Hungary
Capital: Budapest 
Official Country Name: Republic of Hungary
Time Zone Offset: UTC +1
Language: Hungarian
Area: 93,033 sq km
Population: 10.2 million
Public Holidays
Language
Transport
Interesting facts
Public Holidays
1 Jan New Year's Day.
15 Mar Anniversary of 1848 uprising against Austrian rule.
24 Mar Easter Monday.
1 May Labor Day.
23 Oct Republic Day (Anniversary of 1956).
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day
Language
Hungarian (Magyar) is the official language. German and English are widely spoken by the older and younger generation respectively. Some French is also spoken, mainly in western Hungary.
Business Hours: on workdays 0800 - 1800, on Saturdays 10:00-13:00, on Sundays and holidays don’t work, some shops are 24 hours.
Banking hours: on workdays 10:00-14:00, on weekends and holidays don’t work.
Budapest is often called the “Pearl of the Danube River “by proud citizens. The 28 km stretch of the river divides the city into hilly Buda and flat Pest, once separate cities, and offers many panoramic, historic and cultural attractions.
Transport
Airport
From more
than 32 countries and 48 cities have direct flights to Budapest Ferihegy International Airport from all over the World. All of the main international airlines and low cost airlines fly to Budapest Airport. To get to the city centre, you may take the airport minibus, a taxi or the scheduled bus and metro lines.
Train
The Hungarian State Railway Company (MÁV Rt.) runs express trains to the main cities of Europe.
Car
When traveling by car you can reach Budapest by crossing more than 250 borders, some of them are restricted for the citizens of Hungary and those of neighboring countries.
To use the Hungarian highways you have to pay a fee. Highway vignettes can be bought at petrol stations and at some kiosks.
Documents needed for driving:
• Driving license
• Vehicle license
• Vehicle insurance
• Green card (environmental license)
Interesting facts
Modern Budapest was born in 1873, when Buda, Óbuda and Pest were officially joined. It is better to begin excursion from the Castle Hill where is Buda Castle situated.
The Buda Castle (Budai Vár) is also known as the Buda Royla Palace (Budai Királyi-palota) and the Buda Royal Castle (Budai Királyi Vár). It cont
ains a number of museums. It sits on the top of Castle Hill (Várhegy) looking across the Danube.
Buda Castle contains the National Gallery, National Library and Budapest History Museum.
• Royal Palace (Királyi palota). Probably the most popular attraction on Castle Hill. It is unusual in that it has never actually been occupied by the Hungarian Royal family, and is more of a pseudo-historical mishmash, like the Mátyás-templom.
The first palace, in Gothic style, built and added onto over 300 years, was destroyed by the Christian army that liberated Buda from the Turkish occupation in 1686. In 1715 work started on a completely new, smaller Baroque palace, but over the years more and more space was added to the palace until it reached its current length (304 meters). The palace, in neo-Baroque style, had many added wings (which now house the National Gallery, among other treasures--see below). Reconstruction after the various indignities suffered during rebellions of the nineteenth century finished in 1904. This reconstruction, by Miklós Ybl and Alajos Hauszmann, was undone by German troops holding out at the end of WWII. The roof fell in entirely and most of the furniture was destroyed. A Baroque façade which had never existed before and a real dome (there had previously been a faux dome with attic space beneath) were added to the building. Today the building houses three large museums (see below) and the National Széchényi Library.
The statue of Hussar general András Hadik, a favorite of Empress Maria Theresia is well known to local students. The statue, designed by György Vastagh Jr. was presented to the public in 1937.
The general is on horseback; take a close look at the horse's testicles. They are shiny yellow, unlike the patina on the rest of the statue. Engineering students have for years polished the horse testicles on the morning of difficult exams, supposedly for luck.
