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Budapest, Hungary
MORE ON BUDAPEST...
Budapest offers breathtaking Old World grandeur and thriving cultural life. Situated on both banks of the Danube River, the city unites the colorful hills of Buda and the wide, businesslike boulevards of Pest. Much of the charm of a visit to Budapest lies in unexpected glimpses into shadowy courtyards and in long vistas down sunlit cobbled streets. Although some 30,000 buildings were destroyed during World War II and in the 1956 Revolution, the past lingers on in the often crumbling architectural details of the antique structures that remain.
Hungary is famous for its medicinal spas, and Budapest alone has some 14 historic working baths. They attract everyone from ailing patients to tourists, all of whom want to soak in the relaxing waters and experience some therapeutic treatments.
There's plenty to do in Budapest, but some visitors travel southwest to explore the spa resorts, vineyards, and quaint villages that dot the area around Lake Balaton -- the largest lake in Central Europe. Others take side-trips north, to the romantic and historic towns along the Danube. Yet for the 20% of the nation's population who live in Budapest, anywhere else is simply vidék ("the country").
Budapest, Overview
OVERVIEW
The largest Hungarian city, Budapest is the heart, soul and memory of Hungary,offers breathtaking Old World grandeur and thriving cultural life.
Buda and Pest situated on both banks of the majestic Danube, which crosses several countries and follows a course of 2820 km between the Black Forest and the Black Sea. In Budapest the Danube is approximately in a little less than half of its course. The Buda hills rising dramatically on the west bank while the Pest district marks the start of the Great Plain to the east.
Budapest is a link between Eastern and Western Europe. New investment is revitalizing the country, and grand old Budapest is slowly being restored.
It has a complex identity, somewhere between Western luxury and simple traditions,old and new,history and the present-day. It's the country's cultural, political, intellectual, and commercial heart - and it is full of cafés, restaurants, markets, and bars.
With its variegated and often embittered-stormy history, incredible architecture and rich cultural heritage, Hungary's capital deserves its reputation as the "Paris of Eastern Europe". You can enjoy a particular atmosphere. Much of the charm of a visit to Budapest lies in unexpected glimpses into shadowy courtyards and in long vistas down sunlit cobbled streets.It has broad avenues, leafy parks and elaborate bathhouses,churches. It has a turn-of-the-century feel to it, for it was then - during the industrial boom and the capitalism - that most of the city was built.
Although some 30,000 buildings were destroyed during World War II and in the 1956 Revolution, the past lingers on in the often crumbling architectural details of the antique structures that remain.
Hungary, Today
TODAY
This small country is one of the great survivors of history: states and empires emerged, expanded or disintegrated and disappeared around it. Hungary and the Hungarian nation survived the devastation of the Tartars and Turks, Habsburgs and Russians in the Carpathian Basin; survived the fact that it belonged among the losers of both world wars. A stormy history? The national anthem describes the Hungarians as "people torn by fate".
So we are not extra-terrestrials. We learnt and became tempered in the tormenting storms of the world: you can experience a particular organic link between the old and new, between history and the present-day in this country, which is still keenly safeguarding its traditions, culture and arts, but was always perceptive to what is new, different and the future.
Do you know that one of the centres of the Renaissance was here in the 15th century? That the Hungarian statehood is 1,000 years old? That after 1945, the first armed revolution against Stalinism took place in Hungary? That the iron curtain was dismantled on the frontier of Hungary and Austria?
In Hungary, you can see regions with a particular atmosphere, fabulous villages, churches and castles. You are welcome in Budapest, which many consider to be one of the finest cities of Europe. If you are fond of tasty food, and exclusive wines, this is the place that you will like!
Budapest is Beautiful
CAPITAL OF BEAUTY
Budapest is rapidly shedding it’s dilapidated post-communist façade to reveal distinctive Hungarian architecture which befits the title of ‘EU’s Capital of Beauty’, as the National Tourist Board recently put it. The Gresham Palace by the Chain Bridge is a fine example of Hungarian influenced Art Nouveau architecture which has been painstakingly restored to its former glory and is well worth a visit.
Budapest is Beautiful
PEARL OF THE DANUBE
Budapest, called " the pearl of the Danube ", 2,1 million inhabitants, is crossed by the second river of Europe after the Volga which separates the historical city from Buda, right bank, to the more modern city of Pest, left bank. In this end of the 20th century, after decades of totalitarian socialism, Hungary starts on the way of the democracy and the market economy, and Budapest is again handed over to contradictions. The gray uniform of Communism was replaced by contrast between the most excessive consumption and the most complete destitution.
Buda and Pest
THE TWO PARTS OF BUDAPEST
Buda and Pest face on both sides the majestic Danube, which crosses several countries and follows a course of 2820 km between the Black Forest and the Black Sea. In Budapest the Danube is approximately in a little less than half of its course. Buda, in the east of the river, is perched on the narrow calcareous plate of the hill of the Castle which rises in stiff slope since the bank.
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