Budinsky castle - Hungary
Short info
Buda Castle (Budai Vár) in the capital of Hungary – Budapest is the historical seat of Hungarian kings.
In the past, it was also a king's palace and king's chateau. It is the largest building situated on the southern part of Castle Hill. In 1987, Buda Castle was listed in the Budapest Historical Site Heritage.
The place where the present Buda Castle stands was first occupied by the king's family of Bela IV betweeen 1247 – 1265; however, there is no archaeological proof of this site. The first part of Buda Castle was built by Prince Steven, Duke of Slavians in the 14th Century. Since then, the Castle has constantly been rebuilt and changed. At first, Zigmund of Luxembourg made major changes in the first half of the 15th Century. The Knight's Hall, created by him, was the largest in Europe at that time. The castle was probably the largest Gothic seat in the Middle Ages. Later, Matej Korvin rebuilt the castle in a Renaissance style. However, this castle did not survive the attack and occupation of the Ottoman's army and further battles to reclaim the castle. Reconstruction of Buda Castle commenced in the mid-18th Century by Queen Maria Terezia. In the late 19th Century, during government by the Austrian-Ungrian dynasty and King Franz Joseph, Buda Castle obtained its current appearance. During the Second World War, the castle was damaged once again, by a large fire. However, it was repaired again.
Today, there are two museums in Buda Castle. One is
Historical Museum of Budapest. It displays the history of the city from its beginnings through to the end of the Communist era.
Another is the
Hungarian National Gallery with a collection of magnificant Hungarian paintings and sculptures. Apart from museums, a visitor to Buda Castle can stroll through its courtyard, admire the architecture of the individual buildings and gardens in Medieval "zwingers" (in the castle district). There is also a closed well and the unforgettable view of the surroundings.
Destination