• Mary Magdalene Tower (Mária Magdolna torony), on the corner of Országház utca and Kapisztrán tér is the part of a 13th-century Franciscan church used by Hungarian speakers. Under Turkish rule, this was the only church allowed to remain Christian: all others were converted into mosques. The chancel was destroyed in World War II and has not been rebuilt except for one stone window, as a memento.
• Vienna Gate (Bécsi Kapu) at the northern end of Castle Hill. This was the market for non-Jewish merchants in the middle Ages, and is where all four streets that run the length of the hill converge. The Vienna Gate inspired a typical Hungarian parental retort for children who talk back; they will be scolded with "Your mouth is as big as the Vienna Gate!" The gate is not really large or extraordinary, but you can climb over it anyway.
• Buda Castle Labyrinth (Budavári Labirintus), Úri utca 9. An underground labyrinth, which stretches under Castle Hill. Today, there is a tour that takes visitors through four halls covering different periods (some of them are fictional but funny). It's a bit cheesy, but it would be good for families with children, or those seeking a hour of absurdity. Guided tours in four languages start out every 10-20 minutes. For the brave (and their children), there's The Labyrinth of Courage where you have to walk in the total dark following a rope, until finding (and releasing) a sun. The Labyrinth Gallery is an exhibition of historical labyrinth pictures (from the very ancient times), find it in the Lovas Street entrance. Performances and special programs are frequently held--check their listings if you travel around a major holiday (New Year, St. Valentine's Day etc).
Originally the Buda German community's parish church, its official name is the "Church of the Blessed Virgin". The popular Hungarian king, Mátyás, held both of his weddings here, and so it is known as the Matthias Church. Today an eclectic mix of styles, the church was started in the thirteenth century. The main apse, which ends in a seven-sided polygon, is in French style and is the earliest extant section. The central section was built about 100 years later. During the Turkish occupation of Budapest, all the furnishings were removed and the painted walls whitewashed to cover art unacceptable to the Islamic eye. Once returned to the Catholic community, it was Baroquified (i.e. covered with Baroque ornamentation that obscured the original style like many other Central European churches were), and the rose window was bricked up. In the last century, between 1873 and 1896, Frigyes Schulek began a major renovation and restoration of the Matthias Church.
The interior is sumptuously decorated in a style which is on the one hand art deco and yet evokes the medieval predecessors of this structure. As you enter the church turn to the right and proceed down the right hand aisle to the front of the church. For a small fee you can visit the underground treasury which includes a replica of the Crown of St. Stephen -- the real crown (a 12th century object even though Stephen was a 10th century king) is on display in the parliament building. Also take a look at the opulent chapel at the rear of the church (around the corner to the left of the entrance. Be aware that this is a functioning church and you may find that at times it is closed to visitors for church activities or concerts.
To the left of the neighboring Hilton Hotel is what looks like the wall of a medieval church with a monument set into it. In fact it is a copy of a monument located in Belsen, Germany (near Dresden). The copy was erected by the ilton Company. It portrays King Mátyás (15th century), the most beloved of Hungarian Kings. In front of the Matthias Church is a tall column decorated with many statues – this is a “plague monument” erected by thankful survivors.
• Fisherman's Bastion (Halászbástya). This is the large white tower and lookout terrace complex you see hanging over the side of Castle Hill beneath the Mátyás Church. It was built 1890-1905, and is named after both the medieval fish market once nearby and the Guild of Fishermen who defended this section of the wall during past wars. The story is that different trades were responsible for defending different parts of the castle walls and that this section of the defenses was raised by the fishermen’s guild. In fact, the structure is a late 19th century fantasy built to add class to the area. That this is an invention does not detract at all from the attractiveness of the structure, nor from the impressive views of the river and Pest on the opposite side. The mounted statue between the bastion and the church is King Stephan (Istvan in Hungarian) the first king of Hungary (crowned about 1000.) He was declared a saint for his efforts in bringing Christianity to Hungary. He carries the apostolic cross with two crossbars – a symbol granted him by the Pope. In tourist season there is an admission charge of about $1 to climb on the bastion. In the daytime around the year, the bastion is the place most overcrowded by tourists in the Castle Hill, mainly brought in here by buses.
