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Operating hours of the cable car: 7.30-22.00, the cable car runs constantly during peak time and at max 10-minute intervals during less busy periods. See a video clip about the Cable Car (Sikló). Other option is to take the Várbusz (Castle bus), it departs every few minutes from Moszkva tér (M2, red metro line, or tram 4,6) . |
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| TIP: Buy your Budapest card online here (the 48-hour card costs 6300 HUF, the 72-hour one is 7500 HUF) . It's convenient and secure. |
According to a legend our first king St. Stephen started to built the church, but it's not been proved yet. Historical proof shows that King Béla IV founded the church in 1255 after he moved his court up to Castle Hill from Óbuda.
However, its name comes from the fact that the popular King Matthias held both of his weddings here. The main eastern gate and the long apse are 13th century, the central part was built around 1400. Every king and era added something to the church.
In 1541 the Turks captured Buda and transformed it into a mosque. They celebrated their victory here. Luckily the church's treasures had already been moved from Budapest Castle District to Bratislava.
After the Habsburgs recaptured Buda in 1686, Matthias Church came under Jesuit patronage. Frigyes Schulek rebuilt Matthias Church n neo-Gothic style at the turn of the last century. He incorporated the 13th century remains in the new design. You can view a King Matthias' small collection of religious treasures in the church museum.
The interior is very striking. Despite the vaulting and the stained glass windows, it's nothing like a Gothic cathedral, it has a sort of mystic, Eastern athmosphere. The wall paintings are scenes from the Bible and events from Hungary's history.
The church has excellent acoustics, so it often houses concerts. Matthias Church is probably the most popular place to get married in Budapest.
There are two hotels near Szentháromság tér:
Open: 24 hours daily
Admission: 200 HUF
As part of the renovations the Fishermen’s Bastion was added in 1905. There are two explanations about the origin of the Bastion’s name: some say a fish market was nearby in the Middle Ages, according to others the Guild of Fishermen defended this part of the wall.
Despite its name it's a look-out terrace. It has seven turrets one for each of the Hungarian tribes. The design was inspired by the Far East. "Kitchs but beautiful" according the writer Szerb Antal.
From its top you get one of Budapest's best pamoramic view.
Address: Szentháromság tér 6.
Open: Mon-Sun 12.00-20.00
Should you miss the International Wine and Champagne Festival in the beginning of every September, make sure you visit the House of Hungarian Wines in Budapest Castle District.
In the cellars of the Neo-Gothic building 700 Hungarian Wines represent the country's 22 wine regions. You can taste 60 wines within the admission price, snacks are also offered.
Budapest Card holders get 15 % discount on the admission. You'll get a tasting glass, and can wander through the cellar complex while tasting the wines you wish to. Read information in 4 languages (English, German, French and Hungarian) about the wines and wine regions of Hungary.
Taste the best-known Hungarian Wines, Egri Bikavér and the sweet Tokaji dessert wines. For comparison try other lesser-known wines from the Szekszárd and Villány region too, you'll be surprised how superb they are.
Address: Úri utca 9., two minutes walk from Szentháromság tér.
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 10.00-18.00
To make the area even more romantic, beneath Budapest Castle Hill stretches a labyrinth of caves, tunnels and cellars. It's about 10 km in length and a section of about 1.5 km is open to visitors. Part of the labyrinth was formed naturally, the other parts were excavated mostly in the Middle Ages for protection purposes. During World War II thousands lived through the siege down here.
Visit its waxworks exhibition, it introduces the Hungarian history in a way that you'll find both funny and serious.
Guided tours in four languages start every 10-20 minutes. The temperature is around 14 Celsius and humidity is 90% so bring a coat or sweater with you!
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The original Royal Palace was destroyed and rebuilt many times. Its history is very much like that of the Matthias Church's. King Béla IV started building a palace in the 13th century after the Mongol invasion. The original Gothic Palace was built and expanded for 300 years. The golden era of the palace was under the rule of King Matthias (1451-90). It was totally destroyed in 1686 when the Habsburg army liberated Buda from the Turkish occupation. The Habsburgs built a completely new, small Baroque palace in the beginning of the 18th century. It was damaged again in the 1848-49 War of Independence. The following reconstruction almost doubled it in length at the end of the 19th century ( now it's 304 m long) and a large wing was attached to the back. In 1945 it was the last defense of the German troops in Budapest. Post-war reconstruction revealed Gothic and Renaissance foundations that have been incorporated in the building during the works. Thus the Palace is a mix of architectural styles. |
Today the Palace houses three museums:
and the National Széchenyi Library.
See our Photos about Castle District.
For a coffe and cake visit Budapest's oldest confectionery, the Ruszwurm in Szentháromság utca. It's a small Barouqe coffee house dating from 1824. Usually it's crowded with tourists, but in a winter afternoon you might get a seat in its tiny salon. On a hot summer-day taste its ice-cream. Address: Szentháromság utca 7. |
For a modern world feeling try Café Miró in Úri utca, its surrealistic wrought iron furniture brings you back from the past.
Address: Úri utca 30.
Tel: +36 1 375 5458
For something more substantial, your best bet is Café Pierrot in Fortuna utca. Besides Hungarian dishes you can choose from a variety of pastas and sandwiches. It has a free wireless internet access for its customers.
Address: Fortuna utca 14.
Tel: +36 1 375 6971
For meat lovers I recommend Alabárdos Restaurant in Országház utca (a small street opposite Matthias Church), a 400 year old gothic resaturant.
Address: Országház utca 2.
Tel: +36 1 356 0851
Return from Budapest Castle District to Budapest Sightseeing or
Homepage of Budapest Travel & Tourist Guide.
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