Buda Castle

On the Castle Hill in Budapest you will find the most interesting and complex part of Budapest, the Buda Castle.

Completed in 1265 the complex of buildings has been the home of the royal Hungarian families since then. For me it resembled more to a smaller fortified city with churches, buildings and the castle itself.

Many royal personalities have walked the streets and walls of the castle. Bela IV of Hungary, Vladislaus II of Bohemia and Hungary, Matthias Corvinus, Charles I of Austria, Maria Theresa and Franz Joseph I of Austria are just some of the most important rulers of Hungary that had the residency in the palace. Step by step most of the politic personalities have build or changed something on the hill, King Béla IV of Hungary started building it, during King Sigismund regime the castle became the largest Gothic palace of the late Middle Ages. Under King Matthias Corvinus, the last part of the constructions was made, he finished the Gothic palace and the Royal Chapel, also, many inside chambers and halls were redecorated.
In order to defeat the Turkish army and to regain power over the land the Christian forces destroyed a large part of the castle and was later rebuild under a Baroque style.

In 1944 the German troops occupied the Royal Palace and forced the regent to abdicate. During the Soviet attack on the castle, the German and Hungarian forces tried attempted to defend the Buda Castle but it was all in vain and the palace was left, once again in ruins. After the war reconstructions were made and later began its modernization.

Today the Buda Castle is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

During my visit(about one day and a half) I had found a lot of curios details about the castle on the hill. I have to say some of the stories I even forgot due to their amount and because of the beautiful things I continuously discovered after every corner. I did admire most of the exterior or the buildings and by far my favorite were the sculptural monuments: the Matthias Fountain and the War and Peace bronze statues.

I recommend you to take you time while visiting this wonderful palace and I mean more than one day and a half like a I head! Inside the castle at the entrance in the Funicular you will usually find an old violinist. He plays for money on the street but if you interact with him he will probably speak and play in your native language and from a very important musician of your culture. So don't hesitate to help him as he is really great!Less