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Hungarian Parliament Buildings
It is impossibly romantic: sitting on a boat on the Danube, cruising noiselessly past the fronts of Budapest’s floodlit ancient buildings, under a sky full of stars.
It is no wonder that Budapest is called one of the most beautiful cities in Europe!
Approaching it from the Danube River that runs between what were originally the separate cities of Buda on the right bank and Pest on the left, renders it magical: this section of old city along the Banks of the Danube, together with the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrássy Avenue have been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987 for being an “outstanding example of urban development in Central Europe, characterised by periods of devastation and revitalisation.”
For my husband and myself, Budapest was the last port-of-call on what had been the most perfect of cruises down the Danube River from Passau (for previous posts, see: Ursula’s Weekly Wanders “Danube”). This final city held extra poignancy because my husband’s mother was from here, and he still has relatives living in the area – some of whom we managed to meet.
But, even without the family connection, the city is a gem, easily explored on foot and using public transport. We had the luxury of arriving by canal boat, allowing us to enjoy the incomparable views from the river. We also made use of the guide provided with our “package” to accompany our walk across the famous Szechenyi Chain Bridge, facilitate our ride up the Budapest Castle Hill Funicular, and show us the way around Buda Castle Hill, before we wandered back through the Pest side of the city on our own.
This is just a sampling of the wonderful buildings and other sights.
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Margaret Bridge
As we finally draw past Margaret Island and head under the second oldest public bridge (1872-1876) in Budapest – the Margaret Bridge (Margit Híd) – the Hungarian Parliament Building comes into view.
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Hungarian Parliament Buildings
The magnificent Gothic Revival parliament building was designed to face the river, and built (1885-1896) to prize-winning plans by Hungarian architect Imre Steindl.
Buda Reformed Church
Szilágyi Dezső Square Reformed Church is a 19th century (built 1894-1896) Protestant church on the Buda side of the Danube.
The Danube River Embankment
The elegant civic architecture on the banks of the Danube River contributes to Budapest’s UNESCO listing for being “one of the world’s outstanding urban landscapes.”
The Chain Bridge – Széchenyi Lánchíd
Budapest’s most famous bridge, the Chain Bridge, was the city’s first permanent bridge over the Danube. Originally built between 1842 and 1849, it was destroyed during the siege of the city in 1945, and rebuilt in its original form between 1947 and 1949.
Through the Porthole
Buda Castle sits high on Castle Hill as we cruise into our Danube River docking site.
Stone Lion (1852)
Once our boat is moored, we head out on our walking tour across the Chain Bridge. Stone lions carved by Hungarian sculptor Marschalko János (1818-1877) stand guard at each bridgehead.
Széchenyi Lánchíd – Széchenyi Chain Bridge
The 375 metres (1,230 ft) suspension bridge across the Danube was designed by the English engineer William Tierney Clark in 1839, and named for its champion, Count István Széchenyi.
Locks on the Chain Bridge
Lovers add their modern marks to the old bridge.
Funicular to Buda Castle
On the Buda side of the Chain Bridge, we come to Budavári Sikló, the funicular that will take us up to Budapest Castle Hill. When it was first opened in 1870, this was only the second funicular rail in Europe. It was destroyed during the Second World War and rebuilt to the original design in 1983.
Eszter at the Turnstile
Our local guide eases our way onto the funicular for our short ride to the top.
Budapest from the Hill
From Buda Hill we have a wonderful view over the Danube, and the Parliament of Hungary.
Habsburg Gate – Entrance to the Royal Palace
The historical castle and palace complex here have been rebuilt many times over the years: most recently by the Habsburgs, long-time Austrian rulers of the Kingdom of Hungary .
Habsburg Gate
Intricate wrought ironwork is typical of the Baroque style favoured across the current palace – built between 1749 and 1769.
Entrance to the Royal Palace
Today, the castle area houses the Hungarian National Gallery, the Castle Museum, the National Széchenyi Library, and also includes extensive empty spaces and old ruins.
Széchenyi Chain Bridge from Buda Hill
Souvenirs and Handicrafts
The cobblestone streets on Buda Hill are lined with baroque houses, Habsburg monuments, parks, coffee shops, and handicrafts shops.
Tárnok Street, Buda
Budai Várnegyed – Buda Castle District
We have plenty of room as we walk towards the Cathedral of St Matthias and Trinity Square, with the Plague Tower standing tall in front of the neo-Gothic House of the Hungarian Culture Foundation.
Baroque Trinity Column
All over Central Europe in the 17th century, survivors of the Great Plague of 1679 built Plague Columns, either incorporating the Virgin Mary or the Holy Trinity, to give thanks for their deliverance.
Matthias Church
The Church of Our Lady – more commonly called Matthias Church (Mátyás-templom), for King Matthias Corvinus the Fair – was built in late Gothic style in the 14th century, and extensively restored in the late 19th century. The intricate roofline with its colourful tiles is quite beautiful.
Halászbástya – Fisherman’s Bastion
The courtyard around the Fisherman’s Bastion (1895 – 1902), a seven-turreted 19th-century fortress, was undergoing work when we visited, …
Fisherman’s Bastion
… but it was still fascinating walking around this unusual structure. The seven towers (two of which are pictured here) represent the seven Magyar (Hungarian) tribes that settled in the Carpathian Basin in 895.
Reflections of the Magyars
Joseph (József Nádor), Archduke of Austria and Hungary
We enjoyed glorious weather, as we wandered back through the public squares …
Layers of Handicraft
… and shops of downtown Budapest, …
Széchenyi Chain Bridge and Matthias Church
… before returning to our boat to admire the dazzling display of Budapest night lights from the river.
Royal Palace
The palace on Buda Hill, and the funicular we rode up to walk around it, look very different after dark!
What a beautiful city! It is indeed – as UNESCO puts it – an outstanding urban landscape.
Happy Travels!
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