Schmap Budapest Historical Background

Our apologies: your internet browser is not yet fully supported by our Schmap online guides. If you continue, pages in this guide may display or function incorrectly.

Would you like to continue anyway?

Schmap.com supports the following browsers:

Internet Explorer 6 and above
Firefox 1.5 and above
Safari 3 for Pc

MAC

Safari version 1.3 and above
Firefox 2 and above

Budapest - Historical Background
Download the Schmap Budapest Guide
With Schmap 2.0 you can:

Browse this Schmap Guide on your PC, online or offline.
View Schmap Guides for 200 worldwide destinations.
Bookmark places of interest, plan trips and take virtual tours.
Custom print your own full-color travel guides.
Publish and share schmapplets with your favorite places
Enjoy many more unique Schmap features.

Budapest Home
Schmap Budapest guide and map

Budapest is often called the 'Pearl of the Danube', and it truly is a stunningly beautiful place. Geography, history and human creativity have all combined to create a city that simultaneously charms, amazes and fascinates.

Roman Influence

Budapest is full of diversity, and so is its history. The Romans settled here in the first century A.D. and despite the fact that they remained only a few hundred years, their influence can still be felt: they found the sun-drenched gentle slopes perfect for grape vines, and began what is now a huge viticulture industry. They also introduced modern architectural techniques (columns, stone, plaster, arches and so on), the remains of which can be viewed to this day. The Romans, famous for their love of baths, also made use of the abundant thermal springs that lie under the city: they created the very first public baths, a now world-famous feature of Budapest. During Roman times, Budapest was known as Aquincum.

The Magyars

Some five hundred years later, in 896, a wave of brave and fiery people came sweeping into the Carpathian basin. These were the Magyars, the founders of the Hungarian nation. They established various settlements, but Buda and Pest were no more than tiny villages. King Bela built a fortress in Buda in the 13th century, and then King Charles Robert moved the court from Visegrad to Buda where his son (Louis the Great) began construction of the now famous Royal Palace.

Invasion of the Mongols

The city began to flourish when suddenly the Mongols invaded (241-1242) and defeated the Magyars. Buda and Pest were reduced to ashes. However, just as quickly the attackers mysteriously vanished, allowing both the city and the country to regroup and rebuild.

Invasion of the Turks

Things seemed to be going well and the settlement was on the road to recovery, when the Turks, under the leadership of Suleyman the First, inflicted a crushing and total defeat on the Hungarian army at the battle of Mohacs in August 29, 1526. By 1541 the Turks had full control of Buda and its huge castle. The Turks, another people with a love of thermal baths, constructed some of the finest bathing facilities in the world here. Several of them are still in use and have brought healing relief to thousands. Also credited to the Turks is the introduction of paprika (although this is a bone of contention to many), and in the famous book "Eclipse of the Crescent Moon," the author Geza Gardonyi suggests that the Turks were also responsible for another Budapest speciality: coffee. In the city the Rozsadomb area is covered in roses—a flower imported by the invaders.

Poles to the Rescue

It was the Poles who came to Budapest's rescue: in 1686 they liberated both Buda and the castle itself, sending the Turks into a full-scale retreat. Nevertheless, this did not bring about a free Hungary; instead, the nation became a province of the Hapsburg Empire. Still, Budapest continued to grow, despite the many political and military upheavals. While it was denied its place as capital of a free nation, it was not denied prosperity.

A United & Prosperous City

Surprisingly, the city was still not known as Budapest. In fact there was not even a bridge across the River Danube. In 1849, the Chain Bridge was opened, causing quite a stir. Not long after, in 1873, the city was finally united to encompass the formerly separate and independent Buda, Pest, Margaret Island and Obuda.

All of a sudden the city began to prosper like never before. As the year 1896 approached (the thousand year anniversary of the arrival of the Magyars), a building program was launched on a massive scale. It was during this boom that many of the fine buildings which are still famous today were constructed. The metro (the first on the continent) was completed and Andrassy Ut (Andrassy Street) was created above it. Fine architecture became one of the city's trademarks.

Destruction of the City

The First World War saw Budapest emerge as the capital of a country only one third of its pre-war size. The Second World War brought about large-scale destruction: by the end of fighting and the Soviet 'liberation', not a single bridge was left standing across the Danube, the Royal Palace lay in ruins and the Castle District was devastated.

