With the Danube River as its pulse, Budapest beats to a rhythm of indomitable
spirit cloaked in beauty and charm. And no wonder. The Hungarian capital is exquisitely
laid out on both sides of the Danube, claiming one of the most spectacular panoramic
views in all of Europe. You can bear witness from the Buda side of the river,
on Castle Hill. From here, the spires of Parliament and the Chain Bridge can be
seen awash in golden light every evening. Their reflection on the Danube, combined
with -the dotted lights of Pest, are simply awe-inspiring.
So are the buildings of Castle Hill: the neo-Gothic Matthias Church, surrounded
by quaintly restored medieval homes on cobblestone streets; the imposing Royal
Palace, which houses the National Gallery and its precious works of art; and the
turreted Fishermen`s Bastion chat rounds is all off.
The capital of Hungary straddles a curve of the Danube River where Transdanubia
meets the Great Plain. One Hungarian in five lives in Budapest, and Debrecen,
the next largest city, has only a tenth of the capital`s population.
Strictly speaking, the story of `Budapest` begins only in 1873 when hilly, residential
Buda merged with flat, industrial Pest and little Óbuda to the north to form what
was first called Pest-Buda. But a lot of water had flowed under the Danube bridges
by that time. The `Romans built the town of Aquincum here, and you can still see
their aqueduct and amphitheatres just north of Óbuda. Layer upon layer of history
blankets Buda`s Castle District, and Pest`s ring roads are a testament to the
Hungarian and Austrian engineers and architects of the 19th century. Add to this city parks brimming with attractions, a chair lift and
cog-wheel railway in the nearby Buda Hills, riverboats plying upriver to the scenic
Danube Bend, and hot thermal baths in Turkish-era bathhouses and you have Budapest.
The city has many more fascinating aspects. Many Eastern Europeans and Russians
come here to make money or get a taste of the West, while Westerners revel in
the affordable nightlife, theatres, museums, restaurants and cafés. As the river
descends from the Black Forest to the Black Sea, few cities are more striking
than this `Queen of the Danube`. It`s hard to get enough of Budapest.
A light stroll through the sights of Buda is perfectly complemented by darting
through the bustle of Pest. The glittering Váci utca (street) offers up some of
the best shops in the city. Office buildings, shopping malls and supermarkets
are set in perfect harmony with the elegant St. Stephen`s Basilica, as well as
the sprawling Heroes` Square, bordered by, the neo-classical Museum of Fine Arts.
You will easily see why Budapest captures the imagination - yours, the city`s
1.7 million residents and, in fact, the entire world`s.
Source: www.budapesthotels.com
To get more information about Budapest, please visit: http://www.hungary.com/
