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Intriguing things you didn’t know about Budapest! – VIDEO
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Do you know how Budapest got its name? The city that exists now is pretty young as cities go – it is 146 years old. Before that, there were three towns here – Buda, Obuda, and Pest – which were unified in 1873. Today, although unified in name, the city is divided into two halves by the River Danube. The western side of the Danube is known as Buda – quiet and residential – where you will find historic sites like the Buda Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion. The Eastern side is known as Pest – it is lively and modern. It is the hub of Budapest’s economy and culture – home to the Hungarian parliament, some of Budapest’s most famous thermal baths, ruin bars, and everything in between.
SZÉCHENYI CHAIN BRIDGE
Széchenyi Chain Bridge is designed by Englishman William Tierney Clark. It was opened in 1849 and was the first permanent bridge across the Danube in all of Hungary. In World War II, it was destroyed by retreating German forces during the siege of Budapest, and only the towers remained. However, it was rebuilt, and it was opened again in 1949 – exactly 100 years after its inauguration.
FISHERMAN’S BASTION
Fisherman’s Bastion, built around the Mathias Church, is a Neo-Gothic terrace. It is called Fisherman’s Bastion because it looks over the Water Town, and, in medieval times, it mostly housed fishermen. Once completed in 1902, the bastion was put under the protection of the Fisherman’s Guild. The seven towers at the Bastion signify the seven Magyar tribes that settled in Hungary. The grand statue at the Bastion is of St. Stephen who became the first king of Hungary.
PARLIAMENT
The Parliament is the largest building in Hungary and the tallest in Budapest. Due to its architectural intricacies, the building is constantly undergoing construction to retain its beauty. It was inaugurated in 1896 on the 1000th anniversary of the country, but the architect that built the parliament went blind before the project was completed, and unfortunately, he never got to see the building.