What is the river in budapest. Synagogue and Museum of Fine Arts. The most remarkable settlements of the country

- the capital and most beautiful city of Hungary, which is famous all over the world for its amazingly beautiful architecture and thermal springs. The history of the city begins in the 1st century BC with the Celtic settlement Ak Ink. Surrounded by mountains Budapest located in a picturesque lowland, on the banks of the Danube River, and consists of three cities: Buda, Pest and Obuda. United in 1873 into one city, they became the capital of the Kingdom of Hungary - Budapest.

Budapest is the capital and most beautiful city of Hungary

The centuries-old development of Budapest has left many magnificent architectural and cultural monuments. Today, many of them are protected by law and are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Hungarian government takes its historical and cultural heritage very seriously, annually allocating large sums of money for their restoration and maintenance. The capital of Hungary is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, and in order to see all its sights, even a day is not enough for you! Here you can find architectural monuments of various times and cultures: Roman amphitheaters built 2000 years ago, villas decorated with mosaics, baths and fragments of an aqueduct, the Aquincum Museum, 400-year-old Turkish baths, elegant houses of the Hungarian secession of the 19th century, as well as European cultural and spiritual attractions .

One of the most significant attractions Budapest Buda Castle or Buda Castle is rightfully considered to be one of the largest castles in Europe until the 18th century.

In Buda, you can visit the caves of Palvöldi and Semlö, climb Mount Széchenyi and visit Mount Janos, the highest point in Budapest. The magnificent Royal Palace, and nane - the Hungarian National Gallery - the most famous museum among tourists, where exhibits from the 10th century to the present day are exhibited. No less interesting are the Historical Museum of Budapest, the Hungarian National Museum, the Museum of Applied Arts, the Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Fine Arts Gallery, the Military History Museum and many, many others. The Szechenyi State Library has collected a magnificent collection of ancient manuscripts, manuscripts and codes of laws, and the Museum of Modern Art has the works of Hungarian and foreign masters.

The central cathedral of Buda - the temple of the Virgin, or the temple of Matthias, has long served as a place for the coronation and wedding of the rulers of the country, and today it keeps not only the spirit of the ages, but also numerous works of church art. The largest synagogue in Europe serves as a great place for concerts, and St. Stephen's Basilica is the first temple in the capital, the largest in Budapest and the second largest in the country. Unforgettable panoramas of the city will open to you from the Fisherman's Bastion and from the walls of the Citadel on Mount Gellert. The Parliament building is considered the most striking building in Hungary: its height is 96 meters, its width is 118 meters; 10 courtyards, 27 gates and the first central heating system in Europe complete the look of this majestic building.

The capital of Hungary and the largest city in the country, Budapest (Budapest) is one of the most ancient cities of Eastern Europe. The first Celtic or Illyrian settlement on this strategically advantageous place in the center of the vast flat Carpathian basin appeared approximately in the 1st century BC. e. In A.D. 89 e. all this territory became part of the Roman province of Pannonia, and in 106 AD. e. the town received the name Aquincum, presumably derived either from the Celtic name of the settlement Ak-Ink, or from the Roman "aqua" - water. Until the 4th century, Aquincum was the capital of the province of Lower Pannonia and the location of the II auxiliary legion, but the Great Migration of Nations destroyed this idyll. In the middle of the 5th century, the Ostrogoths and the Huns drove the Romans out of the region, in the 6th century these lands were occupied by the Avars (Obras) and Moravians, and approximately in 895, the Hungarian tribes (Magyars) came to the Danube from the Trans-Urals. The former nomads who settled on the fertile lands quickly assimilated with the local Wallachian tribes, Aquincum was renamed Buda (later Obuda, that is, "Old Buda"), mastered the Bulgar settlement of Pest lying on the eastern shore, and a century later proclaimed the first independent Magyar state. In 1361, Buda was proclaimed the capital of the Kingdom of Hungary, but after the capture by the Turks (1541), it fell into decay - only a century and a half later, the Austrian troops under the leadership of Eugene of Savoy stormed the Buda fortress, and the city began its revival. But all the same, by the middle of the 18th century, commercial Pest, lying on the eastern flat bank of the Danube, was significantly superior to old capital both in size and importance, therefore it was decided to merge Buda, Obuda and Pest into one city, which happened on November 17, 1873.

Budapest has a rather characteristic geography, which could not but affect its appearance. Western part ( Buda) lies on the slopes of relatively high (up to 527 meters on Janos Hill) limestone-dolomite hills, replete with caves, and very large ones: Pálvölgyi reaches a length of 7.2 km, Szemlőhegyi - 2.2 km. The fault zone passing here "rewarded" the city with another attraction - numerous outlets of therapeutic underground waters, which greatly contributed to its development in the past. Plain same pest, lying on the gently sloping eastern shore, is more convenient for settlement and movement on foot, so most of the city's architectural monuments are concentrated here. And the Danube dividing Budapest into two parts in this area reaches 230 meters in width and is replete with islands, the largest of which - Obudai-Siget, Margit-Siget, Harosh-Siget and others - are somehow included in the urban infrastructure. Added to this is a huge island. Centedrey Sziget, dividing the great river into two branches north of the city, that is, upstream. In addition, about 17% of its territory is occupied by parks and various green areas, and the hills of Buda are an ecological reserve. In combination with a huge number of architectural and historical monuments, all this makes the capital of Hungary one of the most popular tourist sites in Europe.

Buda

Lying on the west coast Buda(Buda) is the historical center of the city, formed in parallel with the settlement of these places by the Slavs. From ancient times, the elevated right bank, convenient for defense, was considered an excellent place for protecting the quarters of Obuda lying just below (Ak-Inka and Aquinkuma), therefore, various defensive structures were located here from ancient times. The origin of the name Buda is not entirely clear - according to one version, it is named after the Hun leader Bleda (Hungarian transcription - Buda), according to another, it comes from the Old Slavonic "buda" ("house", "building"). This is the greenest part of the Hungarian capital, administratively part of the modern districts I-III, XI-XII and XXII, from which acquaintance with the city usually begins.

Business card of the right bank - Buda Castle(Budai Vár), or the Royal Castle (Királyi Vár), crowning the castle hill(Varhegy). Often this area is singled out as a separate area, in the old fashioned way called Varnegyed ("Castle"), although a whole complex of beautiful historical buildings has long been spread around, almost hiding the ancient fortress walls. The first royal residence was built on this site in 1247-1265, many modern parts of the palace were built in the 14th century, then it was seriously expanded, but the Turks who occupied the country almost did not use this complex, which was subsequently significantly damaged during the liberation war. Only in 1715 did King Charles VI begin the construction of a new royal palace, which ended only in 1749. During the Hungarian Revolution of the mid-19th century, the castle was captured by the rebels and completely burned down, so in 1850-1856 the palace was actively restored, and literally 20 years later it was rebuilt again, which lasted right up to 1912. As a result, the already rather large complex turns into one of the largest palace ensembles in Europe, which includes almost fifty buildings and about one and a half thousand internal premises. The heavy battles of 1944 again turn the castle into ruins, however, the post-war reconstruction made it possible to reveal many previously unknown premises, although it caused some damage to the historical layout. But even this factor did not prevent the industrious Hungarians from turning the ancient Royal Palace(Királyi-palota, Budavari Palota) into a unique historical and cultural complex, deservedly included in the UNESCO World Heritage List (2002). You can get here on a carefully renovated Sikló funicular(Budavári Sikló, 19th century) from Clark Ádám tér or by bus number 16 from Erzsébet tér.

In addition to getting to know this unique historical monument itself, which in itself can take more than one day, all kinds of museum collections are available to tourists here - the southern part of the palace complex is almost entirely devoted to exhibition organizations. The largest area is occupied by the collection Hungarian National Gallery(Magyar Nemzeti Galeria, www.mng.hu), whose needs are given wings B, C and D. This is one of the leading art museums in the country and the entire continent, with an outstanding collection of Hungarian art from the Middle Ages to the present day. It was created in 1957 by merging the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, as well as a number of city museums and private collections, so the best works of national masters are really collected here - more than 100 thousand works in total. In addition to classical examples of easel painting and graphics, there are separate expositions of wooden sculpture and wood painting of the 14th-15th centuries, examples of church art, historical and battle paintings, as well as numerous works by masters of the New Age.

Southeast Palace Wing E given to the assembly Museum of the History of Budapest(Budapesti Torteneti Muzeum, www.btm.hu), founded in 1887. Its exhibition consists of three parts - architecture, urban history and works of art, and all of them are devoted to the formation of Budapest from the Roman period to the Second World War. Moreover, the coverage of the collection is very wide - this includes both classical types of exhibits - archaeological finds, maps, diagrams, photographs and canvases, as well as various household items, arts and crafts, crafts, weaving, fragments of architectural monuments, sculpture, ceramics, household utensils and so on. The branch of the Museum of the History of Budapest is also the famous Kiscelli Museum in the nearby Obuda area. By the way, in the southern part of the museum complex you can find one of the few really ancient objects of the castle - part of the fortress wall 14th century with defensive tower Matze, or Buda (Buzogánytorony), as well as adjacent to it ferdinand gate(Ferdinand-kapu) of the same period.

Well, the closing vast courtyard of the royal palace wing F completely occupied by the richest collection National Széchenyi Library(Országos Széchényi Könyvtar). Founded in 1802 by Count Ferenc Széchenyi (it was this philanthropist who donated more than 15 thousand books from his personal collection), it is entirely devoted to historical documents and publications, one way or another dedicated to Hungary - more than 8 million items, and in all languages ​​of the world. It is believed that there are all books ever published within the country, as well as copies of all publications about Hungary published abroad.

In front of the main entrance to the royal palace stands a monument to the Austrian commander and statesman Evgeny Savoysky, who commanded the troops that liberated Buda from Turkish rule. Small figures on the pedestal symbolize the defeated Turks, and one of the columns of the fence is decorated with a sculptural image of the mythical bird Turul (Turul) - the totemic symbol of many Ugric peoples, including the Magyar tribes (it was also present on the coat of arms of the legendary Attila). Similar symbols can be found on the tops of the four masts of the Budapest Liberty Bridge.

At the northern walls of the royal palace, directly opposite the Szechenyi bridge, another famous monument of Budapest rises - Shandor's palace(Sandorpalota). Built in 1803-1806 for Count Vincent Sandor, it then belonged to Archduke Albrecht, and after 1848 was provided for the needs of the country's government, until Prime Minister Gyula Andrássy in 1867 renovated it and made it his residence. In 1944, Allied bombers turned the complex into a pile of broken bricks. After the reconstruction, which lasted until 2003, the Sandor Palace became the official residence of the President of the Republic of Hungary. In September, as part of the annual Days cultural heritage Hungary, the palace hosts an exhibition and is open to visitors (sometimes its doors are opened on the occasion of some events and on weekends during the summer months).

Three hundred meters north of the palace rises another monument of national importance - the Catholic Church of St. Matthias(Matyas Templom, www.matyas-templom.hu). The first Christian temple on this site was erected in 1015, but during the invasion of the Mongols it was completely destroyed. In the middle of the 13th century, King Bela IV erected a new church on this site in gothic style, rebuilt in the second half of the 14th century using later elements. When the Turks occupied Buda (1526-1541), they turned the temple into a mosque and decorated the walls with sayings from the Koran. Therefore, in the years 1874-1896 it was reconstructed under the direction of Frydek Schulek (Frigyes Schulek), and all of its interior design, including the famous stained-glass windows, belongs to this period. And the 80-meter bell tower of the church became the tallest building in the Buda Castle and the entire capital, in the historical core of which even now you can rarely find houses higher than 40 meters. In the gallery leading from St. Stephen's Chapel to the underground crypt, there is a small museum of religious art, and thanks to the excellent acoustics, concerts of organ and symphonic music often take place in the church.

From the east, the temple is framed by a huge (about 140 meters) gallery of another architectural monument of the Hungarian capital - Fisherman's Bastion(Halaszbastya). The origin of the name of this belvedere has nothing to do with defense and is very prosaic - in the Middle Ages, this section of the castle was protected by the fishing guild of the city, and the square itself was used for the fish trade. During the construction of the palace complex and the restoration of the church, Frydek Schulek in 1899-1905 designed and built an elegant staircase running from the banks of the Danube to the Buda Castle. To decorate its upper point, this elegant complex of galleries was designed with 7 conical hipped towers (according to the number of tribes that founded the Hungarian state), sculptural groups, arcades and balustrades, which offer a magnificent view of the Danube and Pest. For a walk along the towers of the bastion and the chapel of St. Michael in summer time(March - October) you will have to buy a ticket (600 forints), in winter the visit is free.

