Budapest, Hungary: The Unified Cities Along the Danube River Part 1
The single capital city occupying both banks of the Danube River after the unified West mountainous Buda and the plain Pest on the east bank. Buda was a remnant of the nomadic Hun settlement, which originally established the city. On the other hand, Pest came from the Roman Empire’s fortress located on the ancient city with a military camp. This prehistory of Budapest has been a good premonition of a rich culture that was formed after mixture of political, cultural and social events under Mongols, Turks, Austria, Russia and even the Post- Soviet Union communist era thereafter.
There are several reasons why I wanted to have a short visit to
Budapest. This short visit will be described in three-part series. This is the
First part. Click here for the Second Part and Third Part.
This is one of the cultural avenues
in Budapest, where theaters, clubs and restaurants are located.
2.
Magyar Állami Operaház
The Hungarian State Opera was
constructed during the period of dual monarchy of Austria and Hungary during
the 18th century. At the entrance of the Opera House, one finds two figures of
two prominent Hungarian composers Erkel and Liszt.
3.
Szent István Bazilika
This Roman Catholic basilica, which
is the third largest church building in the country was named after the first
king of Hungary. Interestingly, this is considered two of the tallest buildings
in capital, given there are regulations that no other buildings than the
Parliament and this building.
4.
Szabadság tér
The square is where the Embassy of the United States of America and the
Hungarian National Bank are situated. There are several monuments in the area,
especially that of Ronald Reagan and the Soviet liberation of Hungary in Second
World War.
5.
Szovjet háborús emlékmű
This is the monument dedicated to the
war prisoners during the Soviet Union. This Soviet monument is located on the
Liberty Square, which was intended to advertise the Hungarian liberation from
fascism.
6.
Zrínyi u.
This is the street on the administrative and financial center Leopold
city district. The buildings along the street surrounds the St. Stephen Square.
7.
Széchenyi tér
This is the area near the Chain
Bridge on the Pest foot, and was renamed several times in the past from
Carpenter Square, Franz Joseph Square or Roosevelt Square, remembering the
American president.
8.
Magyar Tudományos Akadémia
The Hungarian Academy of Sciences has the main task of cultivating
science and research of Hungarian science.
9.
Széchenyi Lánchid
The Chain Bridge is the oldest and best known permanent connection along
two sides of the Danube River. It is the perfect way to the see the World
Heritage protected areas and panorama.
10. Danube
This is Europe’s second longest river
that spans from Central and Eastern Europe. It is considered to a long-standing
frontier of the Roman Empire from Germany to Bulgaria.
11. Belgrád rkp.
The Belgrade quay stretches from the Chain Bridge to the Liberty Bridge.
It was part of the Medieval city wall on the Pest Bank of the Danube.
12. Deák Ferenc tér
This is the only transfer station for lines of the Budapest Metro. It is
considered to the busiest stations in the system. It was built through
cut-and-cover method, which was quite the oldest parts of the metro network.
13. Deák téri evangélikus templom
This is Budapest’s oldest church and
part of Pest Lutheran Church. There were external renovations on the church
after it was heavily damaged during the Second World War. The church building further
became a refuge during the Pest flood in the 18th century.
14. Belvárosi Szent Anna templom
The Inner City Parish Church of St. Anne is located on the Szervita
square in the capital of the liberation from the Turks in the 16th
century. The church was also renovated after severe damage during the Second
World War.
15. Istenszülő elhunyta Nagyboldogasszony
This is the Magyar Orthodox Diocese or Moscow Patriarchate. This is for
the Greek traders who settled in the Hungarian capital. The church was also
severely destroyed during the Second World War.
16. Erzsébet híd
The Elizabeth Chain Bridge was
destroyed by the retreating German troops during the Second World War. It was
named after Queen Elizabeth who was assassinated in Geneva.
17. Belvárosi plébániatemplom
The Assumption Parish or Inner City Parish Church. During the Turkish
occupation, the church was used as a mosque. This is considered the oldest
church of the Hungarian capital.
18. Március 15. Tér
This is the gate of the Danube Promenade. There are Roman ruins in the area
where high classical style residential houses in the 19th century.
19. Belvárosi Ferences-templom
The Inner City Franciscan Church is
one of the most popular spiritual center in the Budapest. The Franciscan Order
returned to the church after forty years of exile following the Soviet years in
Hungary.
20. Egyetemi Templom
The Univeristy Church was a former
mosque, now dedicated for to Virgin Mary. It is owned by the Lutheran
Theological University, together with four other churches within Budapest’s Old
Town.
21. Belvárosi Szent Mihály templom
The Inner City St. Michael’s Church is a Catholic Church in the center
of Budapest. This was established by the Dominicans after the invasion of the
Mongols and destroyed by the Turks before it was rebuilt in the 17th
century.
22. Váci u.
This tourism-dedicated pedestrian is where many restaurants and shopping
stores are located. The street is said to be known for some women trying to
trick tourists paying for expensive drinks.
23. Fővám tér
The Main Customs Square is where the
merchants sell their produce in the adjacent Grand Market Hall.
24. Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum
The Hungarian National Museum’s building was built in the 18th
century. This is the considered Europe’s third oldest national museum.
25. Corvinus University of Budapest
This is a research-oriented university with educational programs in
agriculture, business, economics and social sciences. The Faculty of Economics
was the first to open in the 18th century.
The mixture of various ideologies and cultures influencing Hungary as a
nation. It has influenced the practice of religion, education, music and dance,
and how the Hungarians have built the country to what it is today – a place
where tourists like me are kept interested with its past and how it will be in
the future.
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