Budapest

The geographical landmarks of the city are the lowlands of the Carpathian Basin, surrounded by South Slavic mountain ranges, as well as the Alps and Carpathians. The formation of Budapest dates back to 1873, when the local government decided to merge cities such as Pest, Óbuda and Buda. At the same time, the Danube today serves as a natural border between the two parts of the city, forming hilly and flat landscapes.

In the area of ​​the Buda Mountains there is the highest point of the capital of Hungary called Jánoša (530 m). The presence of mineral springs in Budapest is explained by the fact that the city is located on a tectonic fault. The city territory includes an island part consisting of seven islands.

In the immediate vicinity of Budapest are the cities of Szentendre, Gödöllő, and others.

History of Budapest

The city's past is closely connected with the Celtic settlement of Ak-Ink, the first mention of which dates back to the 1st century BC. e. Subsequently, Ak-Ink was renamed Aquincum, and the Romans who came to these places gave the settlement the official status of the capital of the province of Pannonia.

In the middle of the 5th century, the territory of modern Budapest was inhabited by the Huns and Ostrogoths, who established their own orders and traditions. Three centuries later, representatives of the Hungarian tribes ruled in Aquincum, who renamed the city Buda.

After the Mongol invasion in 1241, Budapest was severely destroyed and took a long time to recover. Only in 1247, by decree of King Bela IV, a powerful defensive structure was erected, subsequently protecting the city from foreign invaders.

In the first half of the 16th century, Pest, Óbuda and Buda were occupied by Turkish troops, whose rule lasted until the 17th century, after which the city was ruled by the Austrian Habsburg dynasty. The period of prosperity and rapid development of Budapest occurred in the 18th century, and in the 19th century the fate of the city changed dramatically when Hungary became a Soviet republic.

During World War II, Budapest suffered serious damage due to the invasion of the city by German troops. Thanks to the colossal efforts of local authorities, the architectural appearance of the capital of Hungary was restored 20 years later.

How to get to Budapest

If you decide to visit Budapest, it is better to first decide on the type of transport. Among the most common methods are the following: airplane; train; bus.

The airplane is considered the most quick option, since there are many direct flights between Ferihegy Airport and major cities. Travel time depends on the starting point of departure. Departing from, you will be in the capital of Hungary in 2.5 hours.

A comfortable train departs from the Russian capital to Budapest several times a week, arriving at the city’s main railway station within 38 hours. You can also easily reach Budapest by train from almost all European cities.

Traveling by bus is suitable for those who like long trips. Regular bus service has been established between Hungary and Russia.

What to see in Budapest

As a rule, tourists tend to visit the Hungarian capital in order to see the numerous attractions. Be sure to include in your program:

• The Parliament building, erected in the 19th century, is an example of the neo-Gothic architectural style.
• St. Stephen's Basilica, built in honor of the first king of Hungary. The temple is one of the most beautiful buildings in Budapest and has a luxurious interior.
• The Széchenyi Baths is a unique complex that includes outdoor and closed type with hot thermal water, saunas and relaxation areas.
• Andrássy Avenue is a place without which it is impossible to imagine the architectural appearance of Budapest. Opera theatre, Mora Jokai Square, Oktogon, Franz Liszt, Drexler Palace, Palace of Art, numerous thematic museums - all this can be seen on Andrássy Avenue, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Vajdahunyand Castle is worthy of special attention, since its vast territory amazingly combines buildings of different architectural styles, a circus, chapels and a zoo.
• Matthias Cathedral, built in the 14th century, after which the building was reconstructed several times, but did not lose its splendor and originality. And next to the temple is the famous Fisherman's Bastion.
• Mount Gellért, at the top of which there is an observation deck offering an amazing view of Budapest. In the vicinity of the mountains, you can not only enjoy the picturesque landscapes, but also take baths with water from thermal springs, and also see the majestic monument dedicated to the Hungarian ruler Istvan.

A trip to the capital of Hungary will give you real pleasure. Budapest leaves an indelible mark on tourists, as it has a magical atmosphere, luxurious architectural ensembles and excellent health tourism resources.

The capital of Hungary is recognized as one of the most beautiful and attractive cities in the world. Its streets are intricately intertwined with historical buildings from the Roman Empire and modern neighborhoods. Budapest fully possesses that special European mood and chic for which other elegant old European cities are famous.

History of the city on the banks of the Danube

The Romans built bridges across the Danube in the 2nd century, but Buda, located on the right bank of the river, and Pest on the left were able to connect only in 1840, when the grandiose Chain Bridge was built. This was not done before, obviously because the current in that place was very stormy, the river often overflowed its banks, preventing the formation of dense soil. The first bridge was regarded as an engineering marvel of the time. Two Englishmen supervised the construction. Many of the workers were English, and Italians from Trieste and Slavs also worked with them. The Hungarian nobility provided financing.

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In 1873, Buda, Obuda (old Buda) and Pest merged into a single city. New bridges have appeared. But they were all blown up during World War II, when the Germans were preparing the last defensive line on Fortress Hill. The recovery process took quite a long time. The chain bridge was re-opened in 1949, exactly a century after its construction. However, the single-span Elizabeth (Erzsebet) Bridge was restored only in 1964.

This bridge is named after a representative of the House of Habsburg, who was extremely popular in these parts: Empress Elisabeth, the wife of Franz Joseph, was called Little Sister all over the world.

One of the bridges was also named after Franz Joseph, which was later renamed Sabadshaghid (Liberty Bridge). Buda looks much older than Pest, but in fact it was founded after the Mongols destroyed the latter in 1241. The left bank of the river is flat, but the steep limestone hills of the right bank served as natural defensive barriers, and the Danube separated Buda from the road , along which eastern riders on short piebald horses could return at any time.

The current boulevards and ring roads were laid mainly at the beginning of the 20th century. They cope well with modern traffic loads, which cannot be said about the older areas of the capital. On one of the hills of Buda, the venerable Bishop Gellert in 1046 tried to preach Christianity to the local residents, for which he was severely punished: he was stuffed into a barrel studded with nails and thrown from the hill into the river. This mountain is now called after the priest. From its top you can see the entire city, the flat expanses beyond and the winding ribbon of the Danube.

