5 interesting facts about Budapest’s richest district

District I is the first, and, at the same time, the most expensive district in Budapest. It lies on the Buda side of the capital. It is confined by the II District from North, the XII from West, the XI from South, and the Danube from East. It is also often referred to as the Castle District. Magyarorszagkul.nlcafe.hu collected 5 interesting facts about the district.

The centre and middle of the city

The Buda Castle used to be the most important part of the city and the centre of the country for centuries. This is why the area surrounding it was named the ‘number one’. It is in fact literally the middle of Budapest: the first district is the geometrical middle of the city, along with District V, which lies on the other side of the Danube.

The oldest building in Budapest

The oldest building still standing and being in use today can be found in Hess András tér 13, in the first district. The house was built around 1260 and was nicknamed the ‘Red Hedgehog House’. It was first mentioned in a certificate in the 14^th century. For a long time, the only pub of the district operated here, and popular balls were also organised in this house.

Underground labyrinth

A truly developed labyrinth system lies under the city. In the houses over it a way leads down into it. The system of corridors was discovered in 1880. It is 3300 meters long and Romans already used it. It is a partly natural, partly man-made construction. In order to protect it from the weight of the houses and traffic above it was strengthened with columns. The Buda Castle Labyrinth used to be part of this, which could be visited for 27 years.