Here, in the southeastern part of the Fisherman's Bastion Square, there is an equestrian monument to the first king of Hungary - Stephen the Great, who is the patron saint of the country, in honor of which August 20 is declared the main national holiday of the country and is celebrated with mass festivities, fireworks and theatrical performances on the theme national history. Not surprisingly, most of these events culminate here.

From the west to the main facade of the temple adjoins Holy Trinity Square(Szentharomsag ter), in the northern part of which is the complex of the former Ministry of Finance, now given over to the exposition Houses of Hungarian wines(Magyar Borok Haza - Budai Var). This is a real museum that provides the visitor with the opportunity to get acquainted with the products of 22 wine-growing regions of Hungary. More than 700 varieties of local wines are presented here, 70 of which can be tasted during the inspection of the exposition, and even purchased - the museum has its own trading house and offers safe delivery of purchases within Europe.

Old Town Hall of Budapest also located on the Holy Trinity Square, in its southernmost part. However, it would be more correct to call this colorful white house with a turret, built in the Baroque style according to the project of the Italian architect Venerio Keresola, the Buda Town Hall, since from 1710 to 1873 it served as the city hall of the western part of the Hungarian capital. It is interesting that the statue of Pallas Athena, who is considered the patroness of Buda, crowns the turret - such a phenomenon is uncharacteristic for a Christian country. Currently, the Town Hall houses the exposition of the Castle Museum, and in front of it rises the baroque plague pillar(Column of the Holy Trinity, Szentháromság Szobor), erected in honor of the deliverance of the city from the plague.

Narrow streets diverge from Trinity Square in different directions Old Buda, built up with palaces of the nobility and mansions of wealthy citizens with characteristic courtyards and deep medieval cellars. Each building here has its own centuries-old history and characteristic architectural elements, so you can wander around this area almost endlessly. In addition, there are a lot of very unusual structures here, for example, an ultramodern Hilton Hotel, in which the remnants are gracefully embedded bell towers of the church of St. Nicholas(XIII century) and fragments of the Dominican church, which was once located on this site. And absolutely unexpected for many will be the placement of the beautiful Marzipan Museum here in the hotel, where you can not only get acquainted with the history and technology of making this delicacy, but also see copies of the most famous monuments of the planet made from it. Not surprisingly, the city's best confectionery is also located here.

If you go up a little Mihai Tancic street(Táncsics Mihály utca) to the north, you can see the house where the famous Hungarian composer Bela Bartok lived and worked - now this building houses (Institute for Musicology) and a good Music History Museum(Zenetörteneti Múzeum).

And on the Szentháromság utca street running from Holy Trinity Square to the southwest, directly opposite the northern wing of the Old Town Hall, which now houses the institute Collegium Budapest, is the famous cafe-confectionery Ruszwurm Cukraszda. During the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it was a significant competitor to the most prestigious Viennese institutions (Empress Elisabeth of Bavaria herself, the wife of Emperor Franz Joseph I, loved to visit here), and now it is the most authentic institution of this kind in the capital. And a quarter to the south you can visit an interesting Museum of Pharmacy(Arany Sas Pharmacy Museum), located in a mansion built in 1745 in the style of classicism with baroque elements.

In the northwestern part of the historic quarter, on the square Kapisztranster(named after the canonized Franciscan monk John Capistran, whose monument is erected here), you can find another historical monument - the bell tower Church of Mary Magdalene(1274). Built in a mixed baroque-gothic style as the main temple of the Buda guards, the church was turned into ruins during the Second World War, so in 1997 only the bell tower was restored, which now houses 24 bells, and an observation deck is open in the summer (from Thursday to Sunday , from 9:00 to 18:00). And on the site of the church nave is arranged ruin garden, where the surviving fragments of the entire structure are presented.

From the square Kapisztran ter you can go down the street Uri utca("Gospodskaya") to the entrance to the castle catacombs, which were used either as wine cellars, or as a hospital and bomb shelter, or as a modern art center. Now in this underground labyrinth there is a tourist route with a length of about 1200 meters, along which there are sculptures illustrating the most dramatic moments in the history of Hungary, as well as several themed halls for wine tasting, buffets, relaxation and so on. Exhibitions and various cultural events are regularly held here. The complex is currently under renovation.

To the east of the Church of Mary Magdalene, you can find several scientific institutions, also occupying various mansions of the XVIII-XIX centuries, as well as a beautiful complex State Archives of Hungary(1923), which contains a huge amount of historical documents. In front of him is a monument dedicated to the Hungarian poet and translator Ferenc Kazinc, and nearby rises the Neo-Baroque, which was also badly damaged during the war, Lutheran church(Budavári Evangélikus Templom, 1895), restored in 1948.

Vizivaros

Between Castle Hill and the Danube, a narrow strip stretched Vizivaros(Víziváros, "Water City"), which once served as just a port outskirts of Buda, and now has turned into a prestigious area with a huge number of beautiful old baroque buildings, narrow streets and flowering gardens. Its center line is Fe Street (Fő utca), following the route of the ancient Roman road and running from north to south parallel to the Danube through the city. The center of Vizivaros can conditionally be considered a small area Batyani(Bathyani, Batthyány tér), lying 100 meters below the Fisherman's Bastion. On it rises the Catholic Church of St. Anne(Szent Annaplebania). It was built in 1740-1752 in the Italian Baroque style, but in 1763 the temple was damaged by an earthquake, and in 1773 the Jesuit order that oversaw the construction was disbanded, so it was consecrated only in 1805. However, fires and floods constantly pursued it further, therefore, in 1970-1984, a thorough reconstruction of the temple was carried out, which is now considered one of the best Baroque buildings in Hungary. At the same time, the unique frescoes of the dome (1771) and the nave (1938), the main altar (1773) and the ancient organ, transferred here from the Carmelite church, have been preserved.

Also in Vizivaros you can find many other historical objects - széchenyi bridge, or Chain (Szechenyi lanchid, 1849) - the first permanent bridge that connected Buda and Pest, and one of the largest in the world at the time of construction; the tunnel under the Fortress Hill, which is its continuation, exiting from the west to Alagút utca street, the lower station of the Sikló funicular leading to the Buda Palace, the former Capuchin Church of St. Elizabeth(XV-XVII centuries, the only building in the city that retained elements of the Ottoman style), Lajos fountain(1904) on Corvin ter square, Greek Catholic St. Florian's Chapel(1759-1760; Fo utca, 88), the northernmost Islamic monument in Central Europe - tomb of the Turkish dervish Gul Baba(Gül Baba Turbeje, 1543-1548) in a picturesque rose garden(Rózsakert, in 1885, the Turkish authorities bought the site with the tomb, previously used as the Christian chapel of St. Joseph, and restored it to its original form), Margaret bridge(Margit híd, 1872-1876) - the second in time of creation in Budapest, and so on.

If you go south from the Szechenyi bridge, then on the southern slope of the Castle Hill you can see (Semmelweis Medical Museum) with an extensive archive and a collection of old instruments, Turkish tombs of the 16th century(all that remains of the once vast Muslim cemetery), Monument to Empress Elizabeth(this is how the name of Elisabeth of Bavaria, the wife of Emperor Franz Joseph I, is pronounced in Hungarian), bridges Elizabeth(Erzsébet híd, erected in 1964 on the site of the one blown up by the Nazis) and Freedom(Szabadság híd, 1894-1896, also restored in 1946 after being blown up by German troops).

In the same area there is another world famous monument - kiray baths, or Royal (Király gyógyfürdő; Fő utca, 84). This is one of the oldest complexes of its kind in Europe, built in 1565-1570 by Arslan Pasha right inside the fortress walls of Vizivaros, which once again indicates its importance. All 4 pools of the baths are fed by the same sources "Lukács" (Lukács), as in the Middle Ages, Turkish baths, massage rooms and other attributes of such establishments work here. Following the Turkish tradition, the complex is open on women's and men's days, and children under 14 years of age are not allowed to visit it due to the special chemical composition of the water.

South of the Castle Hill on the right bank of the Danube is the greenest part of Buda - Mount Gellert(Gellert-hegy). In fact, it is just a hill only 235 meters high, but the steep and rocky eastern slopes really give it some resemblance to a mountain. For several centuries, almost the entire hill was covered with vineyards, and the Taban region covering it was an important center for winemaking. According to beliefs, in the Middle Ages, sabbaths were held here, hence the name "Mountain of Witches", so in the 18th century a chapel was built on top, which was a place of pilgrimage. But the hill became truly a cult place after the construction Memorial of Saint Gellert with a picturesque colonnade and a waterfall. According to legend, it was from this rock that in the 11th century the pagans threw the Italian missionary Gerard, stabbing him into a barrel studded with nails. Now the statue rises in the northern part of the mountain directly opposite the Erzsébet híd bridge, and you can get to it simply on foot along numerous paths with intermediate viewing platforms laid in abundance along the slopes.

The very top of the mountain is crowned by a citadel ( Citadella), built by the Habsburgs in the middle of the 19th century to control the city, since from such a height almost all of it lay under fire, and the events of the national liberation Hungarian uprising of 1948-1949 were still very fresh in the memory of the Austrians. At the end of World War II, the fortress became one of the last centers of Nazi resistance, so it was badly damaged during the fighting. Now it houses a restaurant and a hotel, as well as an observation deck with a wonderful view of the city and many souvenir shops. Its eastern part is closed by one of the most controversial monuments of Budapest - The Statue of Liberty. It was erected in 1947 in memory of the Soviet soldiers who died during the liberation of Hungary from the Nazis, and was called the Liberation Monument. However, after 1990, the bronze figure of the liberator and the scarlet star were removed from the composition, the names of the fallen Soviet heroes were erased, and the monument received a new name and a completely different meaning.

At the southern foot of the mountain, opposite the openwork steel Freedom Bridge(Szabadság híd), the building of the hotel and the bathhouse is located "Gellert" - one of the most famous in Budapest. The complex was built in 1912-1918 on the site of the Turkish baths of the 16th century, which in turn were rebuilt from Roman baths. In the years 1927-1934, the complex expands and turns into one of the most charming objects of its kind in the Hungarian capital. Here, a unique ceiling and authentic Art Nouveau furnishings, colorful stained-glass windows and mosaics, marble columns and sculptures have been preserved, and 13 pools with hot mineral water (including two outdoor ones), saunas, a modern medical center and massage rooms allow you to count Baths "Gellert" one of the best in the country. Nearby is a beautiful complex built in 1973 Armenian Catholic Church(Örmény katolikus templom; Orlay utca, 6) - the main temple of this diaspora in the country.

There is a small complex on the northeast slope of the hill. baths "Rudas"(Rudas gyógyfürdő), also founded by the Turks in the middle of the 16th century. Sometimes called the "Green Column Bath" (a strange whim of the architect - out of 8 columns that supported a 10-meter dome over the main pool, one is really green), it was rebuilt in the 19th century, and for a long time only men were allowed to enter here. Now it is a public and very nice place with a full range of relevant medical services, and thermal water is supplied here from three sources at once - Hungaria, Atilla and Juventus.

Obuda

The oldest part of the Hungarian capital - Obuda(Óbuda), or Old Buda, lies to the north historical quarters right bank, opposite the Arpad bridge and the islands of Margaret-Sziget and Obudai-Sziget. She grew up on the site of the Roman Aquincum, destroyed by the Huns. Under the Arpads, the settlement grew rapidly and practically swallowed up the ancient buildings, so today this area of ​​old factories and high-rise buildings looks a little like the historical center. However, active excavations and an abundance of very authentic buildings make Obuda one of the most colorful areas Budapest.

Roman ruins Aquincum(Aquincum) - a visiting card of Obuda, together with the Buda Castle and Andrássy Avenue, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. For almost six centuries, the capital of Pannonia and the location of the Second Auxiliary Legion, it was considered the largest outpost of the empire in the northeast. A central heating system was laid here, public baths, numerous palaces and amphitheatres were built, it was a major Danube port and a center of science. At the intersection of Szentendrei út and Keled út (in fact, this place is already outside the modern Obuda), excavations of the late 19th century revealed a vast complex of Roman buildings - two amphitheaters from the middle of the 2nd century AD. e., the remains of houses and streets of an ancient civil city, the ruins of Roman baths, fragments of colonnades and many other buildings. Now there is an open-air museum Aquincum, showing the remains of the ancient Roman city. This region itself is now called Romaifurdő(literally translated - "Roman baths"), and although it is almost entirely built up with high-rise buildings and private houses, in fact it is exactly the place where the history of this city began.