On the mountain there is an ancient citadel and a monument to the Liberation of Hungary from the fascist occupiers. Bela IV began the construction of the new city of Buda in the 13th century. from the construction of a fortress on Fortress Mountain, which was supposed to protect the residential area located north of Mount Gellert. The city had to go through terrible times. In 1526 it was conquered by the Ottoman Turks (the decisive battle took place at Mount Mohacs). Although Buda was not particularly damaged then, it was destroyed in 1686, when it was recaptured from the Ottomans. Having established themselves in the city, the Turks turned the churches into mosques and brought an oriental flavor to Buda.

Buildings and fortresses

Some houses and baths, so beloved by the Turks, still bear the stamp of the East to this day. On Uri Street on Fortress Hill there is the grave of Abdurrahman Ali, the last Turkish pasha to rule Buda. After the expulsion of the Turks, the destroyed city was rebuilt in the late Baroque style, the then dominant style in architecture. Vivid examples of this style in the city are:

• university church;
• Zichy Castle;
• silk mill in Óbuda;
• the two-tower Church of St. Anne on Batthyany Square.

The restoration of the monarchy in 1867 caused a second wave of construction of ceremonial buildings. The fortress was converted into a Royal Palace. The Hungarians, consumed by the ambitious desire to fashion their capital into a city that would outshine Vienna in brilliance and beauty, launched a grandiose construction project on the other bank where Pest stood. During these events, the city, destroyed during the suppression of the revolution of 1848, was almost completely restored. But even greater troubles awaited the Hungarians. The foreign intervention of 1919 and the Second World War left its mark on Budapest.

Fortress Mountain

The Germans, having destroyed everything that stood on the fortress mountain, which served as their last stronghold in 1944, to some extent did the city a favor: archaeologists had a great opportunity to rummage through the cobblestones. They brought to light the material facts of the activities of the great people of Hungarian history - the Arpads, representatives of the Angevin dynasty, Matthias Corvinus (Hunyadi) and others. These finds were skillfully used in the reconstruction of the palace, which now houses:

• Museum of Contemporary History of Hungary;
• Hungarian National Gallery;
• Museum of the History of Budapest;
• National Library.

A funicular takes you to Fortress Mountain, through whose sewerage systems the tunnel passes. Boarding takes place at Adam Clark Square, located near the Chain Bridge. Several streets at the top of the hill, connected by narrow galleries, have a fair atmosphere, especially noticeable at Matthias Church. Cars are prohibited from entering there.

Matthias Church

Official name Matthias Church - the Church of Our Lady (at one time it was even an important Turkish mosque), but it is more often called by the name of the Hungarian king and national hero Matthias Hunyadi, who was married twice in this religious building and reconstructed it. In 1686, the church was almost completely destroyed, rebuilt in the 18th century, and acquired its current appearance only in the 19th century. The last two Hungarian kings, Franz Joseph I and Charles IV, were crowned here.

Through the dark windows a little light penetrates into the church, but as soon as the eyes get used to the dim lighting, the eye snatches from the twilight the elegant columns, walls and vaults of the grandiose interior. The frescoes depict scenes from the lives of Hungarian saints. King Bela III (reigned 1173-1196) and his wife Anna of Chatillon are buried in the Chapel of the Holy Trinity; their ashes were transported here from Székesfehérvár in 1898.

Fisherman's Bastion and museums

A few steps from the church is the Fisherman's Bastion with many towers and stairs. This rather bizarre building with winding galleries was built at the beginning of the 20th century. on the site of a fish market and a fishermen's village. Among the museums of the palace complex, nestled on Fortuna Street, not far from the Hilton Hotel, is the curious little Museum of Trade and Hotel and Restaurant Business. But don't let its name fool you; This is not a paean to gluttony or cafeteria operations. The museum consists of several halls, decorated in the style of Budapest hotel lobbies of the time when they were an integral attribute of the lifestyle of aristocrats.

If you want to breathe a little more air of nostalgia for the past, take a look at the Museum of Military History, which, in particular, contains a collection of military uniforms of 19th-century cavalrymen, which greatly contributed to the formation of the opinion of Hungarian officers as boastful extravaganzas. The exhibition mainly presents materials about the uprising of the Hungarians in 1848, who opposed the dominance of the Habsburgs. The arch near the Museum of Military History serves as one of the entrances to the more modern district of Buda, the main street of which is Fö Street. The street ends at József Böhm Square, named after the Polish general, hero of the Hungarian liberation struggle of 1848-1849, whose monument stands in the center of the square.

Baths of Budapest

On Fö Street there is the Kiraly Bath, which was previously a Turkish bath. About 120 hot springs flowing on the banks of the Danube supply 16 million gallons of medicinal water, which was used by the Romans. The baths in Budapest serve the same purpose as the coffee shops in Vienna (separate visiting days for men and women). The most popular are the Gellert and Szechenyi baths.

From Buda to Pest, located on east coast river, you will reach the Chain Bridge, walking along a pedestrian path for 600 m. On this side are Roosevelt Square with a statue of Count Stephen Széchenyi and the Academy of Sciences founded by him - a palace in the style of neo-Renaissance architecture. Tsorzo Street, running south, is intended for pedestrian walking. It will lead to Vigado Square, where the Concert Hall is located, in which almost all the great musicians of different times performed. The list is headed by Brahms and Liszt.

Shopping in Budapest

Váci Street, the most elegant shopping street in Budapest, runs parallel to Zorzo. Even in the 70-80s, luxury goods were traded here that could not be found in any of the countries of Eastern Europe. This is also true of the Budapest Market, located at the opposite end of Vaci in an amazing building with soaring metal columns, high covered galleries and ramps.

The shopping area of ​​Pest is a pedestrian area, and it is especially pleasant to stroll here. Voroshmarty Square resembles a beehive. Almost everyone considers it their duty to visit the famous Gerbeau candy store, which opened in 1857. Most airlines have offices in this area.

Food for the soul in Budapest

To the north of the square stands the neo-Romanesque Basilica of St. Stephen - a place of pilgrimage for Hungarian Catholics who want to look at the right hand of St. Istvan. The Budapest Opera House is located nearby. Tickets for the performances performed here are not available, but you won't regret just taking a tour of the theater between performances. Near the Intercontinental Hotel you will see the parish church of the Inner City, which was built before the Mongol invasion. Liszt regularly played the organ here, the composer lived just around the corner, and Richard Wagner often attended Sunday parties at his house.