The 1956 Uprising

The next big event in Budapest's history was the 1956 uprising. On October 23, a peaceful protest became violent after shots were fired. Thousands of people took to the streets, a new leader (Statue of Imre Nagy) was appointed, Stalin's statue was pulled down and the people were ecstatic. However, the Soviets would not tolerate this for long: they sent in troops and tanks, crushing the revolution and killing some 2000-3000 people. Many thousands more were arrested and the famous Hungarian brain-drain began with some 250,000 (mostly well-educated) people leaving the country to settle in the West. Many buildings around town still have pockmarked facades: these are the scars of 1956 and they are a telling reminder of those grim times.

1989: A Headline Year

1989 was a true headline year for Budapest and Hungary. Troops began dismantling the fence separating the nation from Austria, while Gorbachev watched silently from Moscow. In Budapest a statue of Lenin was removed, and in June a crowd of a quarter million people attended a ceremony at Heroes' Square for the reburial of Imre Nagy. By 1991, there were no more Soviet troops in Hungary and only seven years later the country became a member of NATO.

Budapest Today

Today, Budapest is quickly reclaiming its rightful place as one of Europe's most beautiful and scenic cities. The Pearl of the Danube is once again on full display.

Copyright 1999-2005 Wcities, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Contact Wcities

Andrassy ut

Beautiful old tree-lined street

Andrassy ut
District VI (section from Oktogon to City Park)
Budapest 1061
Hungary

Once you get past the rather built up and hectic (though still picturesque) section of Andrassy utca that leads to Oktogon, you will discover that the street suddenly changes. Huge and beautiful buildings with intricate and ornate façades are separated from the main road by grassy traffic islands reflecting good urban planning. This street was constructed as part of the nation's millennium celebrations in 1896, along with the M1 metro, which runs beneath it. It was started in 1872 and took twelve years to complete. Since then, it has been renamed several times: first after Prime Minister Andrassy, then it changed to (believe it or not) Sztalin (i.e. Stalin) utca and after Stalin was denounced it was changed again to 'Avenue of the People's Republic'. Finally, in 1990 it changed back to Andrassy utca; which many had continued calling it all along. Enjoy a stroll all the way up to Heroes' Square, from where you can catch the M1 back to Vorosmarty.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Ross Wood

Photo: Eszter Hargittai

Photo: GM² noi

Photo: Wobbly Virtue

Photo: Vivien

Photo: mois faion

Photo: Laura Marie

Photo: Abigail Phoenix

Photo: maria falina

Photo: Eszter Hargittai

Photo: Paul Hardy

Photo: Etienne Cazin

Photo: Emilio González

Photo: Johan Buys

Photo: Manuel Câmara

Photo: hoszi

Photo: Ian Rutherford

Photo: Andante Vivace

Photo: Karl Todd

Photo: Josh Graybill

Photo: Free Chin, Chicago

Photo: ferrando

Photo: JHL

Photo: wallopwanderer

Photo: sovcsil

Photo: Natale Cozzolongo

Photo: Erin Currie

Photo: Travis L. Ferland

Andrassy ut photo by Marianna Almakaieva

Photo: Marianna Almakaieva

Photo: Simon King

Photo: Klara Laszlo

Photo: Michael Oglethorpe

Photo: Kelly Fiveash

Photo: martinlang

Photo: Reinhard Herzog

Andrassy ut photo by Susanna Goldenstein

Photo: Susanna Goldenstein

Photo: Reka Ivony

Photo: dadotres

Photo: brian

Photo: Bárbara Alcalde

Buda

Western half of the city Western side of the river
Budapest 1052
Hungary
Historic Buda occupies the western side of the Danube. It is the home of Castle Hill, Gellért Hill, and the wonderful Buda Hills. Traditionally, this was where the nobility lived (while Pest was a workers' and merchants' area). The city began to come into its own in 1873 when Buda was united with Pest. The best views of Buda are from the Duna Korzo, the Chain Bridge, or from one of the rooms and balconies of the world class hotels that line the Pest side of the Danube.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Derrick Malone
Photo: Nicholas Helmholdt
Photo: Derrick Malone
Photo: Loura Conerney
Photo: Tamás Majoros
Photo: Steph Jones
Photo: Leandro Alvarenga
Photo: Mario Antonio Herrero Machado

Photo: Souvik Bhattacharya
Photo: Christopher Zrout
Photo: Matt Wilkinson
Photo: Carla Beth Price
Photo: Michael Hersrud
Photo: isalella
Photo: Smileywt
Photo: Tore Liavaag