In the southern part of Obuda, between the Szentendrei út highway and the shore, there is a core of historical buildings dating back to Magyar times. Traditionally, the square is considered its center. For ter(Fe, that is, "Main"), decorated with a bronze sculptural composition " women in the rain"the work of Imre Varga (1923). Its main decoration is a two-story baroque Zichy Palace(Zichy-kastély), built in 1746-1757 as the residence of the aristocratic family of Zichy, who owned the entire Obuda in the 18th century. Currently, there are collections of three museums at once - Lajos Kasshaka(Kassák Múzeum, dedicated to the work of this Hungarian avant-garde artist of the early 20th century), Victor Vasarely Museum(Vasarely Múzeum, talks about the French painter, graphic artist and sculptor of Hungarian origin, who is the founder of the "optical art" genre) and Obuda Museum, or Obuda History Museum (Óbudai Múzeum) - a charming historical collection with carefully restored living rooms, workshops of local craft communities and a pretty collection of old toys.

Here, in a baroque mansion on the western part of the square (Fő tér, 4), there is a charming ethnographic collection of Sigmund Kuhn(Kun Zsigmond Népműveszéti Gyűjtemeny). This passionate collector, better known to the people of Budapest under the name "Uncle Sigmund", together with his wife Erzhebet Szabo, for 107 years of his life, gathered in his apartment an excellent collection of folk textiles, ceramics and furnishings from all over the Carpathian basin - it became the basis of this museum. And just a block to the north (Laktanya utca, 7) is located Museum of Imre Varga(Varga Imre Múzeum, Imre Varga Collection) - one of the most famous sculptors and artists of Hungary, whose works adorn not only the best collections of the country, but are also ubiquitous on the streets of cities throughout Europe.

In the middle of a small park in the western part of Obuda rises a baroque castle chiscelli(Kiscelli utca, 108), built in the 18th century for the monastery of the Trinitarians. After many years of devastation, the complex was carefully restored and now houses a collection of historical of the Kiscelli Museum(Kiscelli Múzeum), which is a branch Museum of the History of Budapest. The exposition is dedicated to the new and recent history of Budapest, there is also a collection of the Budapest Municipal Gallery of Sculptures and Graphics (works by Hungarian masters of the 20th century) and a collection of antique furniture, and classical music concerts, film screenings and other events are regularly held in the Gothic monastery church.

And just a 15-minute walk south (Pusztaszeri út, 35) is the entrance to one of the most interesting natural objects of the Hungarian capital - Szemlőhegyi caves. This underground complex With a total length of some 2,200 meters, visitors can see an abundance of spectacular stalactites, unique gypsum grottoes and wide tunnels, while specially designed lighting enhances the beauty of the cave formations. By the way, the cleanest air of the dungeons, the temperature of which stays around +12°C all year round, is very favorable for those suffering from asthma and other respiratory diseases, so the visit also has a therapeutic effect. At the entrance there is an exhibition that tells about the largest cave complexes of the Buda hills.

pest

The most extensive and rich in interesting objects part of the capital of Hungary - pest(Pešť) lies in the flat eastern part of the city. In the Roman period it was called Contra Aquincum, that is, "Against Aquincum", and was a small trading settlement. After the arrival of the Huns and Slavs, Pest began to grow rapidly (the Magyars immediately chose the more advantageously located Buda for their settlement), but its unprotected position led the Mongols to completely devastate the town in 1241, and the arrival of the Turks in the 16th century freezes the development of both settlements for a long time . However, after getting rid of the Ottoman yoke, it was Pest that showed literally explosive growth - by the beginning of the 20th century, 5 times more people lived here than in Buda and Obuda combined. As a result, for some century and a half, a huge number of palaces and rich mansions, churches and parks, shopping areas and theaters have grown here, which were serious competitors to the imperial capital itself - Vienna. Therefore, it is not surprising that even now, a century after the formation of modern Budapest, many Hungarians call their capital in the old way - Pest.

The historical center of Pest is the district Belvaroche(Belváros, that is, "Inner City"), formed on the left bank of the Danube inside the old fortress walls. Now its borders are the Freedom Bridge and the boulevard that continues it. Vámház körut south, boulevards Muzeum körut And Karoly körut in the east, and Deak Ferenc utca in the north. Lying at the intersection of the last Ferenc Deák Square(Deák Ferenc tér) is perhaps the most famous historical monument in the area - Lutheran Church(Deák teri evangelikus templom). It was built in the neoclassical style in 1799-1808, that is, immediately after the law on religious tolerance was passed in Hungary, which allowed Protestants to freely practice their faith. And just a block to the south, on the square Szervita ter, rises Church of St. Anne(Belvárosi Szent Anna Plébániatemplom, Szervita templom), belonging to the Catholic order of the Servites. Erected in 1725-1732, it was repeatedly rebuilt, and the monastery that once surrounded it was completely demolished after the Second World War, so its unusual appearance with a high white bell tower combined the features of different styles.

From the east, the Szervita tér square adjoins a huge city ​​hall complex(Főpolgarmesteri Hivatal), stretching all the way to Károly körút. Tourists have limited access to this majestic complex, but its southern courtyard is given over to an exhibition of ancient urban sculpture, which contains many decorative elements that once adorned houses and wells throughout Budapest - access here is free. And from the west, the most beautiful facade of the building of the former Turkish Bank, built in 1906, overlooks the Szervita tér square.

In the very center of Belvaros there is a small (in this part of the city, many squares really do not differ much from a large intersection) square Ferenciek ter. Its decoration is an exquisite complex Parisian arcade(Párizsi Udvar, 1911) in the Art Nouveau style. Now there is a bookstore, a newsstand and a popular bar, but most tourists come here to see the wonderful carved interiors with openwork glass ceilings. And literally across the road (Kossuth Lajos utca) rises Franciscan church in Pest(Pesti Ferences Templom, 1690-1743), or St. Peter's Church (Alkantarai Szent Péter templom) is one of the most visited churches in the central part of the city.

Three blocks to the west, already on the very bank of the Danube in front of Elizabeth Bridge(Erzsébet híd), rises the main temple of the Old City - parish church of Belváros(Belvárosi Plébániatemplom) - the first burial place of the remains of St. Gellert, who was killed by the pagans. The exact time of its laying is unknown, although it was already in operation in 1046, then the church was rebuilt several times, and in the 16th century the Turks turned it into a mosque, so in the 18th-19th centuries the temple underwent a thorough reconstruction in the Baroque style. In 1976-1977, the old iconostasis and choirs were restored, and the restoration in 2011 unexpectedly opened a number of previously unknown rooms, so now this temple is deservedly considered one of the most interesting in Budapest.

Just a block to the north along the coast stretches the square Petőfi ter, the main decoration of which is a bronze statue (1882) of the founder of Hungarian poetry Sandora Petofi and the largest in Budapest Orthodox Assumption Cathedral(1791-1801) - still working, by the way. And just a block to the east you can find one of the most famous restaurants in Budapest - Szazeves Etterem(“Centenary Restaurant”), opened in 1831 and famous, in addition to its cuisine, for rich interiors with folklore motifs (the house itself is one of the protected historical monuments of the capital). Interestingly, just two blocks to the south, already behind the strip of Szabad sajtó street overlooking the Erzsebet bridge, there is another world-famous restaurant - opened in 1904 Matyas Pince Etterem(Március 15. tér, 7), which occupies the complex of an old brewery.

Six blocks south, at the corner of Veres Pálné utca and Szerb utca, another religious landmark rises - the Serbian Orthodox Church of St. George(Szent György nagyvértanú szerb orthodox templom), or Szent György. Fleeing from the Turks, the Serbian settlers, tentatively in 1695-1698, built a church here with donations from a large community of artisans and merchants, using the foundation of a medieval temple for this. In 1733-1752, a bell tower was erected, in 1850 - a Renaissance iconostasis, after which the temple acquires a modern look. Surrounded by a stone fence, a small garden with wrought iron gates and a medallion over the entrance depicting George the Victorious slaying a snake gives this small but very elegant looking temple a very recognizable and picturesque look. And around within a radius of a couple of blocks you can find many historic mansions and tenement houses, now occupied by prestigious gymnasiums, university faculties and hotels.

And if you go northeast along Szerb utca, then literally after four blocks you can reach a whole complex of historical buildings on the street Karolyi Mihaly utca, among which Etvos Laurent University(Eötvös Lorand University), University Church(Egyetemi Temple), Petőfi Literary Museum(Petőfi Irodalmi Múzeum) and Mihaly Karoy's palace(Károlyi-palota) - the first President of the Republic of Hungary, as well as the already mentioned Franciscan church in Pest(Pesti Ferences Templom) at the intersection with Kossuth Lajos utca.

If, however, we pass by the palace of Karoy and the Karolyi kert parka quarter to the east, you can go to Museum boulevard(Múzeum körút), which is worth descending south to visit the majestic complex Hungarian National Museum(Magyar Nemzeti Muzeum, founded in 1802), dedicated to the history and art of Hungary. Here is the richest collection of archeology and history of the country, an excellent musical exposition, books and manuscripts, as well as numismatic and portrait galleries. And if you follow further towards the river, you can see Calvinist Church(Kálvin téri reformatus templom, 1830) and Central market complex(Központi Vásárcsarnok, 19th century) - all of them administratively lie outside Belváros.

The true decoration of Belváros is also the main shopping street of Budapest - Vaci(Vaci utca). Starting in the north from Vörösmarty Square (Vörösmarty tér), it stretches through the entire Old Town to Fővám tér Square opposite the central market. This is the real focus of many shops and restaurants, cafes and prestigious hotels, theaters and nightclubs, concert and exhibition halls of all stripes. In addition, the houses and sculptural groups that form this pedestrian area were mostly built during the dawn of the Budapest Art Nouveau, and therefore they themselves are distinguished by the richness of architectural solutions and the sophistication of decoration.

Lipotváros

The area lying near the northern contour of the former city fortress walls Lipotváros(Lipótváros), together with the historical core of the city, is part of the V administrative district of Belváros - Lipotváros. Its name is translated as "the city of Leopold" (on many historical maps it is designated as Leopoldstadt, which is associated with the act of coronation of Emperor Leopold II in 1790), and for a long time it was the location of parts of the Budapest garrison.

The historical center of the region is Vörösmarty square(Vörösmarty tér), from which the main shopping street of Budapest begins - Vaci(Vaci utca). Its hallmark is the historic Café Gerbeaud located in the northern part of the square (Café Gerbeaud, Vörösmarty tér, 7). This is the most famous coffee house in Budapest and one of the best pastry shops in Europe, founded in 1858 by Henrik Kügler. In 1884, the famous institution was acquired by the Swiss confectioner Emile Gerbaud, who invented the later classic sweet konyakos meggy (caramel with cherry liqueur) and seriously expanded the assortment, turning the cafe into a real place of gourmet pilgrimage. At the same time, the prices here were very reasonable, and the production located in the catacombs was the most modern. As a result, "Gerbaud" quickly competed with the most prestigious coffee houses in Vienna, and even the vicissitudes of history practically did not touch this institution with a unique interior decoration. Nationalization is the only period when the cafe had a different name, and even that had a very weak effect on it, and now the carefully renovated establishment is still pleasing local residents and guests of the city, turning into a popular tourist attraction.

In addition, on the square itself you can find a lot of interesting things - in addition to the metro station very convenient for tourists (Földalattivasút, "yellow line"), here is fountain complex, statue of the poet and translator Mihaly Vörösmarty, as well as two beautiful buildings in the Art Nouveau style - a former department store complex famous for its decoration Luxus Aruhaz and equally ornate Bank Palace(1913-1915, now - a shopping gallery). And just a block to the west is the second largest concert hall in Budapest - " Vigado"(Vigadó). Built in 1865, the building is famous for its excellent acoustics (the best stage masters from all over the world perform here), a magnificent facade, unique frescoes in the central lobby, as well as regular exhibitions of modern Hungarian art in a two-level gallery.