Parliament of Hungary

The huge Hungarian Parliament building on Kossuth Square is completely copied from its British counterpart - both the compositional structure, and even the way it is reflected in the river, only in the Danube, and not in the Thames. The building was built from 1880 to 1902 according to the design of Imre Steindl on a special concrete foundation, taking into account the proximity of the river. Behind the 280-meter facade with statues of 88 Hungarian leaders and military leaders are 10 courtyards, 29 staircases and 27 gates. In front of the parliament building there is a monument to Lajos Kossuth, the leader of the struggle for independence of 1848-1849. Tours of the grand premises of the Hungarian Parliament are organized on selected mornings.

National Museum

Be sure to visit the National Museum of Budapest, if only to look at the apostolic crown of St. Stephen, the most powerful symbol of the country, created by Byzantine craftsmen in the 12th century. This is certainly a masterpiece, but not the same crown that Pope Sylvester II gave to Istvan. Stephen was the first Hungarian king, and a thousand years later he was canonized. The cross on the crown is bent, since at a critical moment in the Middle Ages it had to be hastily hidden. At the end of the Second World War, the Hungarian military handed over the crown and all the royal regalia to the Americans, and they returned the treasures only in 1978.

Synagogue and Museum of Fine Arts

Next to the museum is a synagogue, one of the largest in the world. You will recognize it immediately by its onion-shaped dome. The Hungarian Millennium Monument and Heroes' Square were created to commemorate the thousand-year anniversary of the Magyars' conquest of this land. The sculptural ensemble consists of statues of the leader of the Hungarians, Prince Arpad, and his seven companions. The ensemble was created in 1897 according to the design of Albert Schickedanz. The square is dominated by the Budapest Museum of Fine Arts and the House of Artists.

The first exhibits one of the most significant Eastern Europe collections of paintings, and the second hosts exhibitions of works of contemporary art. And, of course, one cannot fail to mention the Museum of Applied Arts. It stands separately from other museums in the southern part of the city; you need to go to it by taxi. The museum building, created by Eden Lechner in the 90s of the last century, is in itself an architectural masterpiece.

If you want to have coffee or lunch, go to the Hungary Cafe-Restaurant, located on the outer ring road. This Art Nouveau establishment is considered one of the most luxurious in Budapest.

Obuda (old Buda) is located a little away from the city center. You can get there by HEV train departing from Batthyany Square. Nowadays it is mainly an area of ​​apartment buildings, but there is also a historical center with the ruins of a Roman amphitheater with 15 thousand seats. The main cultural building of Óbuda is the castle, built by the Zichy family in the Baroque style in the 18th century.

A country and city with a rich history will not leave anyone indifferent, because they are a part of beautiful Europe.

Budapest is the capital of Hungary and the largest city in the country. Population – 1,721,556 people (2010).

The city consists of three historical parts: Pest, located on the eastern side of the Danube River, Buda and Óbuda, occupying the western bank of the Danube.

Within Budapest there are seven islands on the Danube: Hajogyari Sziget, Margaret and Csepel (part of district XXI), Palotai (actually a peninsula), Nepsiget, Haros Sziget and Molnár Sziget are part of districts III and XIII.

Thanks to the numerous hot mineral springs in the city, Budapest is the only resort capital in Europe. There are 27 baths here, of which 13 are therapeutic. Healing waters are used not only for bathing, but also for drinking.
Last changes: 03/25/2012

Story

In the 1st century BC. e. on the site of Budapest there was a Celtic settlement called Ak-Ink, which was a trade and craft center. After the arrival of the Romans in 89 AD. e. the territory was included in the Roman province of Pannonia. In 106, Ak-Ink was renamed Aquincum and made administrative center. The city housed a Roman garrison and had about 20 thousand inhabitants. The ruins of public buildings, private houses and an aqueduct have survived to this day. Until the 4th century, Aquincum was the capital of the province of Pannonia Inferior.

By 450, the Romans had been driven out by the Ostrogoths and Huns, and Pannonia became the center of the Hunnic Empire.

Modern Pest was called Contra Aquincum (Against Aquincum) and was a small settlement.

Around 895, Hungarian tribes came to the Danube, Aquincum was renamed Buda (later Óbuda - Old Buda) and became the first political center of Hungary. A century later, the Hungarian state was proclaimed.

Settlers from Germany and France began to appear in Pest.

As a result of the Mongol invasion in 1241, Buda and Pest were devastated. After this, in 1247, King Bela IV built a fortified royal castle on Fortress Hill - Buda. In 1361 Buda was proclaimed the capital of the Kingdom of Hungary.

In 1473, in Buda, András Hess printed the first Hungarian book, which became the Hungarian Chronicle.

In 1541 Buda and Pest were occupied by the Turks. The decline of the city and its population began to decline. The residence of the Turkish Pasha was located in Buda; the city was the capital of the vilayet.

Only in 1686 was the Buda Fortress managed to be taken by storm after almost 40 days of siege. The city was liberated by Austrian troops from the rule of the Ottoman Empire and annexed to the Habsburg possessions.

In the 18th century, the rapid development of Pest began as shopping center. By 1800, the population of Pest exceeded the population of Buda and Óbuda combined. In the next century, the population of Pest grew 20 times and amounted to 600 thousand people, while the population of Buda and Obuda grew only 5 times.

An association three cities was first undertaken during the revolution of 1848-1849. However, the Habsburg restoration after the defeat of the revolution again led to division. The final unification took place on November 17, 1873, with the formation of a separate Hungarian royal government. The city began to develop rapidly. In 1900, the population of the united city was 730 thousand people.

In 1873, the streets of the city began to be illuminated with electric lamps, in 1887 trams appeared in the city, in 1885 - a landline telephone, and in 1896 - the first metro on the European continent.

In March 1944, Budapest was occupied by German troops. Later, the city was besieged by the Red Army, the siege lasted 102 days, the central areas of the city turned into ruins during the fighting. On February 13, 1945, Budapest was stormed, all bridges and a quarter of all buildings were destroyed (about 38,000 people died). Most of the Jewish population of Budapest (250 thousand people before the occupation) was destroyed during the Holocaust.

Transport

Public urban transport in Budapest - buses, trams, trolleybuses and metro.

Express buses with red numbers do not stop everywhere. To get off the bus, you need to press a special button above the door.

After 11:30 p.m., night buses operate around the city, marked “E” on the schedule.

The most important bus stations in Budapest are Nepliget and Nepstadion. The first serves flights in the southern and western directions, the second - in the northern and eastern directions, both domestic and international. There are also small bus stations at the Arpada Bridge (local service to the Danube Bend) and at Etele Square (local service to the south).

