The Castle Hill Revisited

No visit to Budapest is complete without visiting the Castle Hill and its many narrow streets, small restaurants and picturesque shops. And of course the museums there. Even in February there's lots to explore.

The Just

The Matyas Fountain or Matthias Fountain at the Budapest Palace on Castle Hill was made in 1904 by Alajos Stróbl in honour of king Matthias Corvinus and his beloved Ilonka. It depicts a hunting scene with falconers, hunters, deer and dogs. Ilonka, the peasant girl he according to legend fell in love with during a hunt, can be seen under the columns to the right. Called the Just Matthias was King of Hungary, Bohemia, Dalmatia, Croatia, Rama, Serbia, Lodomeria, Cumania and Bulgaria, Prince of Silesia and Luxembourg, Margrave of Moravia and Lusatia.

A Hussar

On the Parade Square on Castle Hill in Budapest is a statue of something the Hungarians are famous for; a hussar. The hussars were light cavalrymen used for reconnaissance duties and for surprise attacks against the enemy's flanks and rear.

Falling Down

One of the many statues in Budapest, and a very unorthodox one as well. The Hungarians obviously like these sometimes strange statues as they are put up everywhere you look. This one is on the stairs leading down from the Fisherman's Bastion and depicts a man falling down. It's a monument to honour Peter Mansfeld, a Hungarian freedom fighter of the 1956 uprising who was executed by the authorities in 1959 at the age of only 18.

The Mathias Church (Mátyás templom) is the most prominent church on Budapest Castle Hill. Its Rococo spire stands tall above the hill while the church itself is a mix of Romanesque and Gothic styles. The first church was built in 1015, re-built in the 14th century and heavily restored in the 19th century.

Getting Up That Hill

Castle Hill in Budapest is no mean feat to climb if you're on foot. To get there more easily you can take one of the buses or for a different experience the Castle Hill Funicular. The Funicular is a funicular railway linking the Chain Bridge to Buda Castle. It was built in 1870 as the second such transport system in Europe.

Light it Up, Please

In Budapest they seem to honour the idea that a building should not only look nice in full daylight but also at night, so most of the impressive buildings are lit at night. The Royal Palace or Buda Castle here on Castle Hill is one of those buildings that isn in the spotlight. The statue in front is of Prince Eugene of Savoy and was put here in 1900 as a temporary solution, until a statue of King Franz Joseph was completed. That never happened so Prince Eugene stayed. Prince Eugene (1663 - 1736) was known as one of the greatest military commanders in modern European history, having served three emperors and fighting Ottoman, French, Spanish, Polish and Italian armies.

The Fisherman's Bastion

The Fisherman's Bastion on Castle Hill in Budapest is a terrace in neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque style built in 1895 - 1902. Though it looks impressive and is one of the best known landmarks of Budapest, it's more looks than function. The name comes from the fishermen that were charged with defending this stretch of wall in the Middle Ages. The bastion is most impressive at night where you can enjoy the city lights of Budapest.

A King

Just by the Fisherman's Bastion on Castle Hill in Budapest is this statue of King Stephen the I. He was the first king of Hungary (1000 - 1038) and is considered both to be the founder of the Kingdom of Hungary and the one that established Christianity in the region. He also greatly expanded the Hungarian control of the Carpathian Basin.

A View Through a Gate

The other prominent hill in Budapest is the Castle Hill on the Buda side. This is where the old city is with the Royal Palace, the old houses and the small streets, all much sought by the tourists. And the hill offers some very fine views over the Danube and Pest.