Castles & Fortresses in Budapest

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Buda Castle, Chain Bridge, and the funicular taking people up to the castle between the two.

Buda Palace (Várpalota) resides on
Castle Hill, and is surrounded by the
Castle District (Várnegyed).

BUDA CASTLE (Budai Vár) 1st district

The first castle, which had been built for 300 years in
Gothic style, was almost completely destroyed during
the retaking of Buda from the Turks (1686), and a
Baroque palace of modest dimensions was only
begun in 1715. Large-scale extension began in 1749
and finished in 1790, however minor extensions and
conversion were also made later. The Hapsburg
monarchs did not live here, only used it during their
visit to Buda; later it was the residence of the
Palatines. On 3 March 1800 Joseph Haydn conducted
his oratory Creation in the ceremony hall.

The current neo-Baroque appearance dates back to
the late 19th c. The castle completely burnt out during
World War II. Restoration revealed several parts of the
medieval royal palace, and then it became home to
the Hungarian National Gallery, the Budapest History
Museum, National Széchényi Library and the Museum
of Contemporary Art. The Castle Theatre, an outlet of
the National Theatre is in an adjoining building.
Guided tours are offered for visitors to these sights.

MAP
Getting there: Bus 5, 16, 78 Tram 18 Várbusz (Bus to
the Castle) Funicular, Lift from Dózsa György tér. Cars
are forbidden to enter.

A stroll in the Castle at
night.

Colorful houses in Buda's castle district.

Fishermen's Bastion, a structure
much more elaborate than useful.

The house with the bend in the
wall, in Anna utca (in the heart of
the Castle District).

CITADEL (Citadella) Gellért hill

The Citadel, which was built by the Austrians after the
repression of the 1848-1849 War of Independence to
provide military control over the town, and was
referred to as the Bastille on the Gellért Hill' by a
Hungarian newspaper in 1855, soon lost its
significance as a fortification. Today it is a tourist sight
with hotel, restaurant and café. Many say that you can
have the most beautiful view of the city from here.

MAP
You can get there by BUS 27

View from the Citadel eastern walls towards
Várhegy (Castle Hill) - by Dan Burke

VAJDAHUNYAD CASTLE (Vajdahunyad vára) City
Park

For the Millennium celebrations in 1896 a
predecessor of today's Vajdahunyad Castle was
constructed from timber in an attempt to display all
the architectural styles found in Hungary to give a
unified impression. It was so successful that the
Castle was rebuilt using permanent materials in
1904. The four parts of the complex include Roman,
Gothic, transitional and Renaissance-Baroque style
parts. Today it houses the Museum of Hungarian
Agriculture

MAP
Public transportation:
M1 Széchenyi fürdő, BUS 4, 20, 30 Trolley bus 70, 72

The bridge of
Vajdahunyadvár, a
mock-medieval castle
in City Park (Városliget).