Photo: William E. Jones
Photo: Mabsuuta
Photo: Sharon Goh
Photo: Eric Beebe
Photo: Darren O'Connor
Photo: Andiii11
Photo: Paul Rickert
Photo: C.Wehrmeier

Photo: Kiss Róbert
Photo: janinephoto
Photo: Martin Ivanov - Enso
Photo: TarValanion
Photo: Mark Hambleton
Photo: Clare Brownlee
Photo: Tai Ziola
Photo: Manu Arjo

Photo: Dino
Photo: Nataliia Lytvynova
Photo: Daniel Oram
Photo: sunyuanphoto

Castle District

Beautiful views over the river Castle Hill
(District I)
Budapest 1014
Hungary
After you've seen the Royal Palace, take a stroll northwards. The medieval street network remains unaltered and although most of the buildings have been thoroughly restored (the war damage was severe) many retain their original features. You will be able to see the remains of the Dominican monastery; note the Plague monument outside Matyas Church; walk along the castle walls on the Buda side and see the Turkish tombstones at the north-western corner. There are many places to eat out here, but you should expect to pay tourist prices.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Michael Veraz
Photo: matthew chamberlain
Photo: Chad Briggs
Photo: gareth dewar
Photo: Heather Malcolm
Photo: Maren Yumi Motomura
Photo: Chad Briggs
Photo: Susan

Photo: Jannet Duroc
Photo: Gus K
Photo: Eliina Viele
Photo: Francisco Goncalves
Photo: Maren Yumi Motomura
Photo: Stuart Caie
Photo: Stuart Caie
Photo: Paul Ark

Photo: Ronald M. Carter
Photo: Roleck
Photo: Jim Eixenberger
Photo: David Robinson
Photo: Penguinpics
Photo: Cthonus
Photo: Andrey Korchagin
Photo: Bob Van Epps

Photo: Anil Prasad
Photo: Deborah Sianturi
Photo: Erin
Photo: Martin Sejba
Photo: mikesperlak
Photo: Little Miss Moi
Photo: Moche Fedor
Photo: siofra

Photo: dadima2007
Photo: Zach Poff
Photo: Micah Reinhold
Photo: bluebutton
Photo: jasonjonsavage
Photo: Sharon Harper
Photo: Emily Schneider
Photo: E. Plashkes

Chain Bridge

Budapest's most famous bridge Clark Adam ter - Roosevelt ter
Budapest 1013
Hungary
This spectacular bridge has an equally spectacular history. It's a great place from which to take in a panorama of the city (which becomes even more impressive at night). This was the very first bridge to link the two cities of Buda and Pest. The project was started in 1839 by designer William Tierney Clark and engineer Adam Clark, and it was completed in 1849. The bridge celebrated its 150th birthday recently with a huge open-air festival.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: jaime.silva
Photo: Duncan Lang
Photo: Till Westermayer
Photo: Georg Mayer
Photo: jaime.silva
Photo: Brandon G. Amancio
Photo: Renee Oglesby
Photo: Trystan Clarke

Photo: Simon Laird
Photo: Christopher Dewhurst
Photo: David Kelly
Photo: Katrien D.
Photo: Jeff Bridgforth
Photo: Michael Badt
Photo: Sean Connolly
Photo: Martin Hoey

Photo: Bernardo Ribeiro
Photo: Mark Gross - Chicago
Photo: Marco Photi
Photo: skinnie minnie
Photo: Martti Kuusanmäki
Photo: The FishSlapping family
Photo: ronpeckjr
Photo: Eurico Frade

Photo: David & Cheryl M
Photo: Juan Carlos Fernandez
Photo: Pseudobombast
Photo: Daniel R. Kovach
Photo: Eugenia Kuchma
Photo: Tony Spearink
Photo: mooninites
Photo: Gunnar Gunnarsson

Photo: Jeff Tovar
Photo: Carlos Peña
Photo: Doug Bailey
Photo: Ed Bateman
Photo: Svetomir Petrovici
Photo: Leonardo Doria
Photo: Honza Soukup
Photo: janika0

Photo: C Pride

Heroes' Square

Hungarian war memorial Top of Andrassy ut
(District VI)
Budapest 1062
Hungary
This imposing square was built for the 1896 millennium celebrations. It is dominated by the Archangel Gabriel who is surrounded by seven statues representing the chiefs of the seven Magyar tribes who settled in this area (supposedly in AD 896). The large open space is dedicated to the Hungarian war memorial and attracts tourists, skateboarders and inline skaters in their dozens. Check out the recently restored art museums on either side of the square.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Christopher Walker
Photo: snakekiller
Photo: Simon Laird
Photo: Simon Laird
Photo: Damion and Saleeta
Photo: Aaron Smith
Photo: László Sándor
Photo: James & Clara