Taxi drivers like to deceive foreigners, as in many countries. Therefore, it is better to order a taxi by phone. This can be done for you by a waiter in a cafe, or a receptionist at your hotel. If you have to catch a taxi on the street, it is better to negotiate the fare right away. Frequently, rates are posted on the door glass or dashboard.

Metro

The Budapest metro is the oldest on the European continent (1896) and one of the oldest in the world. It consists of three lines - an old one and two new ones - intersecting at one interchange station “Deák Ferenc ter” (“Deák Ferenc Square”). The total length of the lines is 32.1 km, 42 stations. Trains run every 2-15 minutes, depending on the time of day. Opening hours are from 4:30 to 23:30.
Antique-style trains run along the yellow line. On other lines, Russian-made trains (Mytishchi plant) are used.

By 2014, it is planned to open a fourth line (12 more stations, including two new interchanges), and even later a fifth (currently in the design stage).

Fare payment

Tickets can be purchased at the entrance to the metro, at newsstands and orange ticket machines located on the street near transport stops. You can buy transfer tickets (for a trip with a transfer) and tickets in books of 10-20 pieces. If you buy a book, you need to remember that the tickets should be punched one by one, but without tearing them off - since they are only valid in the form of a “book”.

Upon boarding, you must immediately validate your ticket.

You can buy a 7-day or monthly ticket. Then at the ticket center you are given a special card with a photo (you need to bring the photo with you), with your first and last name written, to which is attached a paper ticket with a printed expiration date. The card is valid for many years, so it is worth keeping it for a future visit to Budapest.

Regular tickets are valid for 60 minutes, but when traveling on the yellow metro line - only 30 minutes. Transfer tickets are valid only within city limits and are valid for up to 90 minutes from the moment of first composting.

When you make a transfer - they need to be composted again - from that moment you can travel for another 60 minutes (on the yellow metro line - 30 minutes).

Railway transport

Budapest is the central point of the Hungarian railway network. Most of the most important railway lines depart from here, and the most important national and international routes pass through it. There are three main stations in Budapest:

Nyugati Palyaudvar Western Station- serves trains in eastern and northern directions (but not in western directions). However, in ancient times, trains to Vienna also departed from here, including His Majesty's train, which is why it was called Western.

Keleti East Station (Keleti Palyaudvar)- the name of the station is also deceptive, trains arrive here from the western direction, and from Poland.

Delhi South Station (Deli Palyaudvar) - serves mainly trains departing to Lake Balaton and to the southern regions of Hungary. Trains to Croatia also depart from here.

All train stations in Budapest have a metro connection, making it easy to get to the center or any other part of the city from any of them. Next to the railway stations there are also bus stops, the routes of which can take you to any corner of the capital.

HEV - suburban railway lines departing to cities located at a distance of 20-50 km from the capital. On HEV lines within the city limits, you can use a regular ticket for public transport.
The city boundaries are marked on hanging diagrams at stations and in each carriage. If you want to travel outside of Budapest, you need to buy a separate ticket. This can be done either at ticket offices at individual stations, or at the conductor on the train.

Thanks to HEV, tourists can easily reach three beautiful towns in the vicinity of the capital:, and.

Water transport

The Danube, one of the main waterways of Europe, flows through Budapest. Navigation is carried out along the river. There is a commercial port on the island of Csepel.

In Budapest itself, recreational water transport is developed. Soviet-made Moskva type river trams are quite common.

Last changes: 05/23/2011

Baths of Budapest

There are 27 baths in Budapest, of which 13 are therapeutic. Healing waters are used not only for bathing, but also for drinking.

- one of the oldest and most beautiful baths in Budapest. Located in historical center city ​​- near the Freedom Bridge. Water temperature 38-43°C. The bathhouse has 13 pools, including a bubble bath, thermal pool, outdoor pool, sitting pool, children's pool, and a wave pool.

Therapeutic procedures: therapeutic and carbon dioxide baths, therapeutic, health-improving and underwater jet massage, hot and wet steam room, Finnish sauna, mud therapy, therapeutic gymnastics. Along with the Jacuzzi and wave pool, rooftop solariums are very popular. During the summer months, the outdoor pools are open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

Indications: degenerative joint diseases, spinal diseases, chronic and excited inflammation of the joints, cartilage disc diseases, neuralgia, vasoconstriction, circulatory disturbances, asthma and chronic bronchitis.

- one of the most popular and largest in Budapest. Located in the city park "Városliget". Healing water from a depth of 1256 meters has a temperature of 77°C. The bath waters are suitable for drinking: they contain calcium, magnesium, chlorine, sulfate, alkali and a significant amount of fluorine.

Therapeutic procedures: swimming in the pool, mud poultices, salt, medicinal and carbon dioxide baths, therapeutic and underwater radiation massage, therapeutic exercises.

Indications: chronic diseases of the joints and spine, rehabilitation after orthopedic operations and accidents, pain in the spine, chronic inflammation of the joints in the inactive stage, neuralgia, lack of lime in the skeletal system.

- located in Buda, near the Elisabeth Bridge. The central element of the current bath, a building with a dome with a diameter of 10 m, was created in the 15th century, during the time of Turkish rule. The bathhouse has men's, women's (Tuesday) and mixed (weekend) visiting days.

Indications: diseases associated with wear and tear of the spine and joints, chronic and acute inflammation of the joints, vertebral hernia, chronic inflammation of the respiratory tract, inflammation of the intestines and stomach, pain in the nerve endings, inflammation of the nerves, lack of calcium in the skeletal system.

Treatment procedures: balneotherapy (swimming pool, baths), hydrotherapy (underwater jet massage), mechanotherapy (therapeutic massage, refreshing massage, foot massage), electrotherapy (galvanic treatment, iontophoresis, diadynamics, short wave treatment, selective pulsed electrotherapy, ultrasound, interference treatment , magnetic therapy).

- located east of Margaret Bridge, in Buda. The waters here are warm (22-27°C) and hot (41-54°C). Contain sodium, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate, chlorine sulfate and a significant amount of fluorine. The bathhouse has 8 pools.

Indications: diseases of the spine and joints (deformation, cartilage diseases, lumbago), ankylosing spondylitis, chronic inflammation of the joints not in the acute stage, inflammation of the nerves, lack of calcium in the skeletal system, post-traumatic rehabilitation.

Treatment procedures: balneotherapy (swimming pool, bath, mud therapy, carbon dioxide baths), hydrotherapy (weight bath, underwater jet massage), mechanotherapy (therapeutic massage, refreshing massage, foot massage), electrotherapy (galvanic treatment, iontophoresis, diadynamic treatment, short-term treatment waves, selective pulsed electrotherapy, ultrasound, magnetic therapy).

