| Castle DistrictIn 1987 The Unesco decided to | | | | with the imposing Budapest Parliament and |
| include the Castle District and the Danube | | | | other outstanding architectural |
| embankment in their World Heritage programme | | | | masterpieces.The first permanent connection |
| . The main reason they did so is that | | | | between Buda and Pest, the Chain Bridge |
| Budapest incorporates many historic and | | | | (Szechenyi Lanchid) spans the Danube between |
| cultural sights that depict important periods | | | | Clark Adam Square and Roosevelt Square. The |
| from the story of the city.In Castle District | | | | white and graceful Elizabeth Bridge (Erzsebet |
| you'll find several-centuries of Budapest | | | | hid) anod the Liberty Bridge (Szabadsag hid) |
| history condensed. Numerous sieges, wars and | | | | provide additional links, making the two city |
| natural disasters destroyed much of the | | | | parts a whole entity.Near the Pest end of the |
| original Castle Quarter, still its beauty and | | | | Chain Bridge you can admire two architectural |
| charm will enchant you. Although | | | | gems:- The Neo-Renaissance Hungarian Academy |
| reconstruction works managed to preserve | | | | of Sciences- Gresham Palace representing |
| remains of the earliest monuments, mainly | | | | Art-Nouveau splendour, where the Four Seasons |
| Baroque buildings dominate the districts | | | | Hotel provides for your luxury |
| today.The Royal Palace plays an important | | | | accommodation.Behind the Parliament buildings |
| role not only in Budapest's but in the | | | | stand Budapest's largest church, St. |
| country's cultural life. The palace's | | | | Stephen's Basilica.More Budapest World |
| medieval part houses the Budapest Historical | | | | Heritage Sites added in 2002Andrassy Avenue |
| Museum. The National Gallery, the National | | | | and its environsAndrassy avenue and its |
| Szechenyi Library and the Ludwig Museum with | | | | environs are the most beautiful parts of |
| contemporary exhibitions are also there.In | | | | Budapest.The elegant mansions and villas |
| the heart of the Castle District on Holy | | | | along its sides display architectural styles |
| Trinity Square (Szentharomsag ter) stands the | | | | from the second half of the 19th century. The |
| capital's most famous temple, Matthias | | | | avenue received its name after Count Gyula |
| Church. The more than 700-year old church | | | | Andrassy, Hungary's prime minister between |
| witnessed many coronations and royal | | | | 1867-1971, who cared about Budapest and done |
| weddings. Its Gothic tower together with the | | | | much to develop it into a true |
| turreted Fishermen's Bastion (Halaszbastya) | | | | metropolis.Numerous important cultural and |
| in the background are among the best known | | | | historic buildings stand along the road, like |
| landmarks of Budapest. The Castle District | | | | the Budapest Opera House or the Millennium |
| well deserves to be part of the Unesco's | | | | Monument on its other end on Heroes' Square. |
| World Heritage sites.Let me tell you two more | | | | Two great museums flank the squrare on its |
| things I love about this historic quarter of | | | | sides- The Museum of Fine Arts-both its |
| Budapest:- walking on its cobbled, romantic | | | | permanent and temporary exhibitions worth a |
| streets in an early spring morning (before | | | | visit- Hall of Art (Mucsarnok)-home to |
| the tourists arrive)- the breathtaking | | | | Hungarian and international contemporary |
| panorama of the Danube with the bridges and | | | | exhibitionsContinental Europe's first |
| the Pest embankment with the dominating | | | | underground line (M1 or yellow metro line) |
| Parliament.If not for its World Heritage | | | | runs underneath the wide avenue, connecting |
| status than for the two above benefits you | | | | the bustling downtown Budapest with the City |
| must not miss visiting the Castle District in | | | | Park behind Heroes' Square. The park is a |
| Buda.Danube embankmentYou can descend from | | | | place for entertainment and relaxation with |
| Castle Hill by the cogwheel railway (entrance | | | | the Amusement Park, Budapest Zoo and |
| at Fishermen's Bastion), and you'll arrive at | | | | Botanical Gardens and the Szecheny Baths. The |
| Clark Adam Square.The whole Danube embankment | | | | lake entices you to rowing in summer or ice |
| from the Gellert Hill to the Rudas Baths | | | | skating in winter.It's a good idea to start |
| forms a harmonic integrity including the | | | | your Budapest sightseeing with visiting its |
| Danube Bridges and the opposite Pest side | | | | World heritage sites. |