Triplets Family learn with us how to be happy: Our weekend in Europe. Day 3, Hungary, Budapest

Third day of our European trip was Budapest! In the midnight we were in hotel at last, very tired and soon go to sleep. But in the morning we were fresh and ready for new impressions again! And the weather made us happy that day - very sunny :) very cool as for 13th of November. And its help us to enjoy our walk in old streets of Budapest!
This city meet us so friendly that we and fallen in love with it))) And now still is one of our most loved of European city!

We are on a beautiful view on Parliament building

Our weekend in Europe. Hungary, Budapest

So, what beautiful we have seen there?

The world community long ago had brought Budapest for the first ten most beautiful cities in the world.

map of Hungary

Even in its very name sounds kind of duality: Buda and Pest. In fact, not two, but three separate city (Pest, Buda and Óbuda), more than 600 years of existing opposite each other on opposite banks of the Danube, in 1873, joined together in Budapest, and this city, because of its unusual appearance on the map of the planet, has become On the one hand, the youngest capital city, on the other - the only modern city that has just three historic center, retaining their individuality.

In the center of Budapest, in the old district of Vár, on the Buda Hills is the Fisherman's Bastion (Halászbástya). Stunningly beautiful architectural structure made of white stone, attracts both tourists and residents of Budapest. It is from here, with a gallery of Fisherman's Bastion, reveals a beautiful view of the Danube, Hungarian Parliament and the Pest side of the city.

fisherman's bastion in Budapest

Fishermen's Bastion, and Buda Palace in 1987 is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

fisherman's bastion in Budapest

view of the Parliament

In 1897, work began on the construction of the bastion according to the architect Frigyes Schulek (Schulek Frigyes). To celebrate the Millennium of Hungary did not have time and the grand opening was only 9 October 1905.

fisherman's bastion in Budapest

Next to the church is a beautiful Fisherman's Bastion.

Matthias Church in Budapest

Fishermen's Bastion is a square surrounded by a gallery, in the middle of the square is the equestrian statue of the first Hungarian king Saint Stephen, made by sculptor Lajos Strobl (Stróbl Lajos).

In fact, the official name of the church - the Blessed Virgin, but more often it is called in honor of King Matthias Corvinus, on whose instructions the south tower was erected. This is where the wedding was the same name of the king, when the raven snatched a gold ring. Here was crowned the last king of the House of Habsburg Charles IV. Church was built in the XI century by King István I, but after a couple of centuries destroyed by Tatar-Mongols.

Matthias Church in Budapest

Since the church is a beautiful legend connected. It is believed that Matthias Church helped drive the Turks from the Hungarian land. One day before the battle the army had gone to pray at the mosque, and at that point the wall hit by a shell. And what a surprise it was the Ottomans when they saw the figure of the Virgin Mary, which was hidden in the wall. The morale of the Muslims was broken, and the Hungarians regained independence.

Matthias Church in Budapest

Entrance to the maze in Budapest

tourists map of Budapest

Catacombs were formed under Buda's hill many, many years ago, before the ancient Hungarians. The locals are actively used natural corridors for wine storage and the things we can say provided themselves cellars. Over time, the limestone "cellar" connected to each other, forming long passages. I think these walls have seen quite a few secret meetings, car chases and murder, as the catacombs, as they say, were already up to Visegrad. In wartime, the maze served as the perfect air-raid shelter for the poor people. Already in the XX century, from the labyrinth made tourist site, after closing the dubious and dangerous moves. All sorts of chips, such as the source of wine, like many people, so attraction is alive and growing. But once again, for me, this place definitely does not fall in the list of must see.

If you decide to visit the maze, you better get off at the same place where the entrance. The fact is, if you go to the other exit, you will find yourself on a completely different street and have to make a decent detour to get back on route.

The first royal palace was built in the XIII century, but rebuilt in the XV century by order of King Matthias. But the building did not come to the present day, unnecessarily did not survive the attack of the Turks. Another inspiration for the construction of the palace was Maria Theresa. Woe to the revolutionaries again damaged the building, which once again had to rebuild. And finally finished off his World War II. What we are seeing now - the restored modern copy.

Royal Palace in Budapest

Birdie with a sword - a special symbol of the city. Turul mythical bird, the former according to legend, the ancestor of the Árpád (the leader of the Hungarians, the national hero).

Birdie with a sword

Budapest

with new friends

Budapest

The courtyard of the Royal Palace in Budapest

Triplet's parents in Budapest

It is interesting that in the reconstruction of the palace were found the remains of an ancient Gothic building. Today, the palace is a complex of cultural sites in Budapest: Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest History Museum, the Museum of Modern Art and the Central Library of Hungary, the Graf Secheni.ya.

At the main gate of the palace you can see the sculpture crow that holds in its beak is not cheese, and a wedding ring

Raven on the gate, Budapest

Legend has it that at the wedding of King Matthias I Corvinus crow flew into the church and stole the ring bride. Matiyash caught the bird and kill her, but still she lived very long. Since then, the raven with a ring depicted in family arms of Matthias, and the nickname of the King "Corwin" translates as "sheep".

Budapest

St. Stephen's Basilica - the largest church in Budapest, its height is 96 meters and the dome 22 meters in diameter, and the area of the Temple - 4730 square meters. During the service, basil can accommodate as many as 8,500 members. St. Stephen's Cathedral - the tallest building in the Hungarian capital, and its bell, which makes an unusual sound - the largest in the country

St. Stephen's Basilica in Budapest

Heroes Square and the neighborhood

Heroes Square and the neighborhood, one of the most interesting and the most important sights in the sixth district, in front Andrassy Avenue.

The area is located at the end of Andrassy Avenue, about 2.4 km from the city center. In the center of the square is the Millennium Monument, on both sides, he has two of the most important museums of Budapest, on the left side of the Museum of Fine Arts, on the right side Museum of Art.

Down the road, behind the Millennium Monument (Kos Karol track) is just 300 meters from the square on the right is a fortress Vajdahunyad, and the other side of the road Szechenyi Bath. Heroes' Square is located in the City Park on the shores of its lake.

Heroes Square in Budapest

Close to the National Museum in the semi-circular road (Zoo Boulevard), is a restaurant Gundel (which is the most famous restaurant in Hungary), Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden, and the Budapest Circus.

National Museum in Budapest

Heroes Square in Budapest

From Heroes' Square go across the bridge and get to the most beautiful part of the park where the castle is located Vaydahunyad, which in itself and not a castle at all, and its layout.

Varoshliget Park (Városliget) in Budapest

The fact is that when the Hungarians celebrated its millennium (in the very memorable 1896), in the city park were built plywood mock-ups of some major facilities located in historical territories of Hungary (Hungarians in general a lot of areas considered for its historical). So, lock Vaydahunyad - a copy of the lock Corwin (XV c.), Who is currently in Romania, in the city of Hunedoara. Also near the castle and the castle gate copied Tower in Sighisoara (Romania).

Vaydahunyad Castle in Budapest - a copy of the Romanian castle Corwin

The layout of the castle then all so impressed that they decided to Hungarians otgrohat it already in the stone (just got the original Romanians). Although the castle itself "remake", it does not diminish its beauty, and does not reduce the impression it produces. It was built in pseudo-Gothic style, replete with spiers, pinnacles, lancet windows and other elements of the Gothic. And that's part of the inner facade made it in a lush baroque style.