Literally 30 meters south of the entrance to the concert hall is one of the most colorful monuments of the city - bowing to passers-by monument to Shakespeare(2003) - an exact copy of the original sculpture installed in the Australian city of Ballarat (Ballarat). From the pier at Piazza Vigado(Vigadó tér) is the departure point for most cruises on the Danube, and the surrounding area is home to many popular shops and hotels, making the area a constant tourist attraction.

By the way, the Budapest metro station located under Vörösmarty Square Vörosmarty ter is the terminus on this very first line of the city (opened in 1896), and therefore an interesting metro museum has been opened at the nearby Deák Ferenc tér station. And on Christmas Eve, the square turns into one huge bazaar, where you can not only buy authentic gifts for the holiday, but also just sit in the numerous cafes and restaurants that surround this picturesque place in abundance.

Three hundred meters northeast of the Vörösmarty tér square is the visiting card of the district - St. Stephen's Basilica(Szent Istvan-bazilika). The construction of the cathedral in honor of the first king of Hungary began in 1851 and lasted as much as 54 years (in 1868, the almost finished dome collapsed, so it had to be rebuilt according to a different project), but in the end it turned out the most high building city ​​(96 meters along the bell tower, however, the parliament complex has the same height) and one of the largest churches in Hungary with a very characteristic appearance. In this neoclassical basilica with two high bell towers, you can see one of the national shrines - the chapel with the relics of St. the very unique dome with a diameter of 22 meters, on which there is a fresco depicting the biblical story of the creation of the world.

On the north side St. Stephen's Square(Szent Istvan ter), directly opposite the Basilica, there is a building Museum of Trade and Tourism(Kereskedelmi es Vendeglatoipari Muzeum). This is a rather unusual collection, mostly consisting of temporary exhibitions on the history of the city and its architecture, the development of Art Nouveau, fashion and art. And in the spacious upper tier of the complex, various musical, theatrical and culinary expositions are regularly held.

Three blocks northwest of the temple is one of the iconic places of Lipotváros - an extensive Freedom Square(Szabadsagter). Until 1886, this place housed a huge Neugebode barracks complex, which was used to house the Austrian garrison, as a prison and a place of execution for those who were objectionable to the monarchy. It was here that one of the leaders of the Hungarian uprising of 1848, Count Lajos Batthyani, was executed, as well as many other participants in those events. It is not surprising that the "Budapest Bastille" was literally hated by the people and its demolition in 1897 was received with enthusiasm, and the resulting square became a symbol of the country's independence for a long time. At the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century, the surroundings of the square were built up with beautiful mansions in the typical Hungarian Art Nouveau style, including modern buildings US embassies, Hungarian Radio and Television Company(Tőzsde, former stock exchange) and headquarters of the National Bank of Hungary(Magyar Nemzeti Bank). And on the east side of the American Embassy you can find one of the most picturesque buildings in Pest - post office-savings bank of the Savings Postal Bank(Postatakarek-pénztar). The building was erected in 1899-1902 by the famous architect Eden Lechner and is considered the founder of a new style that combines the standards of modernism with elements of national motifs. And the roof, decorated with flowers, angel wings, dragon tails and other exotic motifs, has no analogues at all - when the craftsmen asked why such a rich finish was in an element completely invisible from the street, he replied: "Why don't birds admire them?".

In the middle of a small square in the center of Freedom Square rises Monument to soldiers of the Soviet Army who fell during the liberation of Budapest from fascism (1946), near the American embassy - monument to General Harry H. Bandholz(in October 1919 he saved many historical monuments of Budapest from plunder by Romanian troops, and in the USA he is considered one of the founders of the military police), and a block to the north, at the intersection of Bathory utca and Hold utca streets, there is a small square with a lamp eternal flame(1926), dedicated to the memory of Lajos Batthyani and other victims of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. It is interesting that under the Vécsey utca street, which leaves the Freedom Square to the northwest, there is " Matthias Rakosi's bunker". Built to protect the top of the Hungarian Workers' Party in 1949-1953 and having exits to the metro and the parliament building, it is practically inaccessible to tourists, but a great many legends about it will be told here.

Three blocks northwest of Szabadsag ter square, a vast green area begins, surrounding another hallmark of Budapest - Houses of Parliament(Orszaghaz). This picturesque neo-Gothic white-stone palace rises on the very bank of the Danube and is perfectly visible from the hills of Buda, and its unusual architectural style makes it one of the most beautiful administrative complexes in Europe. The complex was built between the Széchenyi and Margaret bridges by Imre Steindl between 1885 and 1904. Parliament - the largest building in Hungary - 268 meters long, 24 graceful turrets and a 96-meter central dome, 90 statues of Hungarian rulers and 242 allegorical bas-reliefs, 10 courtyards, 27 gates and 691 rooms with total area about 18 thousand sq. meters plus a gallery of Hungarian historical and battle art. The complex, which regularly hosts tours for tourists (including in Russian, access is closed during parliamentary sessions), also stores one of the country's national shrines - the royal regalia of St. Stephen: the crown (Szent Korona, approximately X century), scepter, orb and sword.

On the adjoining east Kossuth Square(Kossuth Lajos tér) two more buildings were erected in the same style - Palace of the Supreme Court(1896, now it houses an excellent ethnographical museum(www.neprajz.hu) - one of the largest in Europe) and Ministry of Agriculture(Videkfejlesztesi Miniszterium). Also on the square you can see unique examples of sculptural art - monuments to Lajos Kossuth And Ferenc Rakosi, and at the southern walls of the parliament - a sad monument to one of the most beautiful poets of Hungary, Attila Jozefu(Attila Jozsef).

And five blocks south of the parliament complex, also on the Danube, rises a neo-Renaissance building. building of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences(Magyar Tudományos Akademia, 20th century). Adjacent to the complex from the south Széchenyi square(Széchenyi István tér, sometimes called Roosevelt Square), the eastern contour of which forms a majestic complex Gresham Palace(Gresham-palota, 1907), which is now occupied by a fashionable Hotel Four seasons. The once nearly dilapidated building underwent a thorough renovation between 1995 and 2004, and now you can see many details of the original decoration, such as a luxurious main staircase, stained glass windows, mosaic floors, wrought iron railings and grilles, as well as a picturesque winter garden. The eastern end of the famous Széchenyi chain bridge(Széchenyi lánchíd, 1849) - the first permanent bridge across the Danube.

To the north of Lipotváros lies the district New Lipotváros(Újlipótváros), which includes the left bank of the Danube (the island of Margaret-Sziget is not part of this district) up to Váci út street. Administratively part of the outlying XIII district of the capital, it is nevertheless considered part of the historical center of the city. Separated from Lipotváros by St. Stephen's Boulevard (Szent István körút), it was for a long time an industrial area, but between 1927 and 1944 it was redeveloped into a prestigious residential area, where you can still find many beautiful Art Nouveau mansions. The buildings of the beginning of the 20th century look especially colorful - the so-called " Palatinus houses", built in 1910-1911 in a very interesting style, incorporating Art Nouveau, Classicism and many others architectural elements. The area on the banks of the Danube opposite the island of Margaret Sziget - around St. Stephen's Park and along the embankment - is the most prestigious - this is where the middle class prefer to settle and you can see the most characteristic examples of local architecture, including mansions" Danube houses(Dunapark houses, 1935) works by Béla Hofstaffer and Ferenc Domány, considered the most outstanding examples of Hungarian modernism.

New Lipotváros is also worth seeing monument to Raoul Wallenberg(1955) on Pozsonyi út, Lehel tér square with its beautiful Church of Saint Margaret(Árpád-házi Szent Margit-templom, built in 1933 as a copy of the ruined Romanesque church in the village of Zhambek, 25 km west of Budapest), a very interesting exposition Hungarian Railway Museum(www.mavnosztalgia.hu) and relax in Dagaly furdő bath(Népfürdő utca, 36) with huge outdoor pools or on the one and a half kilometer artificial beach Budapest Plázs on Újpesti rakpart. Well, in the very north, almost on the outskirts, there is the most modern water park in the Hungarian capital - aqua world(www.aqua-world.hu), one of the ten largest in Europe - its five-story central dome has a diameter of 72 meters, and 17 pools offer every conceivable type of water recreation.

Terézváros and Erzbetváros

The central part of Pest has been named Terézváros (Terézváros, "City of Teresa", VI district) and Erzsébetváros (Erzsébetváros, "City of Elizabeth", VII district) since ancient times. From the middle of the 13th century, these areas were settled by prosperous merchants - Slavs and Germans in the northern part (Terezváros) and Jews in the southern part (Eržbetváros). As a result, numerous mansions, warehouses, tenement houses and hotels built here in the 18th-19th centuries bear a clear imprint of the history of the dynasties that owned them and are decorated with colorful wrought iron bars, gates, weathercocks and narrow windows. And numerous courtyards sometimes really resemble fortresses. Now it is the district of embassies and banks, cafes and museums, very popular and tourists for its authenticity.

From Erzsébet tér, just a block south of St. Stephen's Cathedral, perhaps the most famous street Budapest - Andrassy Avenue (Andrassy ut), included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This path, straight as an arrow, was originally built according to the design of the architects Miklós Ybl and Eden Lechner in 1881-1884 for the millennium of Hungary as the main artery of Pest, stretching for 2.5 kilometers to the Heroes' Square (Hősök tere) and Park Varoshliget. Entirely built up with magnificent buildings in the eclectic, neo-Renaissance and Art Nouveau styles, it is deservedly compared with the most beautiful streets of European capitals, and the abundance of museums and shops, cafes and restaurants, cute monuments and cozy lanes has long made it one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Hungarian capital.

The corner building closest to Erzsébet tér Square houses an interesting Postal Museum(Postai és Távközlési Múzeum) with a collection of philatelic exhibits from different eras, typical for institutions of this kind, as well as individual exhibitions of delivery vehicles, a collection of postal carriages, pneumatic mail, telegraph devices and many other interesting objects. The LogMeIn office is located in the same quarter, famous for its beautiful facade elements by the Hungarian sculptor A. Strobl.

Three blocks further to the left, you will have a view of the majestic complex Hungarian State Opera(Magyar Állami Operaház). This theatrical complex, the largest in the country, was built in 1875-1884 according to the project of the architect Miklós Ybl in the style of the Italian neo-Renaissance and is still considered the third in Europe in terms of the acoustic characteristics of the stage. Equally rich is the interior decoration of the building, on which the best masters of their time worked. Installed in front of the facade monuments to Franz Liszt And Ferenc Erkel(Erkel Ferenc; creator of the Hungarian national anthem and founder national opera) the work of the same A. Strobl. In addition to visiting the performances, it is possible to see the building on your own - for this you just need to purchase a ticket for a special 45-minute tour with an English-speaking guide at the Opera Shop located at the entrance from Hajos utca Street.

On the right side, directly opposite the opera, rises the picturesque Dreschler's palace(Dreschler-palota), built in 1883-1886 according to the design of Odon Lechner and Gyula Partos. For a long time, this beautiful neo-Gothic complex housed the Ballet Institute and the State Art Institute, but now it has been sold to a private investor and its fate is not completely clear. By the way, if you go down the street Hajos utca a block to the southeast, you can see the complex New theater(Paulay Ede utca, 35), often referred to as "Parisiana". This is very unusual building built at the end of the 19th century as a secession cabaret, in 1921-1924 it was rebuilt in the Art Deco style with an unusual glass and steel facade for those years. Now it is one of the most popular theater venues in the capital, where performances of various genres take place.

And a quarter east of the opera house are hungarian house pictures(Magyar Fotográfusok Háza - Mai Manó Ház) and complex Operetta Theater(Budapest Operetta-theater; Nagymező utca, 17), which has been operating here since 1923. The building was completely renovated in 1999-2001 and today, in addition to its main function, it houses a luxurious nightclub on its territory. Moulin Rouge, several cafes, studios and shops. And literally across the road you can find another stage platform - drama theater named after Miklos Radnoti(Radnóti Miklós Színház), also recently renovated.

Two blocks to the east is a beautiful Art Nouveau building that now houses the exhibit. Ernst Museum(Ernst Muzeum; Nagymező utca, 8, www.ernstmuzeum.hu). Founded in 1912 by the collector Lajos Ernst as a private collection, today it has become the most important exhibition center for Hungarian fine and applied art of the 20th century. And literally across the road from it rise the parish Church of Santa Teresa of Avila(Avilai Nagy Szent Teréz Plébánia, 1801-1811) with the most picturesque interiors and one of the oldest musical educational institutions in the country - Bela Bartok Gymnasium(Bartók Béla Zeneművészeti Szakközépiskola és Gimnázium, founded 1840).