- located in Buda, in Buda, next to the Margaret Bridge. was built by the Turkish Pasha Arslan in 1565, and in 1796 it was rebuilt in the form in which it has remained to this day. Thermal waters are supplied via a pipeline from the Lukács bathhouse. Water contains sodium, calcium, magnesia, hydrogen, carbonate, sulfate, fluoridion.

Indications: diseases associated with wear and tear of the spine and joints (deformation, cartilage diseases, lumbago), ankylosing spondylitis, chronic inflammation of the joints not in the acute stage, lack of calcium in the skeletal system, post-traumatic rehabilitation.

Treatment procedures: balneotherapy (pool with thermal waters, baths), hydrotherapy (underwater jet massage), mechanotherapy (therapeutic massage, refreshing massage, foot massage).

The bath is open for women on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, for men on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Day off is Sunday.

Sights of Buda Mountain

Buda Castle (Budai Vár) or Buda Castle- unique architectural ensemble on Buda (castle) hill in . One of the most popular tourist places in the city. In 2002 it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The first royal residence on the site of the modern castle was built by the Hungarian king Béla IV between 1247 and 1265.

The oldest part of the modern castle was built in the 14th century by Duke Stefan of Slavonia, the younger brother of the Hungarian king Louis the Great.

Under King Sigismund, the castle was seriously expanded and probably became the largest in the late Middle Ages.

After the Battle of Mohacs in 1526, the Kingdom of Hungary ceased to exist, and the Turks occupied the castle unopposed. Under Ottoman rule, the castle complex of buildings was used as military barracks and a stable; some of the premises were empty.

Most of the medieval buildings of the castle were destroyed during the siege of Buda by the Allied forces of the Holy League during the liberation of the city during the Great Turkish War.

In 1715, King Charles VI ordered the castle grounds to be cleared of ruins and began construction of a new complex of buildings.

In 1749, construction of the new Royal Palace was completed.

On May 4, 1849, the Hungarian revolutionary army under the leadership of Artur Gergely besieged Buda Castle, the castle was captured, and as a result the Royal Palace was completely burned down.

Soon after the Hungarian Revolution, in 1850-1856, the palace was restored. Following the Austro-Hungarian Agreement in 1867, Emperor Franz Joseph I was crowned King of Hungary in the palace.

In the 19th century, the autonomous Hungarian government decided to build a new Royal Palace building, no worse than any of the then known residences of European monarchs, construction lasted from 1875 to 1912. After its official opening, its building was recognized as the most outstanding Hungarian building, representing the advent of the new century.

After the revolution of 1918 and the removal of the Habsburgs, the Royal Palace became the residence of the ruler of Hungary, Horthy Miklos.

In 1944, during the capture of Budapest, Buda Castle became the last center of resistance of fascist troops. Heavy fighting turned it into ruins.

After the war, archaeological excavations were carried out to restore some of the medieval buildings. The result was the discovery of some buildings from the time of Sigismund. The large-scale reconstruction of medieval fortifications has seriously changed the appearance of modern Budapest. The reconstruction project is considered successful, since it was possible to combine the view of medieval buildings with the modern layout of the castle.

Since the communist government of Hungary considered the Royal Palace a symbol of the previous regime and the oppression of the nation, the palace was subjected to barbaric reconstruction, many valuable architectural features were removed or were not restored in its original form after the war.

The palace was finally restored in 1966, and the castle grounds were completely restored only in 1980.

Three main parts of Buda Castle: the Royal Palace, St. George's Square and the historical residential area.
Last changes: 03/08/2013

Other sights of Budapest

Andrássy Avenue (Andrássy út)- one of the main attractions of Budapest. For its majestic, elegant appearance it is called the Champs Elysees of Budapest. Construction began in 1872 and was completed by 1884. The avenue is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The length of the avenue is 2.5 km. It connects Erzsebet Square with Heroes' Square and with the city park of Városliget; The avenue has many buildings in the neo-Renaissance style, one of the most striking examples of which is the Opera House, built in 1884.

Bears the name of the Austrian-Hungarian Foreign Minister Gyula Andrássy.

The avenue changed its name several times: the original Radial Avenue was first renamed Andrássy Avenue, then after World War II it bore the name of Stalin. In the revolutionary year of 1956 it was renamed into Youth Avenue, and then until 1989 it was called People's Republic Avenue.

House of Terror (Terror Háza)- a museum on Andrássy Avenue in Budapest, located in the building of the former Hungarian State Security Administration and dedicated to the tragic periods of the totalitarian history of Hungary. The building, built in 1880, was a prison in post-war Hungary where opponents of the regime were tortured. After the 1956 uprising, the building was transferred to the Hungarian Komsomol.

In the early 2000s, the building was purchased by the Foundation for Research into the History and Society of Eastern and Central Europe and reconstructed. In particular, the building acquired a wide canopy with the inscription “TERROR” embossed on it, which in sunny weather casts a shadow with huge letters on the facade of the building. Since February 2002, the building has housed a museum, two exhibitions of which are designed to recall the crimes of both the Hungarian fascists and the Hungarian communists.

Heroes' Square (Hősök tere)- one of the famous squares of the Hungarian capital, located in Pest. Andrássy Avenue ends at Heroes' Square, and behind the square begins the city park of Városliget. The square was decorated to celebrate the millennium of Hungary in 1896.

The square is decorated with several monuments. The first, located in the center of the square, is dedicated to the millennium of the Magyars crossing the Carpathians and is a tall column, on top of which there is a figure of the Archangel Gabriel on a globe with the crown of King Stephen and the apostolic cross. According to legend, Saint Stephen was told to convert the Hungarians to Christianity by the Archangel Gabriel, who appeared to him in a dream. At the foot of the monument are depicted the leaders of the seven Magyar tribes, led by Prince Arpad, the founder of the ruling Hungarian dynasty.

Two semicircular colonnades located on Heroes' Square behind the column of the Archangel Gabriel are a monument to the heroes of Hungary. The length of each of the colonnades is 85 m. Between the columns, from left to right, there are bronze statues of representatives of various dynasties of Hungary.

Next to the central column on Heroes' Square there is a stone slab - a memorial to the Hungarian soldiers who died in the world wars, where on national holidays there is a guard of honor and flower-laying ceremonies are held.

