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Budapest is the capital city of Hungary, and is divided by the Danube River into Buda and Pest. This elegant city is often called the Pearl of the Danube or Rose of the Danube.

Located at a strategic point between the east and west, Budapest had been invaded by many European countries for centuries. It was devastated several times in the past and ruled by Mongolia, Turkey, and the Habsburg Haus. These invaders have left their traces, such as the dishes of the Ottoman Turks and the baroque buildings of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Hungary was the first country in Eastern Europe that accepted capitalism after the collapse of socialism in 1991 and thus has made the most active efforts to bring changes to the society. And one can easily feel and experience such changes in Budapest.

Buda, located in a high and flat land, has a number of historical buildings, and the Gellert Hill of the palace stretches to the banks of the river. Pest is a commercial district situated in a lowland, adjacent to factories and group houses. It is a hub of transportation, such as railways, roads, a river, and an international airport. The major industry is machinery, as well as steel, nonferrous metallurgy, chemistry, textiles, and food. As the center of politics, the city has a government office and the former houses of Parliament. In addition, Budapest is well-known for its cultural heritage, including the Academy of Science, Eotvos Lorand University, and other colleges of medicine, agriculture and economy, as well as a large number of libraries and museums.

Geographical Features

Hungary, located near the Carpathian Mts., shares a border with Austria in the east and with Slovakia in the north. The river Danube divides the nation into two parts.

Climate

Hungary also has four seasons and a mild continental climate, affected by the climate of Mediterranean sea and Atlanta. It is cold, wet, and cloudy in the winter, while very hot in the summer. The lowest temperature is -2℃ in January and the highest 25℃ in July. The rainy season is May, June and November, and the west has more rainfall than the east. The average hours of sunlight are 1,864 per year (2,054 hours in Budapest). The annual average temperature is 10℃. The average rainfall of Budapest is 610mm and humidity is 80%.

Society & Culture

The population is 96.6% Magyar, followed by 1.6% German, 1.1% Slovakian, 0.3% southern Slave, and 0.2% Romanian. About 250,000 gypsy people live in the northeast of Hungary. The major language is the Hungarian (Magyar) language, which belongs to Ural-Altaic languages such as Finnish and Estonian. In addition, 65.7% of the population are members of the Roman Catholic Church and 20% believe in Calvinism. Hungary has well preserved its traditional culture, including folk music and embroidery.

Tourist Attractions

• Buda Castle

  Buda Castle, located on the southern tip of Castle Hill, is a splendid castle influenced by neo-baroque architecture. It was constructed by King Bela IV of the Arpad Dynasty in the 13th century. Parts of the castle, including the historical museum, the museum of the Hungarian workers’ movement, and national gallery, are open to the public. Much of the castle was destroyed during the world war but restored in the 1950s. In particular, numerous materials related to weapons (from ancient times to World War II), art, and the labor movement are displayed.

• Heroes’ Square

  This square was constructed in commemoration of the 1,000th anniversary of the establishment of Hungary. It was the center of the Hungarian Revolution in 1956 as well. The statue of the angel Gabriel is in the center of the square, and one can see further statues at Gabriel’ s feet that are a representation of the early Magyar tribes who settled in Hungary, along with other historical heroes depicted in a semicircle. This place is still used for important gatherings and national events. Two guards always stand in front of the grave of unknown soldiers, and a changing of the guards ceremony is frequently held. The road from the square to Andrassy is known as the most beautiful street in Budapest.

• Matthias Church

  This is a colorful Gothic church, constructed in the 13th century, with a roof covered by gold tiles. Also, it was the venue for a royal wedding (King Matthias Corvinus in 1475) and coronations (Maria Theresia in 1740, Franz Josef in 1876, and Charles in 1916). During Turkish rule (1542-1686), this church was converted into a mosque but was restored to today’ s neo Gothic building in 1800. Now Catholic mass is regularly held in the church and Liszt is played on an organ on Fridays in the summer.

• Fisherman’s Bastion

  This is a neo-Romanesque structure built in 1901 at the site of a former fish market. This white building has many walking paths and unique sharp tips on the top. As a landmark of Budapest, one can have a nice view of the river Danube and Pest from the corridors. It is a popular place for tourists to take a picture, but admission fees began to be charged in 1995.

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