If you move along Andrassy Avenue further to the northeast, you can go to the small squares of the Jókai tér and Liszt Ferenc tér squares. There are many noteworthy buildings around them, among which the children's theater complex " hummingbird"(Kolibri Theater; Jókai tér, 10) with affiliates Kolibri Pince("Hummingbird Cellar") and Kolibri Feszek("Hummingbird's Nest") a little further down the avenue; building built in 1904-1907 Franz Liszt Academy of Music(Liszt Ferenc Zenemuveszeti Egyetem) with a museum, the Liszt Research Center, a large neo-Renaissance concert hall and the Bartók Music College.

A little further on it starts Oktogon square(Oktogon tér) at the intersection with Big boulevard ring(Nagykörút), which is very convenient as a starting point for exploring the entire area - there is the Oktogon station of the "yellow" (M1) metro line and several public transport stops of Andrássy út and Teréz körút boulevards. By the way, the "yellow" metro line passing under Andrássy Avenue has rather short hauls between stations - sometimes literally two or three blocks "on the ground", so it is very convenient to use it to see the main attractions of the area. And the octagonal Oktogon Square itself is built up with beautiful buildings of the late 19th century, where you can find numerous cafes and restaurants with open terraces in the Mediterranean style.

Three blocks further along the avenue you can go to a large exhibition complex. On the right hand is the memorial Franz Liszt Museum(Liszt Ferenc Emlékmúzeum; Vörösmarty utca, 35) with an extensive exposition dedicated to the great composer, in which there are many genuine things. Founded in 1871 (Magyar Kepzomuveszeti Egyetem), the former Hungarian Royal School of Drawing (Magyar Kiralyi Mintarajztanoda) - the main art school of Hungary, is also located here. City puppet theater(Budapest Babszinház). And right in front of the Franz Liszt Museum, you can find a nice historical Cafe Lukacs, which began work in 1912 and was widely known for its interiors and cuisine (currently closed for reconstruction).

On the left side of the boulevard and slightly to the west rises the complex of the former Hungarian State Security Office, which now houses Terror Museum(Terror Haza, www.terrorhaza.hu). Built in 1880 by architect Adolf Festi, the building houses two highly controversial displays dedicated to the period of the Nazi occupation and the Holocaust, as well as the reign of the Hungarian Workers' Party.

Three blocks further is the round square Kodaly Korond at the intersection of Andrassy Avenue with Szinyei Merse utca and Felső erdősor streets. In its eastern part, you can visit house-museum of Zoltan Kodaly(Kodály Zoltán Emlékmúzeum) - one of the favorite composers of the Hungarian people. The memorial exposition with four halls in the house where the composer lived for 43 years of his life was founded in 1990 and completely recreates the interior in the form it was during the life of the master, and also contains many of his personal belongings, including a unique piano. Further, past the Budapest Stock Exchange and a suite of beautiful Art Nouveau mansions, you can go to a complex of very interesting Museum of Art of the Far East named after Ferenc Hopp (Hopp Ferenc Kelet-Ázsiai Muveszeti Muzeum; Andrássy út, 103, www.hoppmuzeum.hu), founded in 1919 and now presenting 4 independent collections to the attention of guests.

The end point of Andrássy Avenue is a large Heroes Square(Hosok tere), behind which the city already begins Varoshliget park. Built in 1896 to celebrate the millennium of Hungary, it was originally conceived as a national symbol and therefore absorbed the best traditions of the country in its design. In its center there is a 36-meter column of the Millennium Monument (Millenniumi Emlekmu, 1896-1929), crowned with a statue of the Archangel Gabriel, dedicated to the crossing of the Carpathians. The foot is surrounded by colonnades with sculptures of the leaders of the seven Magyar tribes and statues of other great people of Hungarian history. Nearby there is a memorial plate in honor of the soldiers who died in world wars - here, on national holidays, a guard of honor is put up, and solemn ceremonies are held.

From the north, the ensemble of the square closes the majestic neoclassical building of the Museum of Fine Arts (Szépművészeti Múzeum, 1906) - the country's largest collection of works by foreign masters. From the south, the square ends with the equally monumental complex of the Myucharnok Exhibition Hall (Műcsarnok, 1895), which does not have its own collection and is used for various temporary exhibitions. Behind it rises the world's largest hourglass "Wheel of Time" (diameter 8 meters!), Built in 2004 in honor of Hungary's accession to the European Union. Opposite him, across Dózsa György út Street, there is a picturesque building of the Serbian Embassy (the former Embassy of Yugoslavia), in which in 1956 the leader of the Hungarian uprising, Imre Nagy, and other members of his government, who were hanged on June 16, 1958, took refuge in the Heroes' Square. And a little to the west, along the Lendvay utca street, you can see the complex of the French embassy and the Russian Orthodox Church (Orosz ortodox templom). Under the square, there is the station of the same name of the "yellow" line of the Budapest metro (entrance from the side of Andrássy Boulevard).

The Városliget park, which begins behind the Heroes' Square, was actually built as part of a memorial complex in honor of the Hungarians finding their homeland. It stretches east to the Kacsóh Pongrác út square itself and is the largest green area in the center of Budapest, one of the favorite places for walking and holding all kinds of festive events, literally full of all kinds of interesting objects. From the swamps that once occupied the entire area, when planning the park, several cultivated lakes were preserved, which are now the center of the entire ensemble. On the bank of the largest of them - Városligeti-tó - rises the visiting card of the park - Vajdahunyad Castle. It was originally built of wood in 1896 by the famous architect Ignaz Alpar as a historical pavilion that reflects all the architectural traditions of the country, collected in one place. In 1904-1908, it was rebuilt already in stone as a complex of 21 buildings - copies of various historical buildings that have their own characteristic national color and style inherent in a particular region of Hungary. In one of the outbuildings of the castle there is the Agricultural Museum (the first in the world, by the way!), In the courtyard there is a statue of Anonymous, who wrote the legendary chronicle Gesta Hungarorum ("Acts of the Hungarians") in the 12th century, and nearby is a monument to the architect of the castle Ignaz Alpar (Chokl) .

Just 300 meters north of the castle is another famous building of the Hungarian capital - Széchenyi baths(Szechenyi-gyogyfurdo, Szechenyi furdo). This is the largest complex of its kind in Europe, built from the very beginning (1909-1938) for the adoption of health procedures. It includes 3 external (1926) and 15 internal pools with different water temperatures, an outpatient balneological clinic, several saunas, a drinking pavilion, a mud department, a salt bath and many other health-improving structures. All this splendor is fed by the waters of the well of St. Stephen No. 2 (this is the hottest thermal spring in Europe - + 74-77 ° С) and half a dozen more small ones, which allows you to set baths in different reservoirs when mixed various conditions. At the same time, artificial flow, jet massage, bubble baths and other useful elements work in separate pools. And the building of the complex itself, with its numerous statues, fountains, unique elements of interior decoration and mosaic paintings of domes, is considered one of the best examples of neo-Renaissance eclecticism in Europe. It also regularly hosts "Bath Night" and the Cinetrip summer festival, during which the complex opens its doors at night.

And after taking wellness procedures, you can sit in the cafe of the baths, take a leisurely walk along the green paths of the park or visit other interesting places. Park Varoshliget - circus(Fővárosi Nagycirkusz), amusement park(Vidampark, currently under renovation), zoo with a botanical park (opened in 1865, more than three thousand animals and about 700 plant species), the famous restaurant " Gundel" (Gundel, 1894), as well as a monument in honor of the anniversary of the 1956 revolution.

In the southeastern part of the park rises one of the best exhibition and concert venues in Budapest - Petofi hall(Petofi Csarnok, often referred to simply as PeCsa), consisting of a 1,020 square meter hall and an outdoor stage capable of accommodating up to 4,500 people at a time. And right behind it is Hungarian Transport Museum(Magyar Műszaki és Közlekedési Múzeum), also built in 1896 to celebrate the millennium of finding a homeland by the Hungarians. Despite its almost complete destruction in 1944, this museum continues to be one of the best technical exhibitions in Europe, which contains not only various vehicles and mechanisms (some are exhibited in the open), but also many elements of the now lost architectural details of the city - churches , palaces, bridges and so on.

In the southern part of Eržbetváros, at the corner of Wesselényi utca and Wesselényi utca, rises Dohany Great Synagogue(Nagy Zsinagoga; Dohany utcai zsinagoga, www.dohanystreetsynagogue.hu) is the largest religious building of its kind in Europe and the second in the world. It was built in 1854-1859 in the Byzantine-Moorish style according to the project of Lajos Foster (Ludwig Förster), who had previously created a synagogue in Vienna. However, the elegantly decorated interior with beautiful frescoes, a decorative oriental wall and chandeliers was completed only 5 years later by Friedesh Fesl, and since then it has really majestic building(length - 75 m, width - 27 m, height - 44 m), accommodating up to 3,000 worshipers, has become the spiritual center of the vast Jewish diaspora of Budapest. During the Nazi occupation, the entire area was turned into a huge ghetto, more than 724 thousand Jews were destroyed, and the synagogue was desecrated and looted. memorial park Raoul Wallenberg in the courtyard of the temple is made according to the project of the sculptor Imre Varga in the form of a willow, whose metal leaves keep the names of the Hungarian Jews who died during the Holocaust. And across the street from the synagogue is a building Jewish Museum of Budapest(Magyar Zsidó Múzeum és Levéltár), built in 1929-1931 on the site of the house where the founder of Zionism Theodor Herzl was born.

Three blocks northeast along Wesselényi utca you can find Hungarian Electrotechnical Museum(Electrotechnology Museum) with an excellent collection dedicated to the development of radio electronics and technology in the country. Do not forget that in the days of socialism Hungary was the leader of the Warsaw Pact countries in terms of the quantity and quality of manufactured electrical products, and even now products with the Tungsram brand (EIVIRT, now a GE division) and Novotech occupy a significant place in the Russian market. A beautiful building of the Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology adjoins the museum from the north. Etvos Laurent University.

Jozsefvaros and Ferencvaros

To the east and southeast of the historical core of Pest lie areas once inhabited by more modest people. Jozsefvaros(Józsefváros, district VIII) and ferencváros(Ferencváros, district IX). Built up mainly in the 17th-19th centuries, these quarters by the beginning of the 21st century were pretty dilapidated and underwent intensive restructuring, however, many historical monuments can be found here.

Usually acquaintance with the area begins with the largest and oldest in the city Central Market(Központi Vásárcsarnok), lying at the end of the main shopping street of the city - Vaci (Váci utca) behind the Customs Boulevard (Vamhaz korut). Despite the fact that the complex still performs its direct functions (more than 10 thousand square meters of retail space), this beautiful building built in 1897 with neo-Gothic elements is considered a real architectural monument. Nearby are also a complex of buildings included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. University of Corvina(Budapesti Corvinus Egyetem, 1920), embankment Salkahazi Sara rakpart, Freedom Bridge(Szabadsag hid) and a small Fővam ter square.

Walking along the boulevards a little further to the east, you can see the already mentioned Calvinist church(Kálvin téri református templom), red brick mansion College of Fine and Applied Arts(Képző-és Iparművészeti Szakközépiskola és Kollégium), urban Erwin Szabo Library V former palace Venkheim (Wenckheim, XIX century), an extensive complex of the oldest medical educational institution in Hungary - Semmelweis University(Semmelweis Egyetem, founded in 1769), building Peter Pazman Catholic University(Pázmány Péter Katolikus Egyetem, founded in 1635) and the most popular House of the Hungarian Palinka(Magyar Pálinka Háza) on Rákóczi street (Rákóczi út).

Almost across the road from the complex Semmelweis University The Moorish-style mansion, built between 1893 and 1896, designed by Edén Lechner and Gyula Partos, with an emerald green roof lined with the famous Zsolnay tiles, rises. Now there is an exposition Museum of Applied Arts(Iparművészeti Múzeum), which stores unique works of decorative art, textiles, clothing, jewelry, cutlery and watches of the 16th-21st centuries, as well as family heirlooms of the Esterházy family. Here you can also see a large collection of the Zsolnay Porcelánmanufaktúra Zrt company itself, which since 1853 has been producing not only excellent ceramic products for utilitarian purposes, but also many decorative ceramics of all styles (the main part of the collection is stored in the museum of the southern Hungarian city of Pécs).