• The sculpture of a Turul bird just outside the cable car station is not, as you might think, an eagle, but the mythical turul bird (which is believed to be a kind of falcon). This bird is a part of the story of how the Magyars settled the Hungarian homeland. This bird appeared in a dream to the wife of the Magyar leader Ügyek and told her that she would be the founding mother of a new nation.
• The National Gallery (Nemzeti Galéria, in palace wings B, C and D) houses an astounding collection of paintings. For those interested in Hungarian artists, this is the museum to visit. The exhibition of nineteenth-century Hungarian paintings is most notable.
The largest green area of Budapest conceals the Castle of Vajdahunyad, the Széchenyi termal bath, the Zoo and the Amusement park. It is a beloved corner of the city for walking and relaxing.
The Széchényi thermal bath is one of the largest bath complexes in Europe.
It was built in neo-baroque style between 1909 and 1913 and later enlarged. It consists of an indoor and an open-air part with several pools. Its water originates from the artesian springs of the City Park, which are 74 Celsius warm. The thermal water is effective in healing gynealogical, dermatological and nerve problems.
The Zoo is relatively small in comparison with other famous zoos in the world. What makes it interesting that it has an Art Nouveau style decoration and some parts are covered with Zsolnay tiles. It is the second oldest zoo in Europe.
The Amusement Park and the Circus are also situated here, which contribute to the fact that the City Park is a beloved place to spend free time in Budapest.
The lake of the city park makes the whole park a romantic spot. It is possible to row a boat on it when the weather is nice. During wintertime the lake is drained and serves as the biggest artificial ice rink of the city.
The Heroes’ square is one of the most visited sights of the Hungarian capital; it is situated at in front of the City Park.
The millennial monument was built in 1896 to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the arrival of Hungarians in the Carpathian Basin. The monument consists of two semi-circles on the top of which the symbols of War and Peace, Work and Welfare, Knowledge and Glory can be seen. In the middle of Heroes' square stands a 36 meters high Corinthian column with the statue of Archangel Gabriel on the top, the symbol of the Roman Catholic religion. At the pedestal the equestrian statues commemorate Arpad and the seven chieftains of the Hungarian tribes, who settled their people in the present territory of Hungary. His descendants formed the Hungarian royal dynasty. At the two sides the representative buildings of the Museum of Fine Arts and the Gallery of Art both worth a visit. Since the last couple of years, the two museums have been competing for the attention of visitors with high standard temporary exhibitions, such as Van Gogh, Rembrandt and the collections of Spanish and French paintings.
Margitsziget (Margaret Island) is a huge island between the two bridges: Margit-híd and Árpád-híd. Apart from some hotels it is not inhabited, serves as a recreational area for the people of Budapest. Originally it consisted of three separate islands that were artificially connected. It has a surface of 96 acres and a length of 2500 meters. It is a protected and traffic free area giving home to several rare plants and to the famous sycamore trees. The most interesting sights on the island are the Water Tower, the music fountain, the mini zoo and the Japanese garden. Many recreational facilities such as the athletics centre, the Hajós Alfréd swimming pool and Palatinus open-air swimming pool are at the visitors' disposal.
One of the famous streets in Budapest is Vaci Street. This was the first street in Budapest to be pedestrian zed, but it was one of the best places for shopping long before this change. The street was formed in the 18th century but most houses date back to the 19th and early 20th century. It quickly became the shopping centre and later the esplanade of the Pest side. As the mid-day or evening promenade in Váci Street slowly became a fashionable leisure activity for the "well-to-do" in the last century, shops grew more and more expensive and later only the most exclusive merchants could afford to open an outlet on the street. The street has been marked by a certain exclusivity ever since.
