Most famous sights in the geometrical middle of Budapest: District I, the Castle District

District I is the first and most expensive district of Budapest. It lies on the Buda side. It is literally the middle of Budapest, as the first district is the geometrical middle of the city, along with District V, which lies on the other side of the Danube.

District I is confined by District II from the North, District XII from the West, District XI from the South, and the Danube from the East. It is also referred to as the Castle District. Here are the must-see sights located in the district.

Buda Castle and the Castle District

Budapest is well-known for its beautiful historical sites, but there is one that stands out among the others: the Buda Castle and the Castle District.

The Buda Castle was built on the southern tip of the Castle Hill, bounded on the North by what is known as the Castle District (Várnegyed), which is famous for its Medieval, Baroque, and 19th-century houses, churches, and public buildings. The Castle District is linked to Clark Ádám Square and the Chain Bridge by the Castle Hill Funicular. The castle is also one of the Budapest World Heritage Sites. The Buda Castle is an architectural wonder, which is one of the oldest jewels of the city. It has lived through almost all the major historical events that happened in Hungary.

Read also9 things you might want to know about the Buda Castle

Castle Hill Funicular

The 150-year-old funicular is 100 meters long, 50 meters high with a 30-degree tilt. It has been operating since 1870.

The funicular was severely damaged in the bombings of 1944. It was restored in 1986. It became a part of the World Heritage one year later. The development of the line took place between 1868 and 1870. The original track was 95 meters long, and the elevation was 50 meters. The idea of building it was initiated by Count Széchenyi Ödön, who had seen a similar construction in Lyon. He thought that on the hillside of the Castle, a steam-powered and rope-towed railway could make transportation between the city and the castle easier.

Fisherman’s Bastion

Fisherman’s Bastion is a splendid structure offering panoramic views over the city.

Its ornate lookout towers were originally constructed as observation points when the city was vulnerable to a siege, depending on which marauders were most active in Europe at the time. You can mount the castle walls as if you’re in some medieval fortress, imagining that you are in Game of Thrones. The steep climb to the top is well worth it as you are rewarded with breathtaking views of Budapest. It is no question why this site is one of the most popular ones on Instagram. Over 85,000 photos were shared with #fishermansbastion.