And two blocks west, behind Park Square Markusovszky ter, you can find a very unusual Bible Museum(Ráday Gyűjtemény - Biblia Múzeum). It was opened in 1988 and currently presents 4 collections dedicated to archeology and its connection with biblical history, the historical aspects of Scripture, the history of the publication of the Bible in Hungarian and other dialects of the planet. The most valuable exhibits of the collection are a copy of the so-called Vizhoy Bible (1590 - the first copy of the Holy Scripture, fully translated into Hungarian) and a book published in 1608, which belonged to Prince György Rákóczi I, one of the leaders of the war against Austrian domination.

Even further east, behind the ring of Ferenc körút and József körút boulevards, it is worth visiting the beautiful Neo-Renaissance complex built in 1881-1884 Keleti station(Keleti pályaudvar, that is, "Eastern", the largest and busiest in the city). To the south, behind the ultra-modern shopping center Arena Plaza, lies a huge cemetery. Kerepeshi(Kerepesi, 1849) - one of the oldest in Europe and the most famous in the city. Here are the mausoleums of Abraham Gantz, Lajos Batthyani, Ferenc Deak and Lajos Kossuth, as well as the graves of many other famous political figures of the country, writers, artists and scientists.

Five blocks south is a picturesque Ortsy park(Orczy park) with a small pond and the complex of the former Royal Military Academy "Ludovika" (Ludovika Academy, 1836), which now houses Hungarian Museum of Natural History(Magyar Természettudomany Múzeum), theater "Barka"(Barka Theatre), Raoul Wallenberg School of Social Sciences and an arboretum. Literally across the road to the north of the park, a green zone begins. Budapest Botanical Garden(Füvészkert) - the first complex of its kind in the country (founded in 1771, opened on this site since 1847). Here, on the territory of more than 3 hectares (plus 2000 square meters of greenhouses and conservatories), you can see more than 8 thousand plants of 150 species from all over the world, and some neglect of the park only adds to its charm. And to the west there is another campus Semmelweis University, even more extensive the closer to the center.

Nearby you can also find known as the "Temple of Memory" Presbyterian Church in Oradea Square(Nagyvárad téri református templom, 1930-1935), Church of Our Lady (Magyarok Nagyasszonya Templom) on Rezső tér Square, a complex of former cavalry barracks and the state mint (now a multifunctional cultural and office center at Üllői út, 102), a sports complex Groupama Aréna, the Church of the Holy Cross (Szent Kereszt templom), many old mansions and shopping centers, as well as the vast park area Nepliget (Népliget, "People's Park") - the largest in the city: the TIT Budapesti Planetárium and the city's largest youth club E-club. In the very southeast, already within the 19th district of the capital, there is a small but very unusual collection of the Museum of Hairdressing Art (Fodrász Múzeum, Ady Endre Street, 97-99), which is a carefully recreated hairdressing salon of the late 19th century with all the tools and paraphernalia establishments of this kind.

Well, in the very south-west of Ferencváros, in the triangle between the embankment and the streets Soroksári út and Rákóczi híd with the last bridge of the same name (often called in the old fashioned way - Lagymányosi, Lágymányosi híd) across the Danube, there is a whole museum complex. Its composition includes Museum of Contemporary Art Ludwig(Ludwig Múzeum Budapest - Kortárs Művészeti Múzeum) - the best of the Eastern European branches of this collection in Cologne (opened in 1990), (Művészetek Palotája) and National Theater(2002). Often this is also referred to as lying a quarter to the north, at the intersection with Dandár utca street, Museum of the national Hungarian liqueur "Unicum"(Zwack Unicum Múzeum és Látogatóközpont), created in 1790 by the imperial court physician Josef Zwack and since then has been a popular export product.

Buda hills

Outside the historical part of Buda lies the vast residential area of ​​Western Budapest (districts XI, XII and XXII, as well as part of Obuda), not so often visited by tourists. Often this vast area is collectively referred to simply as the Buda Hills (Budai-hegység). The green areas of the western suburbs were built up mainly in the 19th-20th centuries, and until now, many residents of Budapest keep their summer houses here, so you should not look for any special historical monuments here. However, among the cozy mansions and narrow streets of the Buda Hills, there are many interesting places, among which the old rack funicular (Fogaskerekűvasút, opened in 1874 and at that time was considered the third in the world!), Which is its end point, the beautiful Szechenyi Hill (Széchenyi-hegy, 427 m) - now one of the most prestigious residential areas of the Hungarian capital, the children's narrow-gauge railway Gyermekvasút built in 1948-1951, going through the most beautiful places, as well as the children's playground Csillebérc. The highest point of the region is Janos Hill (János-hegy, 527 m) with observation tower Erzsébet Lookout in Romanesque style (open daily from 8:00 to 20:00, admission free) - close to it lies the Normafa recreation center, the already mentioned extensive memorial museum of Béla Bartók (Bartók Béla Emlékház) under the Láto-hegy hill - from March to June, among other things, excellent chamber music concerts are organized here, as well as the burial place of many famous people of the country - the old cemetery Farkasréti ("Wolf Meadows"), two kilometers west of Mount Gellert. Interestingly, it is on Farkasréti that there are still wooden monuments inscribed with unique Hungarian runes (“the Szekely alphabet”, so named after one of the Magyar tribes), which can still be seen on road signs throughout the country.

Also noteworthy are the quite democratic Csillaghegy and Pünkösdfürdő baths in the very north of the district (in fact, this is already a suburb of Bekashmedyer), the picturesque area of ​​​​Svábhegy villas (Svábhegy, XII district), the Libegő chairlift between Zugliget and the observation tower on Janos hill (János-hegy), extensive recreational area Budakeszi Vadaspark in a large protected forest with a children's zoo and a large number of animals just walking in meadows and clearings, a huge Challengeland Adventure Park playground, Pál-völgyi and Szemlő-hegyi caves, the Külkereskedelmi Sportpark in the very west, as well as the most popular Hungarian restaurant Náncsi Néni Vendéglője (" Aunt Nanchi"; Ördögárok út, 80) with a small park near Hűvösvölgy station. There are also many walking and cycling paths along these places, but you can get a lot of impressions just walking among the gardens and old houses with their friendly inhabitants.

And in the very south-west of the city, but also within the XII district, there is the Museum of Monuments, or Reminder Park (Szoborpark museum, Memento Park), which contains sculptures of the communist period and many attributes of that era - from music records and awards to old cars and interior items. Getting here is not easy: first, take trams No. 19 or 49 to the Etele ter stop, and from there, take the yellow suburban bus Volanbusz to the Szoborpark museum stop.

And a little to the south is the "Palace of Miracles" (Csodak Palotaja, Nagytétényi út, 37-43, www.csopa.hu) - an entertainment and exhibition complex for children with a clear developmental bias. In addition to all kinds of interactive exhibitions, play experimental sites and themed play rooms, interestingly designed lectures by scientists (in Hungarian) are held here every day. The complex also has a tropicarium, a cafe, a photo studio and a hypermarket. It is very easy to get here both by bus and by train - the Budatétény station is located right at the walls of the complex. After visiting the technical exposition, you can walk south, towards the Danube bank, where lies the green zone of the floodplain forest reserve of the island of Haros-Sziget (Háros-szigeti Ártéri-erdő Természetvédelmi terület) or go down the Nagytétényi út 300 meters to the south and visit the Nadteten Palace ( Nagytétényi Kastélymúzeu, 18th century) with a very interesting exposition of the Museum of European Furniture and Clothing, as well as a pretty park to the north.

budapest islands

The abundance of islands in the Danube gives the Hungarian capital a very picturesque look. Since ancient times, mastered by people, they, nevertheless, did not become the concentration of urban development and retained some pastorality. Almost in the very center of the city, between the Margarita Bridge (Margit híd) in the southern part and the Arpad Bridge (Árpád híd) in the northern part, lies the island of Margit-Sziget (Margit, Margit-sziget). In Roman times he was summer residence the commander of the garrison of Aquincum, in the Middle Ages there was a Dominican monastery here, in which, in fulfillment of a vow, King Bela IV gave his daughter Margarita, later canonized - hence the name. The island is small - about 2.5 by 0.3 km (area - 0.96 sq. km) and after the decline of the monasteries (and Augustinians, Franciscans, and Dominicans lived here) during the period of Ottoman rule, it was practically not used for a long time. But after the start of active development of Pest and the appearance of bridges, it quickly turned into a green park, and in 1908 it was declared a public garden, which instantly became one of the favorite places for the citizens to relax, so it can be noticeably crowded on weekends. The passage of vehicles on the territory of Margaret-Sziget is prohibited, an exception is made only for taxis serving hotels, tourist buses, electric vehicles and ... cycle rickshaws.

Now you can see the ruins of the monastery and the chapel of St. Michael (Szent Mihály kápolna, XIII-XVI centuries), the UNESCO-protected light and music fountain (Zenélő szökőkút, XIX century) and the 57-meter Art Nouveau water tower (1911), nearby a Japanese garden with a pond and fish (it is interesting that the reservoir does not freeze even in winter, since it is fed by thermal waters from a local source), a memorial in honor of the centenary of the unification of the city (Centennial Memorial, 1973), a Zenélő music pavilion specially built for open-air concerts kút (rather - a small rotunda, not to be confused with the Zenélő szökőkút fountain lying on the opposite end of the island), the Alley of Artists (Muvesz setany) with busts of Hungarian masters of art, an open theater, an extensive rose garden (Rózsakert) in the very center of the island and a tiny one lying to the east of it zoo with exotic birds. Also located here is the largest outdoor swimming complex in Budapest - the Palatinus Strandfürdő water park (1921) and the beach of the same name, the National Sports Pool Hajós Alfréd Nemzeti Sportuszoda (named after the architect who designed it - two-time Olympic champion in 1896), a tennis stadium and an athletics center ( Margitszigeti Atlétikai Centrum Szigetklub).

More than 5 km of pedestrian and bicycle paths with a special coating have been laid on the territory of the island, there are several view terraces, a small boathouse for yachts and very prestigious hotels - the Danubius complex is located at the northern end of the island Grand Hotel Margitsziget and Danubius Health Spa Resort with their own thermal spring. These are full-fledged thermal resorts with a full range of various medical services (water is also supplied from here to two hotels "on the mainland" - Aquincum on the Buda coast and Danubius Helia in Pest). Well, in the southern part of the island you can stay at a small Green Island Hostel, Margit-sziget.

The island of Óbudai-sziget (Óbudai-sziget, Hajogyari-sziget) lies near and slightly north of Margaret-sziget, stretching a little under the Árpád híd bridge. Once it was a peninsula, whose configuration was very suitable for the construction of the Obuda shipyards, hence the name. Leading its history from Roman times, shipbuilding workshops occupied its entire southern and northeastern parts; in 1836, the first paddle steamer on the Danube was launched here. Now closed in 1999, the shipyard complex is gradually being transformed into a large trade and exhibition space, a golf and yacht club are also open here. And the entire northern part of the island is occupied by a forested area with vast wetlands, where thousands of migratory birds stop every year. Every year in August at park area one of the largest open music festivals in Europe - Sziget Fesztivált is held.

Directly opposite, on the left bank of the Danube, lies the island of Nep Sziget (Népsziget, Szúnyog-sziget). In fact, this is a peninsula, which also owes its appearance to shipbuilders who filled up the narrow channel between the Komarin Island, as it was then called, and the coast. The resulting bay was used as a winter harbor, later the Ganz Danubius shipyard was opened here. At the end of the 19th century, the New Pest Railway Bridge (Újpesti vasúti híd) passed through the northern third of the island, on which, during a complete reconstruction in 2008, special bicycle and pedestrian paths were laid. Now Nep Sziget is another popular recreation area of ​​the Hungarian capital - there are two public beaches, a small marina with a rowing center (Budapest Evezős Egyesület, canoes and kayaks), more than 5 km of paths in the park area, a dog breeding school and more. However, the old shipyard still continues to work, so lovers of industrial tourism will also be very interested here.