[Tags: Tours to Hungary]
Туры в Венгрию (Russian version)
Official Country Name: Republic of Hungary
Time Zone Offset: UTC +1
Language: Hungarian
Area: 93,033 sq km
Population: 10.2 million
Public Holidays
Language
Transport
Interesting facts
Public Holidays
1 Jan New Year's Day.
15 Mar Anniversary of 1848 uprising against Austrian rule.
24 Mar Easter Monday.
1 May Labor Day.
23 Oct Republic Day (Anniversary of 1956).
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day
Language
Hungarian (Magyar) is the official language. German and English are widely spoken by the older and younger generation respectively. Some French is also spoken, mainly in western Hungary.
Business Hours: on workdays 0800 - 1800, on Saturdays 10:00-13:00, on Sundays and holidays don’t work, some shops are 24 hours.
Banking hours: on workdays 10:00-14:00, on weekends and holidays don’t work.
Budapest is often called the “Pearl of the Danube River “by proud citizens. The 28 km stretch of the river divides the city into hilly Buda and flat Pest, once separate cities, and offers many panoramic, historic and cultural attractions.
Transport
Airport
From more
than 32 countries and 48 cities have direct flights to Budapest Ferihegy International Airport from all over the World. All of the main international airlines and low cost airlines fly to Budapest Airport. To get to the city centre, you may take the airport minibus, a taxi or the scheduled bus and metro lines.Train
The Hungarian State Railway Company (MÁV Rt.) runs express trains to the main cities of Europe.
Car
When traveling by car you can reach Budapest by crossing more than 250 borders, some of them are restricted for the citizens of Hungary and those of neighboring countries.
To use the Hungarian highways you have to pay a fee. Highway vignettes can be bought at petrol stations and at some kiosks.
Documents needed for driving:
• Driving license
• Vehicle license
• Vehicle insurance
• Green card (environmental license)
Interesting facts
Modern Budapest was born in 1873, when Buda, Óbuda and Pest were officially joined. It is better to begin excursion from the Castle Hill where is Buda Castle situated.
The Buda Castle (Budai Vár) is also known as the Buda Royla Palace (Budai Királyi-palota) and the Buda Royal Castle (Budai Királyi Vár). It cont
ains a number of museums. It sits on the top of Castle Hill (Várhegy) looking across the Danube. Buda Castle contains the National Gallery, National Library and Budapest History Museum.
• Royal Palace (Királyi palota). Probably the most popular attraction on Castle Hill. It is unusual in that it has never actually been occupied by the Hungarian Royal family, and is more of a pseudo-historical mishmash, like the Mátyás-templom.
The first palace, in Gothic style, built and added onto over 300 years, was destroyed by the Christian army that liberated Buda from the Turkish occupation in 1686. In 1715 work started on a completely new, smaller Baroque palace, but over the years more and more space was added to the palace until it reached its current length (304 meters). The palace, in neo-Baroque style, had many added wings (which now house the National Gallery, among other treasures--see below). Reconstruction after the various indignities suffered during rebellions of the nineteenth century finished in 1904. This reconstruction, by Miklós Ybl and Alajos Hauszmann, was undone by German troops holding out at the end of WWII. The roof fell in entirely and most of the furniture was destroyed. A Baroque façade which had never existed before and a real dome (there had previously been a faux dome with attic space beneath) were added to the building. Today the building houses three large museums (see below) and the National Széchényi Library.
The statue of Hussar general András Hadik, a favorite of Empress Maria Theresia is well known to local students. The statue, designed by György Vastagh Jr. was presented to the public in 1937.
The general is on horseback; take a close look at the horse's testicles. They are shiny yellow, unlike the patina on the rest of the statue. Engineering students have for years polished the horse testicles on the morning of difficult exams, supposedly for luck. • Mary Magdalene Tower (Mária Magdolna torony), on the corner of Országház utca and Kapisztrán tér is the part of a 13th-century Franciscan church used by Hungarian speakers. Under Turkish rule, this was the only church allowed to remain Christian: all others were converted into mosques. The chancel was destroyed in World War II and has not been rebuilt except for one stone window, as a memento.
