A city of lights

When night falls, and in February it does that early in February, the lights of Budapest turns on, illuminating it in a wonderful light. The Chain Bridge here just begged to be photographed on this night.

1956 - a year to remember

A year that the Hungarians understandably remembers is 1956, he year when the Hungarian people revolted against the oppression of the Soviets. The revolt was drowned in blood and the many dead are seen as martyrs in today's Hungary. In February I saw numerous statues and monuments all over Budapest to commemorate the events, like this one at the eternal Flame outside the parliament.

Getting around in Budapest

When travelling to a foreign city like Budapest, getting around can often be a challenge. Not in Budapest, though. Here the public transport worked, both trams, buses and metro, when I was there in February.

A lot of statues

Budapest is filled to the brim with statues, as I discovered in February. A lot of them are of course of historic figures, new and old,  but others are showing everyday life like this girl playing with her dog.

Don't Forget to Relax

When travelling I often forget to relax as I want to see (and photograph) as much as possibly. Budapest in February seems to draw you indoor to the nearest waterhole as the temperatures are on the cold side. And Budapest is a good place to taste the local brew and food. It's plenty and to someone living in Copenhagen, nice on the wallet as well.

A Budapest Museum Worth Visiting

One of the museums on Castle Hill in Budapest that many tourists miss is the Museum of Military History, which takes the visitor trough the whole military history of Hungary, even the newer history like WWI, WWII and the uprising of 1956. To get through it you need more than just a little knowledge beforehand as most of the explanations are in Hungarian only. For a history buff like me, it was a good way to spend a couple of hours on a frigid February visit.

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.

A place of history, new and old

One of the monuments clearly visible over Budapest that I noticed in February was this one, the Liberty Statue on Gellert Hill. Erected by the Soviets in 1947 it was originally to commemorate the victory over Nazi-Germany, but after democracy replaced communism in 1989 the inscription was changed from "Erected by the grateful Hungarian Nation in memory of the liberating Russian heroes" to "To the memory of all of those who sacrificed their lives for the independence, freedom, and success of Hungary." Budapest is truly a place of history, both new and old.

Beautiful Budapest

In February the camera focused on beautiful Budapest, a city I'd never been to before. Even though the stay was a bit too short to really see the city, and the weather a bit too cold to roam the streets for many hours without appropriate pit-stops, I really enjoyed the city and its people.The photo shows the grand Hero's Square, Hösök tere, with the Millennium Monument as the central piece.

The Last From Budapest

This will be the last post with photos from Budapest, and what to end the series with but a photo of the bird that watches over the city, the Turul bird. The Turul is the most important bird in the origin myth of the Magyars. It is a divine messenger, a symbol of power, strength and nobility. And as long as it watches over Hungary, the country will prosper. 

From tomorrow a new series will start, and it will be about...well, I guess you just have to wait and see:-)

Gellert Baths

The Gellert Baths is another fine example of the Budapest Secession style of Art Nouveau. Built in 1912-18 these baths utilize the thermal springs that Budapest is known for.

Secession

Budapest has got it's own Art Nouveau style called Secession which is evident in many of the buildings in the Pest area. This one on Lehel utca is a fine example of that style.

The Father of the Compromise

On Roosevelt Square in Budapest is a monument to Ferenc Deak, the politician who made the compromise with the Habsburgers that created the double monarchy. He was a speaker for moderate reforms which led to the union of the three cities of Buda, Pest and Óbuda into one city, Budapest.

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.

The Great Reformer

This statue of the great reformer Istvàn Szechenyi (1791-1869) looks over the Danube from his place in the wall, the river which he spanned with the first permanent bridge, now named after him. He was a politician, theorist, writer and one of the greatest statesmen of Hungary. An example of his reforms was the establishment of the Academy of Sciences by donating the annual income from his estates.

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.

For Freedom and Truth

István Bibo was acting Minister of State for the Hungarian National Government during the 1956 revolution. Rather than escape he stayed at the Hungarian Parliament building waiting to be arrested by the Soviets as they crushed the rebellion. During that wait he wrote his famous proclamation "For Freedom and Truth". Not far from the Parliament building this bust can be found on the bank of the Danube.

" The Hungarian people have already sacrificed enough of their blood to show the world their devotion to freedom and truth. Now its up to the world powers to demonstrate the fore of principles embodied in the United Nations Charter and the strength of the world's freedom-loving peoples. I appeal to the major powers and the United Nations to make a wise and courageous decision to protect the freedom of our subjugated Nation."

A Hooded Man

Inside the Vajdahunyad Castle in Budapest is this hooded man, sitting for eternity. The statue represents Anonymous, a thirteenth century chronicler whose work "Gesta Hungarorum", written in Latin and based on earlier chronicles now lost, contains the Hunnish-Hungarian cycle of legends as well as the history of the Magyar Conquest and of the first kings of the House of Árpád. Very little is known about him, except the fact that he worked for the court.

Eternal Flame

 

Outside the parliament building in Budapest is the eternal flame, a memorial to the 1956 revolution. It was unveiled in 1996 on the fortieth anniversary of the revolution which cost more than 2500 Hungarians and  700 Soviet troops their lives.

The eagerly pointing man on the imposing monument just outside the Parliament in Budapest is Hungarian Regent-President Lajos Kossuth. He was a Hungarian lawyer, journalist, politician and, from 1849, Regent President of Hungary. Widely honoured as a fighter for freedom and democracy he ended his life in exile in Italy.