Almost the entire southern part of the city is formed by the island of Csepel (Csepel-sziget). Its northern part is occupied by the XXI district of the capital, and in the center and south lies a whole series of independent cities - the island is the largest on the Danube (257 sq. km). In Hungarian history, Csepel occupies a special place - it was this territory that went to the Magyar tribe led by Arpad, it was from here that the Hungarian expansion began, covering all of Pannonia and Transylvania. Almost until the 19th century, the lands of the island remained sovereign royal possessions (Ráckevei, together with the adjacent right bank of the Danube, this term has survived to this day as the designation of the entire region and as the name of the town of Rackeve in the southern part of the island) and were used for arable land, vineyards and orchards, and therefore these parts are very pastoral these days. The South experienced an era of active industrialization in the middle of the 20th century, but northern regions Csepels gradually began to be built up in the suburbs of Budapest, where low-rise buildings and high-rise buildings of a completely Soviet style are bizarrely combined. Tourists rarely wander into these areas, however, here you can also find many interesting objects, such as the Csepel Gallery and the local history collection of the same name, the picturesque St. Imre Square (Szent Imre tér) with the chapel of the Blessed Virgin the Háros villa area around Lake Kavicsos-tó, often called the "garden city" Királyerdő area with the Church of the Immaculate Virgin Mary (Szűz Mária Szeplőtelen Szíve), Akácfa utcai kiserdő and Tamariska-domb parks, Csepeli Temető cemetery and so on. Many people are also attracted by the unusual development of the area, in which the rectangular layout suddenly turns into some kind of chaos of streets and U-shaped passages curved at completely unthinkable angles - very green and colorful at the same time.

And the northern bypass of the capital forms another huge island - Szentenderei-Sziget (Szentendrei-sziget), stretching up the Danube for as much as 31 km. Formally not part of Budapest, in practice it is the city's favorite place for outdoor recreation, and all the settlements here are summer cottages for residents of the capital. In addition, 700 local wells are the main source of drinking water for the capital, there are protected wetlands (25 protected plant species and 205 bird species), old floodplain forests and meadows, so the whole island is one large nature protection zone with a separate national park (part of Duna-Ipoly Nemzeti Park).

On Szentenderei-Sziget, a resort village famous for its clean air and natural beauty deserves attention. Horanyi(Horány) on the east coast, new reform church(1771) in Szigetmonostor, eco-farm Horse Farm Monostory, reformed church(1788) and Esterhazy mansion(now Café Eper Csárda) in Pócsmegyer, equestrian center Ferenc Bodor at the Tahitótfalu bridge, endless strawberry fields where you can buy the freshest berries right on the side of the road during the season, an equestrian complex and a club Zablakert in the heart of the island and nearby flying club Modellrepulőter- a real Mecca of local aircraft modellers, a stud farm and a riding school Halapi Lovastanya, Protestant (1803) and Catholic (1719) churches plus the ruins of Roman watchtowers in a picturesque village Kishoroshi(Kisoroszi), as well as numerous summer camps, campsites and beaches, restaurants and cafes scattered throughout the island.

Do not be surprised at the abundance of equestrian farms on Szentenderei-Sziget - the whole history of Hungary is closely connected with horses, so equestrianism is a favorite form of recreation. Many Budapest residents keep their personal pets in local stables, visit them on weekends, walk and train with pleasure, so all the related infrastructure is excellently developed here. And on the island itself, about 55 km of bicycle, horseback and hiking trails are laid, closely intertwined.

Budapest Tourist Office

The main office of the Budapest Tourist Office (www.budapestinfo.hu) is open daily from 8:00 to 20:00, information points are scattered throughout the city, there are also at the airport and many shopping centers. Here you can find all the necessary information about the capital, get free booklets and maps, purchase tickets for public transport, concerts and excursions.

Here you can also purchase a very easy-to-use Budapest Card (www.budapest-card.com), which provides a large set of discounts and free admission to a number of museums, baths, excursions, and so on, plus free movement around the city on any of the public transport means within selected card. Also, the Budapest Card is sold in many hotels, transport and tourist offices, at large ticket offices of the public transport system (BKV), additional discounts are provided when buying online. It is signed upon sale in the name of the owner and cannot be transferred to another person.

The card comes with a free Budapest Card brochure in 6 languages ​​(Hungarian, English, German, Russian, French and Italian).

Budapest, Hungary: the most detailed and complete city guide, the main attractions of Budapest with photos and descriptions, location on the map.

City of Budapest (Hungary)

Budapest is the capital of Hungary, one of the largest and most beautiful cities in Europe, located in the northern part of the country on the banks of the Danube. Known for its magnificent architecture, in which the magnificent neo-Gothic building of the Hungarian Parliament stands out, many interesting sights and architectural monuments, wide and beautiful avenues with shops and restaurants, a special atmosphere of romance and freedom. Budapest lies on both sides of the full-flowing Danube, straddled by bridges, the most beautiful of which is the Széchenyi Chain Bridge. Interestingly, the capital of Hungary arose as a result of the unification of three Hungarian cities: Buda, Obuda and Pest. That is why Budapest is so unique, diverse and a bit like a patchwork quilt.

Budapest is one of the youngest European capitals. The city was officially formed in 1873. This is a unique synthesis of three ancient Hungarian cities - Buda, Obuda and Pest, which for many centuries lived and developed in the neighborhood on the banks of the Danube. A more modern Pest with metropolitan gloss, wide avenues and beautiful architecture of the 19th-20th century is located on the eastern bank of the Danube, and Buda and Obuda with atmospheric old streets, historical and cultural monuments are on the western.

Story

Already in the 1st century BC. there was a Celtic settlement on the territory of Budapest, which at the end of the 1st century AD. was included in the Roman province. The city was named Aquincum. It housed the Roman garrison, and the population reached almost 20 thousand people.

In the 5th century, the Romans were driven out by the Huns and Ostrogoths, who made the center of their empire here. Modern Pest was a small settlement called Contra Aquincum.

After the Huns, the province first came under the rule of the Avars, and then Moravia. Until the Hungarian tribes came here in 895. Aquincum was renamed Buda, which became the first center of the Hungarian state formed over the centuries. Pest was chosen by settlers from Germany and France.

In 1241, during the Mongol invasion, Buda and Pest were badly destroyed. After the invasion, the king of Hungary decided to build a royal castle on the Fortress Hill in Buda.

In 1361 Buda became the capital of Hungary. In 1541, Hungary was captured by the Ottoman Empire, and Buda fell into decline. Later, the city was liberated by the Austrians and annexed to the possessions of the Habsburgs. The 18th century was a turning point for Pest. It is at this time that he comes to the fore. Rapid development as a trading center led to rapid population growth. Pest at this time had a larger population than Buda and Obud combined.

The first unification of the three cities was undertaken in the middle of the 19th century, but it was unsuccessful. Therefore, the year 1873 can rightly be called the birth of Budapest. In the 19th century, railways connected Budapest with other cities in Europe, the streets began to be illuminated with electric lamps, tram traffic and telephone communications appeared. Interestingly, the first metro in Europe appeared in Budapest.

In 1918, Hungary became a Republic, and in 1919 - a Socialist Republic. In 1944, Budapest was occupied by German troops. During the Second World War, the central part of the city turned into ruins. The restoration of the city continued until the 60s of the 20th century.

Helpful information

1. The monetary unit of Hungary is the forint. Do not change currency on the streets. For these purposes, specialized exchange offices or ATMs.
2. The public transport of the capital of Hungary is represented by 4 metro lines, 15 trolleybus routes, 32 trams and more than 200 buses. Therefore, getting anywhere in Budapest is not difficult. Transport operates from 4.30 to 23.30. Several night bus routes and tram number 6 run at night. Tickets can be purchased both at stops (stations) and at special kiosks. Tickets can be used in all types of public transport. In the bus, tram and trolleybus they need to be composted.
3. Like any popular tourist destination, there are pickpockets in Budapest, so keep an eye on your belongings in transport, malls and other busy places.
4. Tobacco products can only be purchased from licensed tobacconists. Smoking is prohibited in indoor public places andat transport stops.
5. Drinking alcohol is prohibited in public places.
6. Tipping is not required, but it is good practice (if you liked the food and service, of course) to tip 10% of the bill.
7. Summer in Budapest (especially July-August) is quite hot, so be sure to take this into account.
8. The coldest months are December and January. At this time, slight frosts are possible.
9. Some shops and cafes may not be open on Sunday.
10. When paying for parking, leave the check under the windshield.
11. TAX Free can be returned from a purchase of 50,000 forints.
12. The average bill in restaurants and cafes in Budapest is 20-30 euros per person, if you have a snack with Asian cuisine or fast food, you can meet 3-5 euros.

How to get there?

The best and cheapest way to get to Budapest is by plane. Many flights from almost all major cities can take you to the Hungarian capital. Budapest is also connected to other major cities in Europe and neighboring countries by rail and bus.

Shopping and shopping

Budapest can rightfully be said to be one of the centers of European shopping. There are many brand stores here. It is especially worth noting such street trading centers as: Váci utca, Fashion Street, Nagykörút, Andrássy út. Also, almost in the center there are several shopping centers (all marked on the map below).

Among the souvenirs popular among tourists are: jewelry, porcelain, folk art.

Cuisine and food

Budapest perfect place for gastronomic tourism - chic restaurants, street cafes, global fast food chains will not leave you hungry. Cuisine: Hungarian, Italian, Asian, etc.

Especially noteworthy is the national Hungarian cuisine, which boasts a variety and unique taste. National Hungarian cuisine is based on the following ingredients: meat, fresh vegetables, fruits, bread, milk and honey.

The most famous national dishes:

• pörkölt - stew dishes
• a gulyás - goulash
• a halászle - soup
• a toltött kaposzta - cabbage rolls
• a paprikás csirke - chicken with paprika
• a paprikás krumpli - potatoes with paprika
• a disznótoros - pork
• a bableves es - soup
• a túrós csusza - cottage cheese pasta

Where to try the national cuisine - see the map.

Please be aware that prices may be higher in these establishments. If you have a goal to save on food - pay attention to Asian cuisine.

Sights of Budapest

The main attractions of Budapest with a detailed description and photo.

Attractions in Pest

The Parliament is a real symbol of Budapest, one of the most beautiful buildings in Europe, completed in 1904. This is a magnificent neo-Gothic building located on the banks of the Danube and symbolizing Pest. The dimensions of the building are really impressive: 691 rooms, 29 stairs, 18,000 sq. meters area. The parliament building is 268 meters long, 123 meters wide and 96 meters high. This is one of the architectural dominants of the historical center. It took 40 million bricks and 40 kg to build it. gold. The facade is decorated with sculptures of Hungarian kings and leaders in the amount of 88 pieces. The Parliament was built according to the project of the architect Steindl, a well-known neo-Gothic fan.

The Chain Bridge is a beautiful suspension bridge across the Danube that connects Buda and Pest. It is located near the Parliament building and is the first permanent bridge across the Danube. The bridge is named after the famous politician Szechenyi, who invested a lot of effort and money in its construction. The construction of the bridge played a huge role in the life of the two cities, becoming an impetus for the birth of Budapest. The bridge was designed by British engineer Clark.

Basilica of St. Istvan (Stefan) - main cathedral Pest and the largest temple of the capital of Hungary. This is a beautiful high (96 meters) neo-Renaissance building built in the shape of an equilateral cross. The construction of the basilica lasted over 50 years from 1851. This, along with the Parliament, is one of the tallest historical buildings in Pest. If possible, be sure to visit this basilica - a beautiful interior, decorated with mosaics and marble columns will not leave you indifferent.

- the main avenue of Budapest, nicknamed by the Hungarian "Champs Elysees". And, indeed, those who have been to Paris can find some similarities between these two streets. This is one of the most pompous streets in Europe, built at the end of the 19th century. The buildings and structures of Andrássy Avenue were built in a pseudo-historical style by many famous architects. In 2002, the avenue was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Heroes' Square is one of the most famous squares Budapest, which rests on Andrássy Avenue. In the center of the square there is a monument dedicated to the 1000th anniversary of the Hungarians crossing the Carpathians. The monument is a high column, on top of which is the figure of the Archangel Gabriel, standing on the globe, in whose hands is the crown of King Stephen and the apostolic cross. To the right and left of the column are semicircular colonnades, a monument to the heroes of Hungary. The length of these colonnades is 85 m. Between the columns, from left to right, there are bronze statues of famous historical figures of Hungary. There are also two beautiful buildings, built in the neoclassical style - a museum of fine arts and a museum of modern art.

The city park or Varosliget is one of the favorite places for walks of residents and guests of the city. Located right behind the Heroes' Square, this park complex includes not only natural landscapes, but also such interesting sights and places as: Vajdahunyad castle, Széchenyi baths, the capital's circus, zoo, transport museum, Gundel restaurant. Separately, we should talk about the castle with the name Vaydahunyad, which is ridiculous for our ears. This castle complex was built for the 1000th anniversary of the Hungarians finding their homeland and is a "hodgepodge" of styles from Romanesque motifs to Gothic and Baroque. It includes elements of 21 famous buildings in Hungary. At first it was built as a pavilion for celebrations, but the Hungarians fell in love with it so much that they decided to make it in stone.

