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.

Photo: Daily News Hungary

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.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons
by Jorge Láscar

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.

Photo by Krisztián Bódis, http://budapestimages.com/galleries/tel/

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.

Chain Bridge

There is no doubt that this bridge is the most famous and most popular bridge in Budapest.

Photo by Lucas Davies on Unsplash

It connects the Four Seasons Gresham Palace and the Buda Castle District. The Széchenyi Chain Bridge was under construction for nine years and got finished in 1849. There is a pair of stone lion statues on each end of it to protect the bridge. Furthermore, this Classic-style sight got its name after the chains hanging between the 48-metre-tall columns.

Read alsoSzéchenyi Chain Bridge in the Top 10 Most Beautiful Bridges of the World!

Batthyány Square

This is an underappreciated square in Buda. It might be small but it is exciting. It connects a bunch of public transportation lines like H5 and M2. Not to mention that you can get the best shot of the Hungarian Parliament Building from here.

Photo: facebook.com/HungarianParliament/

It is also a great starting point for a stroll along the Danube. + Fun fact: the Kolodko mini statue can be found here too. The Rubik’s cube is undoubtedly one of the most well-known Hungarian toy inventions, created in the 1970s. The mini Rubik’s cube statue is located opposite the Parliament Building, on the Buda embankment, not too far from Batthyány Square on the side of the stairs.

Rudas Bath

Photo: Facebook.com/BudapestGyogyfurdoi

Rudas Gyógyfürdő was renovated not so long ago, and it is very popular among tourists. It was first built in 1550, during the time of the Ottoman rule. It retains many of the key elements of a Turkish bath, exemplified by its Turkish dome and octagonal pool. The bath has six therapy pools and one swimming pool where the temperature is between 10 and 42°C. It is suitable for those who are eager for some relaxation instead of partying. The bath was in the spotlight a couple of days ago because the much-beloved, all-men naked bath was recently banned due to the alleged public sex that was happening.

Featured image: Alpár Kató/Daily News Hungary

Source: Daily News Hungary; Wikipedia