• Vienna Gate (Bécsi Kapu) at the northern end of Castle Hill. This was the market for non-Jewish merchants in the middle Ages, and is where all four streets that run the length of the hill converge. The Vienna Gate inspired a typical Hungarian parental retort for children who talk back; they will be scolded with "Your mouth is as big as the Vienna Gate!" The gate is not really large or extraordinary, but you can climb over it anyway.
• Buda Castle Labyrinth (Budavári Labirintus), Úri utca 9. An underground labyrinth, which stretches under Castle Hill. Today, there is a tour that takes visitors through four halls covering different periods (some of them are fictional but funny). It's a bit cheesy, but it would be good for families with children, or those seeking a hour of absurdity. Guided tours in four languages start out every 10-20 minutes. For the brave (and their children), there's The Labyrinth of Courage where you have to walk in the total dark following a rope, until finding (and releasing) a sun. The Labyrinth Gallery is an exhibition of historical labyrinth pictures (from the very ancient times), find it in the Lovas Street entrance. Performances and special programs are frequently held--check their listings if you travel around a major holiday (New Year, St. Valentine's Day etc).
Originally the Buda German community's parish church, its official name is the "Church of the Blessed Virgin". The popular Hungarian king, Mátyás, held both of his weddings here, and so it is known as the Matthias Church. Today an eclectic mix of styles, the church was started in the thirteenth century. The main apse, which ends in a seven-sided polygon, is in French style and is the earliest extant section. The central section was built about 100 years later. During the Turkish occupation of Budapest, all the furnishings were removed and the painted walls whitewashed to cover art unacceptable to the Islamic eye. Once returned to the Catholic community, it was Baroquified (i.e. covered with Baroque ornamentation that obscured the original style like many other Central European churches were), and the rose window was bricked up. In the last century, between 1873 and 1896, Frigyes Schulek began a major renovation and restoration of the Matthias Church.
The interior is sumptuously decorated in a style which is on the one hand art deco and yet evokes the medieval predecessors of this structure. As you enter the church turn to the right and proceed down the right hand aisle to the front of the church. For a small fee you can visit the underground treasury which includes a replica of the Crown of St. Stephen -- the real crown (a 12th century object even though Stephen was a 10th century king) is on display in the parliament building. Also take a look at the opulent chapel at the rear of the church (around the corner to the left of the entrance. Be aware that this is a functioning church and you may find that at times it is closed to visitors for church activities or concerts.
To the left of the neighboring Hilton Hotel is what looks like the wall of a medieval church with a monument set into it. In fact it is a copy of a monument located in Belsen, Germany (near Dresden). The copy was erected by the ilton Company. It portrays King Mátyás (15th century), the most beloved of Hungarian Kings. In front of the Matthias Church is a tall column decorated with many statues – this is a “plague monument” erected by thankful survivors.
• Fisherman's Bastion (Halászbástya). This is the large white tower and lookout terrace complex you see hanging over the side of Castle Hill beneath the Mátyás Church. It was built 1890-1905, and is named after both the medieval fish market once nearby and the Guild of Fishermen who defended this section of the wall during past wars. The story is that different trades were responsible for defending different parts of the castle walls and that this section of the defenses was raised by the fishermen’s guild. In fact, the structure is a late 19th century fantasy built to add class to the area. That this is an invention does not detract at all from the attractiveness of the structure, nor from the impressive views of the river and Pest on the opposite side. The mounted statue between the bastion and the church is King Stephan (Istvan in Hungarian) the first king of Hungary (crowned about 1000.) He was declared a saint for his efforts in bringing Christianity to Hungary. He carries the apostolic cross with two crossbars – a symbol granted him by the Pope. In tourist season there is an admission charge of about $1 to climb on the bastion. In the daytime around the year, the bastion is the place most overcrowded by tourists in the Castle Hill, mainly brought in here by buses.
