Attractions Budapest
Royal Palace
The palace is situated on Castle Hill in Buda's picturesque Castle District. First inhabited by King Béla in the 13th century, it was made into a stronghold against further foreign attacks after the experience of the Mongol invasion.
Fisherman's Bastion
The Bastion was built in 1905 upon the medieval castle walls. Its neo-Romanesque fortifications were named in honour of the city's fishermen, whose duty it had been in Mediaeval times to defend the river-ward side of the hill, though the existing bastion has never actually seen military action
Matthias Church
This magnificent 700-year-old Gothic church is at the centre of the Castle. Popularly known as the Matthias Chuch, its proper name is the Church of Our Lady. King Matthias (1458-90) was one of Hungary's most respected rulers. He was a great patron of scholarship and art under whose patronage Hungary experienced a cultural and political renaissance after decades of feudalism.
Gellért Hill
From St Gellért's Hill you get unrivalled, almost aerial, views of both Buda and Pest and the Danube. Named after a bishop who attempted to convert the Magyars to Christianity, the hill is also a monument to his mrtyrdom, as, according to legend, he was killed by being hurled from its rocky crags.
The Chain Bridge
The Chain Bridge was the first stone-piered bridge spanning the Danube, and it is still the most recognised, with its graceful lines and statues of lions. Today nine bridges connect Buda and Pest, but The Chain Bridge is the one that is most symbolic for residents and tourists alike.
The Great Synagogue and Jewish Museum
In the heart of Erzsébet Town lies the charming Jewish quarter and, sadly, also the former location of the ghetto. There you will find the Central Synagogue, which is the largest Jewish place of worship in Europe, accomodating up to 3,000 people. Construction was completed in 1859, and the Byzantine-Moorish style is magnificent and exotic.
Parliament Buildings
On the Pest side of the Danube can be found the Hungarian Parliament, one of the most elegant government building sin the world. The red dome, the intricate white stone lacework ornamentation and several spires make it one of the most decorative building sin a city already full of wonderful architecture.
Memento Park
One of the more unusual, yet paradoxically popular attractions is Memento Park, which is home to the Colossal statues dating from the Communist era and which have now been retired from the streets of the city to this open air museum.