On both sides, Heroes' Square is flanked by two neoclassical buildings - the Museum of Fine Arts and the Mucharnock Exhibition Hall.

Museum of Fine Arts- the main art museum of the Hungarian capital, the largest collection of works of foreign fine art in Hungary. Housed in a neoclassical building on Heroes' Square, designed by the architects Albert Schickedanz and Fülöp Herzog, opposite the Mücsarnock exhibition hall. Founded in 1896.

The museum's exhibition is based on the collection of the Esterházy princes. The museum's permanent exhibitions highlight ancient and European sculpture and include Egyptian, Greek and Roman collections. European fine art is represented in particular by the Italian school of painting of the 13th-18th centuries, as well as graphics, paintings and sculpture of the last century. The museum's collection features unique works by such great masters as Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Durer, El Greco, Goya, Rubens, Velazquez, Rodin, Monet, Manet and Cezanne.

The Museum of Fine Arts organizes temporary exhibitions in which world-famous museums such as the Louvre exhibit their collections.

Exhibition Hall "Műcsarnok"- an art gallery in Budapest, located on Heroes' Square opposite the Museum of Fine Arts. The building, with six columns and a colorful mosaic on the pediment, designed by architects Albert Schickedanz and Fülöp Herzog, opened in 1895.

The gallery does not have its own permanent exhibition and is used to host various exhibitions of Hungarian and foreign contemporary art.

Városliget City Park- a large park next to Heroes Square. The site of the park was once the hunting grounds of King Matthias, which was a difficult marshy area in the Danube floodplain with poor vegetation. Under Leopold I, this territory was transferred to livestock pastures. In 1799, under Maria Theresa, the marshes were drained and trees were planted. A canal system was also laid.

Plan diagram of Városliget Park

Currently in the City Park, the area of ​​which is 1 sq. km, there are about 7 thousand trees, including quite exotic and ancient ones.

Városliget Park is home to the famous Széchenyi Bath, a circus, an amusement park, a zoo, the Transport Museum, as well as the famous Gundel restaurant in Budapest, which is over 150 years old.

Also on the territory of the City Park there are several artificial lakes, near one of which stands the Vajdahunyad Castle.

Vajdahunyad Castle- was built in honor of the 1896 celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the Hungarians finding their homeland, designed by the architect Ignaz Alpar, initially as a wooden backdrop for a performance, and then immortalized in stone in 1904. In his design for the castle, Alpar included elements of 21 famous buildings in Hungary, including the Vajdahunyad fortress in Transylvania, the Shegesvar fortress, the tower of the Brasov Catalina fortress, the church in Jac and a number of other temples, towers and castles. The monument to Ignaz Alpar is erected at the entrance to Vajdahunyad Castle.

As a result, the castle complex combines several architectural styles: Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. The world's first Agricultural Museum is located in one of the wings of Vajdahunyad.

(Országház) is the seat of the Hungarian Parliament on the banks of the Danube in Budapest. This building is the largest building in Hungary. The height of the central dome is 27 m, the diameter of the dome is 20 m. In the wings located on both sides of the dome, there are meeting rooms of the parliament (previously the Hungarian parliament was bicameral). The second meeting room is currently used for conferences. The facade is decorated with statues of the rulers of Hungary and Transylvania.

The interiors are luxuriously decorated in a medieval style using mosaic panels and stained glass windows.

Tours of the building of the Hungarian Parliament are held for tourists, including in Russian.

Szechenyi Chain Bridge- a suspension bridge over the Danube, connecting two historical parts of Budapest - Buda and Pest. Opened in 1849, becoming the first permanent bridge over the Danube.

The bridge is named after the Hungarian politician Count István Szechenyi, who invested a lot of money and effort into its construction. At that time it was one of the largest bridges in the world (the central span was 202 m). The bridge played an important role in the economic and social life of Hungary and became one of the incentives for the unification of Buda and Pest into the single city of Budapest. The bridge decorations are made of cast iron.

During the capture of Budapest, the bridge was blown up by the retreating Nazis and needed restoration, which was completed in 1949. The bridge was reopened to traffic on November 20, 1949, exactly 100 years after its first opening.

Margaret Bridge (Margit híd)- a bridge over the Danube connecting two historical parts of Budapest - Buda and Pest. One of the oldest public bridges in Budapest, it was built in 1872-1876.

The bridge consists of two parts connected on Margaret Island, and these parts are located at an angle of 165° to each other. The reason for this unusual shape is the fact that a small branch to connect the bridge with Margaret Island was hastily included in the original design, but was never built after 2 decades due to lack of funds.

All bridges in Budapest were blown up during World War II by Wehrmacht sappers in January 1945 during the retreat to the Buda side while encircling the capital. However, Margaret Bridge was destroyed earlier, on 4 November 1944, when an accidental explosion destroyed the eastern span of the bridge. 600 civilians and 40 German soldiers died. During the reconstruction, much of the steel was recovered from the river and used in the rebuilt bridge.

- ancient city, which was located on the northeastern borders of Pannonia, a province of the Roman Empire. The ruins of the city are located on the territory of modern Budapest.

Back in the 1st century BC. A Celtic tribe lived on the site of Aquincum. In 41-54. AD The Romans set up their permanent military camp here. Gradually, a city grew from the fortress, which in 106 became the capital of Lower Pannonia. By the end of the 2nd century, the city was inhabited by about 30-40 thousand inhabitants; the city occupied a significant part of the territory of the modern Óbuda district of Budapest.

People living in the settlement took advantage of such achievements of the empire as central heating in their homes and public baths; palaces or amphitheaters were built in the city for public purposes.

Currently, two amphitheaters have been preserved in Aquincum: the large Military Amphitheater (Legionary Amphitheater, located a few kilometers south of the main part of Aquincum) and the small Civil Amphitheater.

In 2002, Aquincum, together with Buda Castle and Andrássy Avenue, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

- a fortress built in 1851 by the Habsburgs on the very high point city ​​to prevent Hungarian uprisings like the 1848-49 uprising. In 1867, after the signing of the Austrian-Hungarian compromise agreement, the Citadel lost its strategic importance. In 1944-45. The citadel was used by besieged German troops as a shelter and air raid shelter.

Today, the Citadel is used as an observation deck, and houses a hotel, a restaurant and a museum where, with the help of wax figures and photographs, they tell the story of the storming of Budapest.

The length of the building is 220 m, width is 60 m, and the height of the walls is 12-16 m.