• The sculpture of a Turul bird just outside the cable car station is not, as you might think, an eagle, but the mythical turul bird (which is believed to be a kind of falcon). This bird is a part of the story of how the Magyars settled the Hungarian homeland. This bird appeared in a dream to the wife of the Magyar leader Ügyek and told her that she would be the founding mother of a new nation.
• The National Gallery (Nemzeti Galéria, in palace wings B, C and D) houses an astounding collection of paintings. For those interested in Hungarian artists, this is the museum to visit. The exhibition of nineteenth-century Hungarian paintings is most notable.
The largest green area of Budapest conceals the Castle of Vajdahunyad, the Széchenyi termal bath, the Zoo and the Amusement park. It is a beloved corner of the city for walking and relaxing.
The Széchényi thermal bath is one of the largest bath complexes in Europe.
It was built in neo-baroque style between 1909 and 1913 and later enlarged. It consists of an indoor and an open-air part with several pools. Its water originates from the artesian springs of the City Park, which are 74 Celsius warm. The thermal water is effective in healing gynealogical, dermatological and nerve problems.
The Zoo is relatively small in comparison with other famous zoos in the world. What makes it interesting that it has an Art Nouveau style decoration and some parts are covered with Zsolnay tiles. It is the second oldest zoo in Europe.
The Amusement Park and the Circus are also situated here, which contribute to the fact that the City Park is a beloved place to spend free time in Budapest.
The lake of the city park makes the whole park a romantic spot. It is possible to row a boat on it when the weather is nice. During wintertime the lake is drained and serves as the biggest artificial ice rink of the city.
The Heroes’ square is one of the most visited sights of the Hungarian capital; it is situated at in front of the City Park.
The millennial monument was built in 1896 to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the arrival of Hungarians in the Carpathian Basin. The monument consists of two semi-circles on the top of which the symbols of War and Peace, Work and Welfare, Knowledge and Glory can be seen. In the middle of Heroes' square stands a 36 meters high Corinthian column with the statue of Archangel Gabriel on the top, the symbol of the Roman Catholic religion. At the pedestal the equestrian statues commemorate Arpad and the seven chieftains of the Hungarian tribes, who settled their people in the present territory of Hungary. His descendants formed the Hungarian royal dynasty. At the two sides the representative buildings of the Museum of Fine Arts and the Gallery of Art both worth a visit. Since the last couple of years, the two museums have been competing for the attention of visitors with high standard temporary exhibitions, such as Van Gogh, Rembrandt and the collections of Spanish and French paintings.
Margitsziget (Margaret Island) is a huge island between the two bridges: Margit-híd and Árpád-híd. Apart from some hotels it is not inhabited, serves as a recreational area for the people of Budapest. Originally it consisted of three separate islands that were artificially connected. It has a surface of 96 acres and a length of 2500 meters. It is a protected and traffic free area giving home to several rare plants and to the famous sycamore trees. The most interesting sights on the island are the Water Tower, the music fountain, the mini zoo and the Japanese garden. Many recreational facilities such as the athletics centre, the Hajós Alfréd swimming pool and Palatinus open-air swimming pool are at the visitors' disposal.
One of the famous streets in Budapest is Vaci Street. This was the first street in Budapest to be pedestrian zed, but it was one of the best places for shopping long before this change. The street was formed in the 18th century but most houses date back to the 19th and early 20th century. It quickly became the shopping centre and later the esplanade of the Pest side. As the mid-day or evening promenade in Váci Street slowly became a fashionable leisure activity for the "well-to-do" in the last century, shops grew more and more expensive and later only the most exclusive merchants could afford to open an outlet on the street. The street has been marked by a certain exclusivity ever since.
[Tags: Tours to Hungary]
Туры в Венгрию (Russian version)