Photo: danielle_grau
Photo: Kat Aldridge
Photo: Leonid Yaitsky
Photo: Marc Jones
Photo: StaneStane
Photo: Angela Moeny
Photo: Sam Hurwitt
Photo: bibliogrump

Photo: Adrian Clark
Photo: Neil & Kelly
Photo: orangegato88
Photo: Wayne Hopkins
Photo: Gina Szabo
Photo: bradbains
Photo: Melissa
Photo: Miguel Carrasco

Photo: Raf89
Photo: Joseph Morris
Photo: SR001
Photo: Gergely Fiel
Photo: Nathan Szanto
Photo: Becky
Photo: Majkl76
Photo: Mal Cockburn

Photo: Rachel and James
Photo: Ray Sorin
Photo: Fiona Chan
Photo: Faidwnas Loumakis

Margaret Island

Peaceful spot for relaxation Margitsziget
Budapest 1138
Hungary
Despite its central location, Margaret Island is extremely peaceful. In summer, it is popular with the locals who come here to relax. Rent a bicycle, jog, swim in one of two pools, throw a Frisbee or just stroll around. This was originally a religious centre. The ruins of St Margaret's Dominican nunnery are on the east side near the ruins of a Franciscan church. The water tower is a listed building. A very fine lunch can be had in the Ramada Grand Hotel at the north-east end of the island.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Troy Parsons
Photo: David Gee
Photo: Victoria Archer
Photo: Enno Rehling
Photo: David Gee
Photo: Levente Nagy
Photo: azember
Photo: krampusz

Photo: azember
Photo: Levente Nagy
Photo: Irina Vidal Migallon
Photo: Georg Edlbacher
Photo: Jean Russell
Photo: Enno Rehling
Photo: Sarah Whitaker
Photo: Penny Jones

Photo: Laura May
Photo: Bess Walthour-USA
Photo: Frank Paul Silye
Photo: Pål Storerud
Photo: Robin Davies Chen
Photo: emily.essner
Photo: Chris Watt
Photo: Lesley Aitken

Photo: Tim Kelly
Photo: la_voz08
Photo: Krisztina Szirmai
Photo: Megyeri Anikó
Photo: Mihaela Cozma
Photo: wombatek88
Photo: Gabriella Bottka
Photo: Adrià Vallès

Photo: lera sheyko
Photo: Hódi Adrienn Dóra
Photo: vit_hu_by
Photo: Gabor Gyergyoi
Photo: Virginie Harel
Photo: Cliff Barnes
Photo: Jason Rosenbaum
Photo: Emma Robinson

Photo: ikwhitmore
Photo: Christina Koch
Photo: jason tinkey

Pest

The east side of the Danube the eastern side of the Danube
Budapest 1011
Hungary
Pest lies, flat and proud, as far as the eye can see. The best vantage-point to gaze upon it is from hilly Buda, and the opposite is also true; Buda is best seen from Pest. To fully appreciate Pest, climb to the top of Gellert Hill, or stare down from one of the many fine panoramic points on Castle Hill. Buda and Pest were two separate cities until as recently as 1873. They have very different characters but it's not possible to say that there is a right or a wrong side of the river; they both have their charms and surprises. Fortunately it's easy to explore both sides.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Wayne Bell
Photo: Paul Ark
Photo: tokyoryoko
Photo: Karen A. Piotrowski
Photo: David Cabezón Santos
Photo: David Cabezón Santos
Photo: Paul Ark
Photo: Jacob Wolman

Photo: Markus Lutz
Photo: Frank Yang
Photo: staceyheaven
Photo: Peterzen
Photo: Chris Kelsey
Photo: james schneider
Photo: leila mazaheri

River Danube

Budapest's famous river Dowtown
Budapest 1052
Hungary
The Danube - Europe's most celebrated river - runs majestically through the center of Budapest. The city has taken full advantage of this and it now offers some of the finest panoramas to be found anywhere on the continent. Starting far away in Germany (where the Breg and Brigach rivers meet), the Danube runs some 2859 kilometers before spilling into the Black Sea. On its journey, it passes through Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Romania. Incidentally, contrary to the name of the famous waltz, it is not blue!

