Budapest’s Castle Hill

Budapest’s Castle Hill is a World Heritage Site on the Buda side of the Danube. Buda Castle Hill was first established in the 13th Century when residents fled to the hills during a Mongol invasion. In 1873, hilly Buda to the west of the river and Pest on the east combined to form a unified city.

In 1849, Buda and Pest were first connected by the Széchenyi Chain Bridge. In 1820, Count Széchenyi decided to build the bridge after the frozen Danube prevented him from getting to his father’s funeral on the other side.

The bridge was bombed during World War II, but four original lions at each end of the bridge remain.

The easiest way to reach the Castle district is by a funicular located on the Buda side of the bridge, established by Count Széchenyi’s son in 1870.

The funicular offers beautiful views of the Pest side, with a clear shot of St. Stephen’s Basilica.

Trinity Square marks the entrance to my favorite section of the district. The statue honors victims of the plague.

Matthias Church is a beautiful Gothic building built in the 13th century.

My favorite part of Castle Hill is the Fisherman’s Bastion.

The beautiful historic lookout offers stunning views of the Pest side, and perfectly frames the Hungarian Parliament Building.

The beautiful decorative towers are straight from a fairy tale castle.

Since it is always open, it’s best to make Fishermans’ Bastion the first stop on a Castle Hill visit.

Buda Castle contains a few museums including the Hungarian National Gallery, and is a great way to spend a rainy day in Buda.

Besides the many attractions, it’s worth exploring the colorful buildings and cobblestones streets. The Ruszwurm Cafe is an excellent place to take a coffee break.

Details

The Buda Castle Funicular runs from 7:30 – 22:00 daily, every 5-10 minutes based on demand.

Matthias Church has varying hours depending on the day. Please check specific dates directly.

The Hungarian National Gallery is open from 10:00 to 18:00 Tuesday – Sunday.

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