Next to the Citadel is the 14-meter-tall Freedom Monument, which is a giant female figure holding a palm branch in her raised hands.

Initially, there was a monument in this place in the form of a female figure holding an aircraft propeller. This statue was built by order of the Hungarian dictator, Admiral Horthy, in honor of his son, who died in a plane crash during World War II. It was later replaced by the Soviet government with the current monument. Until 1992, there was also a figure of a Soviet soldier, which after the fall of the “Iron Curtain” was dismantled and transported to an open-air museum (Memento Park www.mementopark.hu), where all the monuments of the “communist regime” of Budapest are kept.

Vigadó Concert Hall- located on the Danube embankment in Vigado Square. The building, designed by Friedes Fösl, was built in the mid-19th century. The magnificent facade of the concert hall with the Hungarian coat of arms in the center is decorated with statues and busts of dancers, monarchs and other prominent figures of Hungary.

- a museum in Budapest, designed by Akos Eleed and opened in 1993. The main part of the park is occupied by a collection of sculptures from the socialist period of Hungarian history with a total of 40 exhibits. Most of these sculptures were dismantled in 1989 and taken to the park, where an open-air museum was created.

In the park there are monuments to Marx and Engels, Lenin, Hungarian communists led by the leader of the Hungarian Revolution of 1919 Bela Kun, monuments to parliamentarians Ivan Ostapenko and Miklos Steinmetz, who died in 1945.

The park recreates the atmosphere of the communist era; here you can see, for example, an old standard telephone booth and a Trabant car made in the GDR.

Cafe Gerbeaud- a famous cafe in Budapest, one of the largest and most famous coffee shops in Europe. Stucco molding, luxurious chandeliers, wall cladding made of precious wood and furniture have preserved the style and spirit of the Greenland era in the cafe. The history of the cafe began in 1858 thanks to the representative of the third generation of the confectionery dynasty, Henrik Kugler.

Budapest Great Synagogue (Nagy Zsinagoga)- one of the largest synagogues in Europe. Located in the Jewish quarter of Pest, where many Jews live to this day, carefully preserving their traditions. Construction of the synagogue took place in 1854-1859.

Adjacent to the Great Synagogue is the building of the Jewish Museum of Budapest, built in 1929-1931 according to the design of Laszlo Vágo and Ferenc Farago on the site of the house where the founder of Zionism, Theodor Herzl, was born.

Tropicarium-Oceanarium- here is presented not only a part of the deep-sea world, but also a fragment of a tropical forest, where every quarter of an hour thunder rumbles, rain pours and lightning flashes (exotic birds, monkeys, alligators and snakes live here).

The Tropicarium houses a large marine aquarium - a shark tank (with an 11-meter tunnel for visitors), containing 1.4 million liters of salt water, in which 8 two-meter sharks swim and many hundreds of colorful fish of other species (including fish of the Hungarian fauna). Along with the huge aquarium, there are more than 50 “smaller” aquariums, as well as a terrarium.

Shark feeding takes place on Thursdays between 15:00 and 16:00, with the exception of some special occasions.

- is the oldest zoo in Hungary (1866), one of the oldest in the world and one of the largest in Europe in terms of the number and variety of animals. Located on the territory of the City Park.

- located on the territory of the central city park and covers an area of ​​6.5 hectares. On the territory of the amusement park, visitors are offered more than 50 types of attractions. Today this is a favorite place for family vacation in Budapest.

- narrow gauge railway in Budapest. Track width - 760 mm. The road was built in 1948-1950. There are 9 stations in total on the road, and tram route 61 approaches one of the terminal ones, and tram route 61 approaches one of the intermediate ones. cable car, and at the other end there is a rack railway leading to further attractions. At the main station Hűvösvölgy there is a children's museum railway, telling her story.

Last changes: 03/08/2013

How to get to Budapest

Flight duration from Moscow: about 2 hours 40 minutes.

Budapest Ferihegy International Airport is located 16 km southeast of the center of Budapest. You can get from the airport to the city by bus, minibus or taxi.

Last changes: 05/23/2011

Districts of Budapest on the map: center and where to stay

There are 23 districts in Budapest. Moreover, their size is impressive: after all, Budapest is the 8th city in the European Union in terms of population. However, we travelers are, of course, interested in the central areas - Budapest is not a city in which you should save on housing, it is quite cheap here. In order not to complicate things, we will divide (conditionally) the center of interest to us into Buda and Pest and compare where it is still more convenient to settle.

For your convenience, we will indicate the most “pleasant” settlement area for tourists on the map, without going into the intricacies of the regional division of Budapest. So that you can simply get your bearings: where is the center in Budapest and how far from it you are offered to rent a house.

For those who want to delve into all the intricacies of the regional division of the Hungarian capital, we provide a map. On it, conditional central regions are allocated according to administrative principle.

The center of the Buda side is district No. 1, the Pest side - district No. 5. We do not advise you to move too far from these areas when looking for housing: yes, you may be able to save 10 euros per day on rental housing, and you will spend half of it on travel + that, most importantly, you will also spend half an hour on the road (and it’s already an hour in both directions!).

Interesting fact: each district has its own toponymy. In other words, street names are easily repeated from district to district. Not that everything is, but, in principle, this is considered the norm. Therefore, in Budapest, when traveling by taxi, it is not enough to know the street name and house number: you also need to know the number or name of the district (it is always indicated in the address of the hotel/establishment). Although with such names, we advise you to limit yourself to the number of the district, otherwise it won’t take long for you to dislocate your tongue :)

Buda or Pest: which area is better for a tourist to rent a hotel in?

• Relief. Pest is flat, Buda is hilly.
• Most of the entertainment venues are concentrated in Pest. If you can’t sleep at night, feel free to choose Pest! It's better to be closer to Vaci Street.
• It will be more aristocratic and measured. The development is an unusual combination of ancient “estates” and 5-7-story apartment buildings.
• There is a lot of greenery in Buda, and the dense Austrian high-rise buildings of the 19th century in Pest did not leave much space for park areas.
• In terms of crime, Budapest is considered a safe city. There are no classic unfavorable dangerous areas here.
• Many streets in the center of Budapest are inaccessible to motor vehicles. Moreover, most of them are located in the Buda region.
• Likewise, the metro is more developed on the Pest side (mainly thanks to the M3 line, which stretches along the Danube and has connections with the other three lines). You can only see trolleybuses on the Pest side. But tram and bus services are equally well developed on both banks of the Danube.
• Attractions. As for the sights of Budapest, we can say that they are distributed evenly between Buda (Hungarian Parliament Building, St. Stephen's Basilica, Heroes' Square, Great Synagogue) and Pest (Buda Palace, Gellert Mountain, Fisherman's Bastion), and are mostly concentrated in the city center . Therefore, this criterion is not particularly important when choosing a hotel.