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Tom Li
Photo: Nathaniel Dewey
Photo: Jenifer May
Photo: Jenifer May
Photo: Huzhead
Photo: Atelier Teee
Photo: Cecily Au
Photo: Carmen Gonzalez

Photo: Fabrizio Morroia
Photo: Beau Wade
Photo: Alice Bigge
Photo: Marta Johnson
Photo: Till Westermayer
Photo: Mark Bland
Photo: Melissa Gallo
Photo: Elina Innanen

Photo: Paul Ark
Photo: Mike Fossey
Photo: Jamie
Photo: Carl Ottersen
Photo: Tom Espinas
Photo: jennyknight100
Photo: Maurice
Photo: markus sobora

Photo: RUBEN RODRIGUEZ LOPEZ
Photo: baltzer rita
Photo: Mark Lloyd Dobson
Photo: Noël One
Photo: http://alphaeus.at
Photo: Gary Jordan
Photo: Christine DeLuca
Photo: 2thinknow

Photo: C. Low
Photo: stephane martin
Photo: Barbara Somogyi, Hun
Photo: GREG091

Rose Hill

Beautiful hill of roses Rozsadomb
district II (around Gul Baba utca)
Budapest 1023
Hungary
+36 1 322 4098 / +36 1 488 0475(Tourism Ministry) This is a terribly romantic area; the name means Rose Hill. The roses came from the Turks, and were planted by the same Gul Baba as the street is named after (ironically the only street in Budapest to be named after a Turk), and the same man is commemorated by the Gul Baba tomb. There are some fine views out over the city from the heights, and it's pleasant to randomly walk around the streets. Here and there, there are small local restaurants (vendeglos) as well as lots of pensions and small stores. Many of the houses are very fine as well, and then of course there are the roses...

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Akos Valyi

Royal Palace

Houses museums and art galleries Castle Hill
Budapest 1014
Hungary
There have been palaces built here since the 13th century. However, they seem to have been frequently razed to the ground, most recently during the hand-to-hand fighting between the Germans and the Russians towards the end of the Second World War. The palace we see now was rebuilt in the 60's and 70's and houses several museums and art galleries. There is an interesting exhibition of finds from the medieval palace - don't miss the Matyas Fountain at the back. The best way to get to the palace is via the little cable car (siklo) from Clark Adam Square, which offers spectacular views on the way up. Alternatively the meandering path with many staircases is also very pleasant.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: John Topley
Photo: Chris Frewin
Photo: Gianluca Ruggiero
Photo: Becca & Brian Davis
Photo: Paul Ark
Photo: Bradley Nelson
Photo: Sam Brown
Photo: me*lony

Photo: Gary Watson
Photo: Giamesh
Photo: Bess Walthour-USA
Photo: Ben Dalziel
Photo: Bradley Nelson
Photo: Mark Lowry
Photo: Chris Dobe
Photo: Lisa Batty, harrisonphoto.co.uk

Photo: Marcus Ramberg
Photo: Elliot Ritzema
Photo: Catrina Sinescu
Photo: Shahid Akhtar
Photo: mikat1308
Photo: Mary-Kathleen McCann
Photo: Erika T. Sparks
Photo: Chris Sutherns

Photo: Bart Claeys
Photo: Ruxandra Grecu
Photo: salem169

Statue of Imre Nagy

Statue of executed Prime Minister Vertanuk tere
District V
Budapest 1054
Hungary
The statue is of a man standing on a small bridge. He is wearing a hat and a trench coat and is looking pensively over his left shoulder, into the distance. The man is Imre Nagy. In 1956, Nagy was nominated by the people to become the new Prime Minister (during the uprising). When the Soviet troops invaded he was arrested (along with thousands of others) and eventually executed. He was buried in a mass grave. In 1989, he was reburied following a ceremony in Heroes' Square.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: André Gustavo
Photo: Jeff Bridgforth
Photo: Astrid Claessen
Photo: Keturah Stickann
Photo: Ariane Gaudefroy
Photo: citycrab
Photo: Violeta Sanchez
Photo: Jason Goeppinger

Photo: Jeff
Photo: hamadryades
Photo: CyberMacs
Photo: Kryfo81
Photo: Petr Sedivec
Photo: Frank Kovalchek
Photo: Julia Homstad
Photo: Fleance

Photo: gianni.mello
Photo: Wojciech Wysocki
Photo: Martin Berkeley
Photo: zirg91
Photo: rogix
Photo: Ankur and Vani
Photo: Martin Goodwin
Photo: Fergal Reid

Photo: Annarita Favilla
Photo: alexandrulesanu