Vaci Street is the heart of Pest and the main shopping street of the Hungarian capital with beautiful architecture. If you walk along Vaci Street, you can get to the Central Market - the largest market in the city. Here you can buy fresh fruits, vegetables, cheeses, meat and various souvenirs. Nearby is another famous bridge across the Danube - the Freedom Bridge. Built at the end of the 19th century, it connects Pest and Buda and goes straight to Mount Gellert.

The Great Synagogue is the largest synagogue in Europe, located on Dohany Street. Located in the original Jewish quarter of Pest.

Sights of Buda and Obuda

Buda Castle is one of the main attractions of Buda, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This is a castle-fortress, which was the residence of the kings of Hungary. You can get here by the famous Shiklo funicular or bus number 16. The history of the castle begins in the middle of the 13th century, when King Bela IV began to build a fortress here after the Mongol invasion. The most interesting sights of the Buda Castle:

Matthias Church is one of the main churches of Buda, built in the late Gothic style in the second half of the 14th century and significantly rebuilt in the 19th century. The church is decorated with an 80-meter bell tower, which is the tallest building in the castle complex.

The Fisherman's Bastion is one of the famous sights of Budapest. This is an architectural structure, which is a square surrounded by a gallery with conical towers (6 small and one central, which symbolize the seven tribes that founded Hungary), arcades and balustrades. It offers stunning views of the city and the Danube. In the center of the square is an equestrian statue of St. Stephen, the first king of Hungary.

Mount Gellert - famous place Budapest. A high hill (235 meters), on the western bank of the Danube, on which the famous baths of the Gellert Hotel, the Gellert monument, the chapel in the cave, the Citadel and the Freedom Monument are located.

The Danube embankment is a cult place in Budapest with beautiful panoramas of Buda or Pest. Many famous historical buildings and structures are located on the waterfront. Not far from the Parliament there is an interesting monument to the victims of the Holocaust - a sculptural composition of 60 pairs of cast-iron shoes.

Margaret Island is an island in a bend of the Danube, as well as the central natural and park complex of the city and one of the popular places for walking among residents and guests of Budapest. The main attractions are the Hundred Years of Budapest memorial, a Japanese garden, a small zoo, a musical fountain and an octagonal water tower.

Budapest is not only interesting sights, history, entertainment and architecture. This is a resort town (the only one of the European capitals) in which there are numerous hot mineral springs (26 baths).

Budapest guide

Guide to the capital of Hungary - the most important sights on a detailed interactive map.

Budapest is the capital and largest city of Hungary, as well as its economic, political, industrial and cultural centre.

The birth of the city

Officially, the Hungarian city of Budapest as a single administrative unit was formed only in 1873 after the merger of three cities - Buda, Obuda and Pest. The history of the city begins in the 1st century BC. from the Celtic settlement of Ak-Ink on the right bank of the Danube. After the occupation of the Danubian lands by the Romans, the city became part of the province of Pannonia and was eventually renamed Aquincum. Initially a military garrison, the city rapidly grew and developed and very quickly became a major commercial center. The ruins of ancient Aquincas have survived to this day and today are one of the largest archaeological sites of the Roman era in Hungary.

In the middle of the 5th century Aquincas was conquered by the Huns and renamed. According to one of the local legends, the city received the name "Buda" in honor of the Hun leader Bleda (Hungarian Buda). Subsequently, the city was alternately controlled by German tribes, Lombards, Avars, Slavs and Bulgarians. The Hungarians settled in these lands only towards the end of the 9th century. The settlement of Pest on the opposite bank of the Danube already existed by this time.

Middle Ages

In 1241-1242. as a result of the Mongol invasion, Buda and Pest were thoroughly destroyed and plundered. Pest was soon restored, but Buda, which was assigned the role of a royal residence, was decided to be built on the nearby hills and thoroughly fortified. However, the old Buda was also restored over time and the name “Obuda” was assigned to it. In 1361, Buda became the capital of the Kingdom of Hungary, while Pest became a prosperous financial center.

By the middle of the 16th century, the lands of Buda and Pest were captured by the Ottoman Empire. The occupation lasted 145 years and only in 1686 Buda, Obuda and Pest were liberated by the Austrian troops, as a result being under the control of the Habsburg Empire.

new time

The 19th century became an important page in the history of the struggle of the Kingdom of Hungary for independence. During the democratic revolution of 1848-49. the first attempt was made to unite Buda, Obuda and Pest (in the same period, the first bridge across the Danube was built, finally connecting Buda and Pest). The revolution was eventually suppressed, but its consequence was the formation in 1867 of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Soon the question of the unification of the three cities was again raised, which took place in 1873. Budapest quickly became a major political, economic and cultural center. The city did not pass the industrial boom, which engulfed virtually the whole of Europe. In 1896, it was in Budapest that the first metro on the European continent was opened.

In 1918, after the defeat in the First World War and the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Hungary proclaimed itself a republic, of which Budapest became the capital, retaining this status after the restoration of a constitutional monarchy in Hungary in 1920.

During World War II, Budapest was completely destroyed. The city was seriously damaged in 1956, becoming the epicenter of the anti-communist uprising. It took decades to rebuild Budapest. During this period, the city significantly expanded its borders, turning into a huge metropolis.

The fall of the "Iron Curtain" in 1989 largely determined the fate of Budapest and became a kind of starting point on the way to becoming a major cultural and economic center of Europe.

The capital of Hungary - Budapest, is exceptionally rich in monuments of ancient architecture. Dozens of art, historical, ethnographic museums, showrooms and art galleries. The magnificent parliament building built at the beginning of this century is considered the symbol of the city. The pride of Budapest are the beautiful architectural monuments of the XVIII-XIX centuries: the Gothic Cathedral of King Matthias, the University Church, the building National Museum and many others. The collections of the Budapest museums are world famous. The Museum of Fine Arts exhibits works by Raphael, Botticelli, El Greco, Velázquez and Rembrandt. But there are also theaters, operas, spread in the center of the capital between Buda and Pest, Margaret Island.

Characteristics of Hungary

The capital is Budapest.

The political system is a parliamentary republic.

The head of state is the president, the legislature is the unicameral State Assembly. The country is divided into 25 administrative divisions, including 19 regions and 6 cities (including the country's capital - Budapest)

located

Hungary is located in the center of Europe, in the Carpathian region. The territory of Hungary has a predominantly flat relief. Most of it is located on the Middle Danube Plain. The western part of the plain (Dunantul) is dotted with numerous hills, up to 300 m high, the eastern (Alföld) has a flat, low-lying relief. The north-west of the country is occupied by the Kishalföld lowland, bounded in the west by the foothills of the Alps, with a height of 500-800 m (Irott-kö: 883 m). To the north of Balaton stretch the Middle Hungarian mountains with plateau-like massifs 400-700 m high (Bakon, Vertes, Dunazug). In the southern part of Dunantul, blocky mountains of Mechek rise up to 681 m high (Zengyo mountain). In the north of Hungary lie the spurs of the Western Carpathians up to 1000 m high.

borders

In the east, Hungary borders on Ukraine. In the southeast - with Romania, in the south - with the Federation of Serbia and Montenegro and Croatia. In the southwest - with Slovenia, in the west - with Austria and in the north - with Slovakia.

Largest cities

Budapest, Debrecen, Miskolc, Szeged, Gyor, Niredyhaza, Kecskemét, Szekesfehervar.

Time zone: UTC +1.

Flight time from Moscow: 2:40 h.

Territory

The territory of Hungary is 93,030 km. The maximum length of Hungary from west to east is 528 km, from north to south - 319 km. The total length of the borders of Hungary is 2009 km.

Population

According to official figures, at the end of May 2014, the total population of Hungary was 10.014.000 m. people. The majority of the population - 83.9% - are Hungarians. The national minorities living in Hungary include Gypsies (6%), Germans (4.6%), Serbs (3%), Slovaks (1.8%), Romanians (0.7%). Croats, Slovenes, Subcarpathian Rusyns, Poles, Ukrainians, Bulgarians, Armenians also live in Hungary. The rights of national minorities are protected by the Constitution and the National Minorities Act specially adopted in 1993. The population density is 106.8 persons/km. Average life expectancy for Hungary as a whole is 72.4 years; for men - 68.2 years, for women - 76.6 years. Hungary belongs to countries with a high level of urbanization: 63% of the country's inhabitants are city dwellers. The capital city of Budapest is home to 20% of the total population of Hungary (2.1 million people). Other large cities of Hungary: Debrecen (204 thousand inhabitants), Miskolc (172 thousand), Szeged (158 thousand), Pecs (157 thousand), Gyor (127 thousand).

Language

The official language is Hungarian. It belongs to the Ugric subgroup of the Finno-Ugric languages, which also include Finnish, Sami, Estonian, Mari, Mordovian (Moksha and Erzya), Udmurt, Komi-Zyryan and Komi-Permyak. The closest relatives of the Hungarian language are the Ob Ugric languages ​​- Khanty and Mansi.

Major religions

The majority of the inhabitants of Hungary are Catholics (67.5%, including Greek Catholics - 2.6%). About a quarter of the country's population belongs to various Protestant denominations (Calvinists - 20%, Lutherans - 5%). Orthodox make up 2.7%, Jews 1%, the remaining 3.8% include adherents of other Christian denominations and non-Christian religions, as well as atheists.

Official currency

The official currency in Hungary is the forint (1 fort = 0.153549 rubles). Coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 forints each. Banknotes: 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000 and 10,000 for.

The center of Budapest radiates the charm of the old imperial capital. It is the houses of the Habsburg era that form the face of the city and create its elegantly austere style.

Not far from the lively Vörösmarty Square, the famous old confectionery Gerbaud, famous for its cakes, has hospitably opened its doors. Vaci Street originates from here - the first pedestrian street in Budapest, full of countless signs with the names of famous couturiers, jewelers, restaurateurs. From here, it's a stone's throw to Duna Korzo, from where in the evening you can admire the view of the illuminated bridges and the panorama of Buda (Budapest combined three ancient cities - Buda, Pest and Obuda).
The bowels of Budapest are fraught with thermal healing waters with a water temperature of 25 to 75 degrees Celsius. In total, there are more than 30 springs in the city, many of which have their own names. The high content of sulfur, radium, calcium, magnesium and other substances in them makes it possible to treat rheumatic, cardiovascular and other diseases. In terms of their healing power, they are not inferior to known other sources.

The underground depths of the Hungarian capital of Budapest and its environs hold many secrets and can present many surprises to scientists. Recently, experts have come to the conclusion that more than a hundred unexplored large and small caves pass under the city, and their total length is over 18 kilometers. Another find was named unique - under the Buda mountains at a depth of more than 50 meters is huge lake with thermal water, which experts have dubbed a natural miracle. It is part of the Molnara cave, discovered by scientists several decades ago. Until now, many caves on the territory of Budapest have been turned into places of mass tourist visits.

The most favorite vacation spots of Budapest residents and guests are the Margaret Island and the city park Varosliget. The small Margaret Island, located in the very center of Budapest on the Danube, is 2.5 km long and about 500 meters wide. It is known for its beach, cozy restaurants and cafes. And the theater festivals are held annually in the summer theater.

City Park Varosliget is not only a lot of entertainment facilities, but also a cultural center. In the central part of the park, on the Heroes' Square, there is the Hungarian Millennium Monument. His bronze statues reflect the entire history of the country, starting from the leader Arpad, the leader of the Hungarian tribes who came to the territory of present-day Hungary at the end of the ninth century. On the left is the Museum of Fine Arts with a rich collection of European paintings of the XII-XVII centuries. The Spanish school is especially fully represented, the pride of the museum are paintings by El Greco and Goya. Among other masterpieces are the works of Leonardo da Vinci, Dürer, Raphael, Correggio. There are many exhibits dedicated to the ancient Egyptian and ancient eras.

In the park, you can have fun on the roller coaster, in the amusement park, visit the circus, the metropolitan zoo or the Botanical Garden. The famous Gundel restaurant is also located here, where you will be offered delicious Hungarian cuisine with the obligatory seasonings of spicy spices and hot paprika. Be sure to visit this magnificent city, and we will help YOU!