The best cheap hotels in the center of Budapest

We have selected the BEST options for you, you can easily find good ones yourself.
For those who want to feel at home on vacation, we advise you to take a closer look at the excellent inexpensive apartments in Budapest. A kitchen will not only save on housing, but also on food.
For budget-conscious, casual and sociable travelers, Budapest offers great hostels! Low price and the “most central” position - these are their main advantages: Maverick City Lodge Hostel, Friends Hostel & Apartments, Pal's Hostel & Apartments.
For those who dream of luxury, Budapest has also taken care: in this city, luxury housing can be booked for a more than affordable price, in comparison with other European capitals. Is it worth giving up the opportunity to feel like a movie star or an important politician in excellent hotels with the best European service? A view of the magnificent Danube is included in the package.
And finally, a piece of advice: if you’ve already decided that you’re going to Budapest, don’t delay booking (both air tickets and accommodation). The rule “the earlier, the better” is still the main one in the tourism sector.

You might be interested to know:
How to get from the airport to Budapest
10 things to do in Budapest
Prices in Budapest
12 unknown facts about Budapest and Hungary
Budapest route with map

LET'S TRAVEL CHEAP!

Chip flights

Any trip begins with searching and purchasing tickets - this is something you can and should save on!

When searching for cheap air tickets during our travels, we use search engines such as Aviasales and Momondo.

Some rules for finding cheap air tickets can be found in this article.

Cheap housing

Every traveler, of course, wants to optimize their costs and find a good hotel (or apartment) in terms of price/quality ratio. Thus, the more options you are offered, the more likely you are to find the best one. Therefore, your search can be greatly facilitated by the Hotellook service, which searches for the best accommodation booking systems.

You don't need to compare prices on different services yourself - Hotellook will do it for you!

Insurance

To obtain a Schengen visa, as is known, the list of required documents includes an insurance policy for those traveling abroad.

When traveling to other countries where a visa is not required, taking out an insurance policy for the safety of you and your family members will also not be amiss, especially if you are traveling with children.

Excursions

The best way to get to know a new city are excursions from local residents. To do this, many travelers use services such as Sputnik8.

The fact that the city of Budapest was the result of the unification of two cities - Buda and Pest - is known, if not to everyone, then to many (some say that there was a unification of three cities, recalling Óbuda, but in fact by that time Óbuda had long since was part of Buda). The story in general is not uncommon - cities begin to grow and a larger one absorbs all the others. In this case, it turned out more interesting - the two cities united, one might say, on equal rights, and their names, having developed, formed a new toponym. The only thing is that I thought that this happened a long time ago, but it turned out to be relatively recent by historical standards: Budapest appeared in 1873.

In fact, despite the equality of status in the name, the cities are far from equivalent.
Pest is the eastern, flat part of Budapest, occupying about 2/3 of the city's territory, separated from the other part of the city by the Danube. It is here that most of the attractions are concentrated (Heroes Square, Andrássy Avenue, the Parliament Building), the business center, all train stations, and the metro are located. It is no coincidence that often instead of the word “Budapest” they simply say “Pest” - this is almost equivalent:

Buda is the western part of the Hungarian capital Budapest on the right bank of the Danube, unlike the flat Pest, it is hilly and part of the territory is covered with forests. Buda was the old capital of Hungary until the city joined the Ottoman Empire; the city became the Hungarian capital again only in 1784. Here is the Royal Palace, Fisherman's Bastion, Mount Gellert with the citadel, and the catacombs of Buda Hill. There are fewer attractions, but there are:

In the north there is another historical district - Óbuda (literally meaning "Old Buda" - at the time of unification - the northern suburb of Buda). The first settlements on the territory of Obuda appeared in the Stone Age. Romans in the 1st century BC e., appreciating the local hot springs, they built Aquincum here - the capital of the province of Pannonia. In the 2nd century, the city was destroyed by barbarians, and then besieged several times and was finally conquered by the Huns, from whom in the 5th century it received the name “Buda” - in honor of the brother of King Attila, who laid down his head in a duel with the latter. Subsequently, for some time, the city lost its significance and was destroyed. The Hungarian tribes came here from beyond the Carpathians around 900 and their leader Arpad founded new town on this spot. In 1241-1242, Buda was destroyed by the hordes of Batu. After their departure, in 1247, King Bela IV built a powerful fortress south of the fresh ruins. The settlement grew up around the Buda stronghold, and later began to be called “Buda” - and the name Obuda was assigned to the gradually rebuilt old city center in colloquial speech:

Margaret Island. In general, between Buda and Pest on the Danube there are several large islands, turned into parks, on one of these - Hajodyari (belongs to Óbuda, therefore often called Óbuda Island - located north of Margaret) the Sighet music festival is held:

The main reason that contributed to the unification of cities was the construction of bridges across the Danube in the second half of the 19th century (it’s no joke - one of the largest rivers in Europe). After the construction of bridges, the idea of ​​unification arose:

Well, the story about the unification of Buda and Pest would be incomplete without the sculpture “King of Buda and Queen of Pest” - this sculptural composition is located on Mount Gellert directly above the reservoir. It symbolizes two cities: Buda and Pest, separated by the Danube River. The monument itself is not very large and is invisible from afar. To find it, you need to go from the Citadel down Szirtes utca street until you turn to the park. The monument is located in this park. It stands on the lid of the water tank:

The monument, by the way, is often called “Buda meets Pest” or even “The Birth of Budapest”.

Cities stretch behind the “back” of each of the two sculptures. A curious effect is created when looking at the monument from the side of the King of Buda. It seems as if all the buildings located behind Pest are reclining - it is immediately clear that in reality they are located lower. Although in fact both parts of the sculptural composition are on the same level:

In general, of course, if we talk about administrative division, then it’s like in Prague: there are twenty-two districts, each of which has its own number. Some belong to Buda, some to Pest (Obuda for example - this is the third district) - not so romantic, but functional and understandable. Well, in terms of beautiful scenery (natural hills provide the best views, and the central position in the city makes them the most accessible in terms of public transport) the most interesting is the first area (naturally in Buda) and Mount Gellert in it:

View of Buda (first district) from Pest: