Welcome to
HUNGARY
Official Name: Magyar Koztarsasag (Republic of Hungary)
Capital: Budapest
Form of Government: Parliamentary Democracy
Currency: Forint (HUF)
Area: 93,030km²
Polpulation: 10 million
Other major cities: Lake Balaton, Szentendre, Eger, Gyor
By Go Travelling, Public Domain
Hungary is a country with a diverse and colourful culture and hectic history. Hungarian are proud of their traditions. They have one of the richest folk traditions and its still alive in Europe.
Communism in Hungary ended 1989 and the country became a parliamentary republic. It joined NATO in 1999 and the EU five years later.
Low mountains in the north-west, the Great Plain in the east, sparking lakes and rivers , including Balaton, the largest lake in Central Europe, acres of green countryside, beautiful quaint villages with hidden gems, Hungary offers many diverse landscape. Hungary has wonderful hot springs and baths dated to Roman and Turkish occupation. The country boasts no less than 1,500 spas, typically featuring Roman, Greek and Turkish architecture.
Learn more about the best things to see and do with our list of the some top attractions in Hungary.
Budapest
Budapest, the capital, is known as Paris in the East, bisected by the mighty Danube River, with famous landmarks such as the Buda’s medieval Castle Hill, and the Pest’s Andrassy Avenue, the neo-gothic Parliament house and the 19th-century Chain Bridge running atop the Danube River.
UNESCO named Budapest a World Heritage Site, and it is consists of three parts:
1. Buda Castle District
This holds the city's medieval sites, with Buda Castle and the remains of the original Roman town Aquincum. It was declared as World Heritage in 1987.
2. Banks of the Danube
This includes the Parliament House(1884-1904) and the Chain Bridge (1849). The Banks of Danube was listed as World Heritage together with the Buda Castle District in 1987.
3. Andrássy Avenue
Andrássy Avenue was added in the year 2002 to the World Heritage list and this include the Opera, Millennium Park and the Underground Railway, the first underground in Continental Europe and has been operational since 1896.
Princess Sissi
Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary by marriage to Emperor Franz Joseph I.
Elizabeth developed a deep affection for this country and its culture, she even learned the language. In return, Hungarians lovingly nicknamed her Sisi. Her persona forever surrounded by myth and legend, her death in 1898 a violent assassination, Sisi is still greatly beloved by the country that continues to honour her memory.
The Shoes on the Danube Bank
The "Shoes on the Danube Bank" is a memorial in Budapest, conceived in 2005 by film director Can Togay with sculptor Gyula Pauer to honor the Jews who were killed by fascist Arrow Cross militiamen in Budapest during World War II. There are sixty pairs of period-appropriate iron shoes located along the Pest side of the Danube Promenade.
By Nikodem Nijaki - wikimedia.org, CC BY-SA 3.0
By Moshe Harosh - Pixabay
By Eric Lansaw - Pixabay
Esztergom
Situated on the right bank of the river Danube, Esztergom marks the border between Slovakia and Hungary. Known as the royal city , it is the place where St Stephen, the first King of Hungary was crowned at the start of the 11th century.
Basilica Esztergom
The Basilica of Esztergom is the seat of the Catholic Church in Hungary. It is dedicated to the Saint Mary of the Assumption and Saint Adalbert. It is the largest church and the tallest building in Hungary.
Esztergom Medieval Castle
The medieval castle of Esztergom, built in the 10th and 11th centuries, was the royal seat until 1249. It is the symbol of Hungarian Christianity. It was enlarged in the early Gothic style and later hosted Renaissance artists.
Széchényi Square
Széchényi Square, Esztergom’s central Square was the scene of the Medieval marketplace and is walled by Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical buildings.
The Bridge of Mary Valerie (Most Márie Valérie)
The Bridge of Mary Valerie joins Esztergom in Hungary and Štúrovo in Slovakia, across the River Danube. The bridge is about 509 metres in length. It is named after Archduchess Marie Valerie of Austria (1868–1924), the fourth child of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, Franz Josef and Elisabeth. Built in 1895, partially destroyed in 1944, restored in 2001.
Gyor
A pretty Baroque city located at the meeting point of three rivers, the Danube, Rába and Rábca, Győr is often known as the “City of Rivers.” Gyor is the third richest city in Hungary for historic monuments after Budapest and Sopron. It is filled with Baroque architectures and the golden statues. Strolling among the beautifully restored buildings, squares and the old company signs on the houses, it’s easy to imagine that you’ve travelled back in time.
What could be a better activity in the ‘city of rivers’ than bathing? The thermal water of Győr has been known for long due to its beneficial effects. There are many Thermal spa centers in the city, where you can enjoy the fun brought by natural hot springs.
Vienna Gate Square (Bécsi kapu tér)
One of the most beautiful Baroque squares in Hungary, is where many of Győr's most important landmarks and historical attractions reside. The square itself is dominated by the beautiful Carmelite Church, which dates back to the early part of the 18th century. At the corner, is the 16th century Altabak-house with its two beautifully decorated corner bay windows and is one of the oldest homes in town as well as one of the most beautiful examples of early Baroque architecture.
Széchenyi Square
The main town square, has been functioning as a market square since the 14th century. The square is also where the Saint Ignatius of Loyola Benedictine Church and Monastery are located. The church built between 1634 and 1641 for the Jesuits who settled down in Gyor in 1627.
Győr Cathedral
Located on Káptalan Domb (Chapter Hill), the Cathedral boasts foundations from the 11th century, was changed and fortified throughout the years, so has a mixture of architectural styles , from Gothic, Neo-classical to Romanesque element.
New City Hall
Next, visit the icon of the town, the New City Hall, busiest spot in Gyor, dominates a large square flanked by many fountains.
For history buffs, the Zichy Palace, the Esterházy Mansion, János Xántus Museum are full of ancient treasures……