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| Budapest Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Danube view from Artotel Danube view from Artotel Andrew Bowman Budapest is the capital of Hungary, and with a population of 1.8 million citizens, it is by far the largest city in the country. The city is often referred to as the Paris of the east, and deserves this name. It bears some resemblance to Prague, but is larger and friendlier. The picturesque setting on two sides of the Danube, the nine connecting bridges, and the villas and public buildings from the fin-de-sičcle era really make Budapest one of the most enjoyable cities in Europe. |
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| Budapest is composed of three cities: Buda, and Obuda on the west side of
the river looking over the much larger Pest on the opposite side. To
simplify it for tourists, Obuda and Buda are often just refered to as Buda,
the bourgeois section with its palaces and spas, and the more commercial
area is known as Pest. At first, the hills of Buda were the safe core of the
twin cities, but as Buda and Pest were united with Óbuda (Ancient Buda) the
plains of Pest became the centre of the growing metropolis. Today, the most famous landmark of Budapest is the Parliament building on the banks of the Danube. From a distance it looks a lot like the English Houses of Parliament, |
| with Big Ben conspicuously absent. The best view of
the Parliament can be had from Castle Hill, a Budapest highlight itself.
This collection of palaces, churches and monuments has been declared a World
Heritage Site by UNESCO and is a must see for every tourist. Budapest has
some very good museums as well, including the National Museum (Nemzeti
Muzeum), the Museum of Fine Arts (Szepmuveszeti Muzeum), National Gallery
(Nemzeti Galeria) and the Historical Museum of Budapest. Budapest has become a very lively city, with many good restaurants and a nightlife scene you need to check out to believe. By day, you can roam the city, explore a museum, visit some churches, or take your pick of a dozen or so types of coffee in one of the cafés. By night you can have dinner at either a cheap or a fancy restaurant, go to the opera, and afterwards dance the night away. Getting around Budapest is very simple due to BKV (Budapest Kozlekedesi Vallalat-Budapest transportation system). This system has busses, subways, trams, trolley's, urban trains running throughout the city and outer-skirts. If you would like to have more information on BKV, this public orginization hosts a site: www.bkv.hu . Crime is not a big issue. Pickpocketing is the most common type of crime. To prevent this from happening to you, put all your valuable possesions in a belt bag, or on a neck bag. One more type of crime is taxi drivers ripping you off. Ways of avoiding this is to call the taxi before hand, making sure the taxi has his pay clock on, and asking for a receipt. One more way of avoiding this is using BKV. If you use caution in Budapest, you will find that this wonderful city is like none other. Budapest is the heart of a wonderful nation, a nation that is just now catching up with western Europe. People do not want to be compared with Paris; they want to be known as Budapest, the capital of Hungary. __________Sights Edit This photo www.neprajz.hu Budapest is a beautiful city with more than enough to see to keep even the most demanding visitor happy. The thermal baths of Budapest are famous, and certainly worth a visit. Or you can climb the hill to the citadel for a good view over the city. The Castle District alone is enough to keep you occupied for at least a day. This UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Buda side of town encloses several palaces, museum, churches, and is one of the main tourist attractions in Budapest. A kilometer or so further along lies the citadel on top of another hill. At the statue of Liberty you have a great view over Buda, Pest and the elaborate green cast iron Szabadsag bridge. On the Pest side of town is also much to be seen. There is the area around Hero Sqare (Hosok tere), with several museums, an architectural oddity (Vajdahunyad castle), the zoo, and the stately residential area where most of the embassies in Budapest are located. Don't forget to visit tha Parliament house, the St. Stephan basilica, and the large indoor food market at Fovam ter. Display all or display just: Churches Hotspots Museums Public Buildings historical buildings Show best rated on top | Show in alphabetical order [Add Sight] Rudas Thermal Bath Edit This Rudas Thermal Bath Rudas Thermal Bath photo by: Attila Janos Gulyas The centerpiece of the bath today, the Turkish bath, was built during the 16th century in the period of the Turkish occupation. Below the 10 m diameter dome, sustained by 8 pillars, there is an octagonal pool. The thermal bath has been visited from 1936 on exclusively by men. The swimming pool, operating as a therapeutic swimming facility and with a sauna, was built in 1896. In its drinking hall, the water of the springs Hungária, Attila and Juventus can be consumed for the purposes of a drinking cure. In the bath, there is a daytime outpatient hospital operating more.. type: Public Buildings World66 rating: [rate it] tel: +36-1 356-1322 openingHours: Demarcus url: www.spasbudapest.com address: H-1013 Budapest, Döbrentei tér 9. openinghours: Elvis Central synagogue Edit This Budapest Central Synagogue is the largest synagogue in Europe and the second largest in the world after the Emanuel Synagogue in New York. Completed in 1859, it was built in a Moorish-Byzantine style by the Austrian architect Ludwig Förster. The building was partly destroyed by bombing campaigns during World War II, but has been the subject of much renovation to restore its two shining Moorish domes to their former brilliance. The Jewish Museum next door recounts the horrors of the Holocaust and displays exhibits dating as far back as the more.. type: Hotspots World66 rating: [rate it] address: Dohány utca 2 openinghours: 10am-3pm Mon-Fri, 10am-1pm Sun tel: (01) 342 2353 Szt István (St. Stephen Basilica) Edit This St Stephens Bazilika St Stephens Bazilika The Saint Stephen basilica is the largest church in Hungary. It was designed by Jozsef Hild in 1845, although it was only finished in 1906, due to some serious construction errors: in 1851 the dome collapsed. The remainder of the church was then demolished and replaced by a neo-Renaissance design by Miklós Ybl. This one is still standing, even though it got heavily damaged during World War II. The interior of the basilica is a tad dark, but still light enough to admire the many decorations. No amount of gold leaf has been spared. Among the most valued sights within the more.. type: Hotspots World66 rating: [rate it] openings: (mass times) 7am-9am, 5:30pm-8pm daily address: Szt István tér admission: 100 HUF Adults, 50 HUF Children Imre Varga Sculpture Museum Edit This type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] openings: 10am-6pm address: Laktanya utca 7 admission: 200 HUF Adults, 100 HUF Children Hungarian National Bank, Banknote and Coin Exhibition Edit This type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] openings: 9am-2pm daily address: Szabadság tér 8 admission: Free Ethnographical Museum Edit This FA FA photo by: FA This building was originally the Palace of Justice and the sculptures on the main facade still depict magistrates and legislators from past times. Alajos Hauszmann designed it between 1893-96 . Especially the entrance hall is frightening impressive. Karoly Lotz did the ceiling fresco depicting Justitia. It's one of the largest ethnographical museums in Europe. The main focus is of course the different nationalities in Hungary, but also the art, customs, national costumes and way of other peoples of Europe and outside Europe are on display. type: Hotspots World66 rating: [rate it] openings: 10am-4pm Tue-Sun, (10am-6pm Mar 1-Sep 30) address: Kossuth tér 12 admission: 200 HUF Adults, 100 HUF Children url: www.neprajz.hu Budapest Zoo Edit This As a zoological garden, it may not be spectacular, but the Budapest zoo had other qualities. It is one of the oldest zoos in the world (compeleted in 1911), and some of the beautiful turn-of-the-century buildings, including the entrance gate, are still intact. The cast iron fence surrounding the zoo alone is worth a stroll along that direction. type: historical buildings World66 rating: [rate it] address: Állakerti út 6-12 openinghours: daily 9.00-19.00 1 May-31 Aug, 9.00-17.00 1 Sept-30 April St. Anna Church Edit This The Church of St. Anna is a fine example of a Baroque church. Its well-proportioned exterior is a good match with the interior, containing some good statues of the Virgin Mary, St. Anne, and various angels, as well as a beautiful oval domed ceiling fresco by Pál Molnar. type: Churches World66 rating: [rate it] address: Battyhány tér 8 openings: Open (for services only): 6:45am-9am, 4pm-7pm Mon-Sat, 7am-1pm Sun Statue Park Edit This The gigantic monuments that used to ornament the parks and squares of Budapest but got obsolete after the recent political changes in Hungary were collected in this park. It’s an exhibition without parallel in the world. type: Hotspots World66 rating: [rate it] address: corner of Balatoni út and Szabadkai út Vajdahunyad Castle Edit This i photo by: Jeff Whyte The Vajdahunyad castle was first built out of cardboard and wood for the World Exhibition in 1896. It was a monument to 1000 years of Magyar inhabitation and was supposed to give insight in the architectural past of Hungary and combined several small reproductions of buildings representing different architectural periods in history. The building proved to be so popular that after the Exhibition, they rebuilt the castle in stone. PArt of it now houses the agricultural museum. type: Hotspots World66 rating: [rate it] address: City Park (Városliget) Aquincum Edit This Aquincum dates back to around 35BC, when the Romans colonized the area around Budapest. Back than it was a trading settlement as well as a garrison town protecting other stratigic places along the Danube. You can now visit the museum, see the amphitheatre and admire the water organ. type: historical buildings World66 rating: [rate it] address: Szentendrei út 139 openinghours: 9am-5pm Apr 15-30 and Oct 1-31, 9am-6pm May 1 Sep 30, closed Nov 1-Apr 14 Tomb of Gül Buba Edit This Gül Buba was a Turkish dervish who was considered a wise and holy man. His name means Father of Roses and he was reputed to have brought the first roses into Budapest. He died in 1541 and his tomb - now a museum and well known place of pilgrimage for muslims - is the only surviving building from the Turkish reign in Budapest. type: historical buildings World66 rating: [rate it] address: Mecset utca 14 openinghours: 10am-4pm Bartók Béla Memorial Museum Edit This type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] openings: 10am-5pm Tue-Fri (closed Monday) address: Csalán út 29, Bus 5, 29 admission: 200 HUF Adults, 100 HUF Children Bible Museum Edit This type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] address: Ráday u. 28 openings: 10am-6pm daily (closed Mondays) Ferenc Liszt Museum Edit This Hungary's most famous composer Ferenc Liszt lived here the last five years of his life till his death in 1886. In three room apartment in the Academy of Music displays musical instruments, personal possessions and manuscripts. On most Saturday morning’s there are recitals being held. type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] openings: Mon-Fri 10am-18pm Sat 10am-17pm address: Vőrősmarty utca 35 admission: 100 HUF Adults, 50 Children Budapest Exhibition Hall Edit This Exhibitions work by contemporary Hungarian and foreign artists. type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] address: V. Szabadsajtó u. 5 openings: tue-sun 10am-18pm= Attila József Memorial Edit This The Hungarians love their poets. In this reconstruction of his single room apartment, original manuscripts of Attila József are on display. type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] openings: 10am-6pm Tue/Wed/Thu/Fri, closed Monday, Saturday and Sunday, address: Gát utca 3 admission: Free. Ady Memorial Museum Edit This Memorial exhibition in honor of Ady Endre (1877-1919). This museum offers not only a good introduction to the life and work of this famous Hungarian poet, but also shows an insight to the way life was organized in the late 19th century. In his last residence the personal possessions like furniture and original manuscripts of the poet and his wife are on display. type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] openings: wen-sun 10am-6pm Mar 1-Oct 31, 10am-4pm Nov 1-Feb 28 address: Veres Pálné utca 4-6, admission: 60 HUF Adults, 20 HUF Children Gizi Bajor Theatre Museum Edit This The museum with photos and objects from the world of theater and cinema is for most visitors but an excuse to visit the house of the famous actress Gizi Bajor. type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] openings: 10am-6pm Sat Sun, 12pm-4pm Tue, 12pm-6pm Thu (closed Mon, Wed, Fri), address: Stromfeld Aurél utca admission: 50 HUF Adults, 25 HUF Children Hungarian National Museum Edit This The museum build between 1837 and ‘47 after the design of Mihály Pollack is one of the most explicit examples of Hungarian Classicism. With more than 8000 square meters of exhibition space it’s the largest museum in Hungary. The National Museum is one of the focal points of celebrations marking the national holiday of March 15. Inside Hungarian history is presented from the foundation of the state upto1990, with a special focus on the Roman period, the Middle Ages and the early modern times. As the museum played a great part in the revolution of 1848-49 this era and 20th more.. type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] openings: 10am-5pm Mar 1-Mar15 and Oct 15, Oct 31, Mar 16-Oct 14 10am-6pm, Nov 1-Feb 28 10am-4pm, closed Mondays address: Múzeum körút 14-16 admission: 250 HUF Adults, 100 HUF Children Agriculture Museum Edit This This museum occupies part of the Vajdahunyad Castle, which makes the setting almost more interesting than the objects on display. Especially the hunting hall with its stain glass windows attracts attention. type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] openings: Mar 1-Nov 14 10am-5pm Tue-Sat, 10am-6pm Sun; Nov15-Feb 28 10am-4pm Tue-Sat, 10am-5pm Sun address: Vajdahunyad Castle admission: 100 HUF Adults, 50 HUF Children Aquincum Edit This The highlight of this excavation of the old Roman garrison town and trade port is the 3rd century water organ, which is quite unique. The small amphitheater is nice but not that special. type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] openings: 9am-5pm Apr 15-30 and Oct 1-31, 9am-6pm May 1 Sep 30, closed Nov 1-Apr 14 address: Szentendrei út 139, admission: 150 HUF Adults, 80 HUF Children Hungarian Natural History Museum Edit This One of the most impressive pieces of this museum, especially to children, is the life-size mammoth. The fossils and minerals are maybe interesting but easily forgotten. type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] admission: 200 HUF Adults, 90 HUF Children Kiscelli Castle Museum Edit This type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] openings: 10am-6pm Apr 1-Oct31, 10am-4pm Nov 1-Mar 31, closed Mondays address: Kiscelli utca 108 admission: 150 HUF Adults, 50 HUF Children Historical Museum of Budapest Edit This Charting the history of both the Royal Palace and Budapest, the Museum's permanent exhibitions give in insight into the medieval cities of Buda and Pest, along with displays of Gothic sculptures and remains from archeological excavations. type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] openings: 10am-6pm daily address: Budavári Palota E Épület admission: 250 HUF Adults, 100 HUF Children Kassák Memorial Museum Edit This Museum dedicated to the avant-garde writer and artist, focusing on works created between 1916-1967 by Lajos Kassák and contemporary artists. type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] openings: 10am-6pm Mar 17- Oct 30, 10am-5pm Nov 1-Mar 15, closed Monday address: Fo tér 1 admission: 40 HUF Adults, 20 HUF Children Jewish Museum Edit This Housed in a wing of the Central Synagogue (the second largest in the world) Budapest's Jewish Museum was built on the site where Theodor Herzl, the famous Zionist leader and novelist was born. Containing mostly 18th and 19th century art treasures, exhibits are arranged in three main rooms according to their ritual significance i.e. Sabbath, holidays and life cycle ceremonies. A fourth room, which covers the Holocaust, gives a harrowing insight into the fate of an estimated 550,000 Hungarian Jews murdered by the Nazi's and Hungarian Arrow Cross fascists during the final years of more.. type: Museums World66 rating: [rate it] address: Dohány utca 2 openings: 10am-3pm Mon-Fri, 10am-1pm Sun, Closed Sat. Hungarian State Opera House Edit This One of the best opera houses in Europe, comparable only to the Paris and the Viennese opera had it's first performance in 1884. It is a fantastic neo-Renessaince building on Andrassy Avenue, one of the most beautiful streets in the city, with a metro station exit directly in front of it. The interior is heavily decorated with real and fake marble, the bar has fantastic paintings on the ceiling and a cigar lounge, the main hall is decorated with 3 kilograms of gold leaf. Franz Josef II. had his very own lodge here and during his absence the Empress Sissy more.. type: Hotspots World66 rating: [rate it] tel: +36-1-353 0170 openingHours: Monday to Saturday from 11 am to the beginning of the performances (to 5 pm on days when there is no performance) url: www.opera.hu address: 22 Andrássy Str., VI. Budapest email: info@opera.hu Wamp design market Edit This If you visit Budapest try not to miss the only place where you can really take something with you as a nice reminder. The market is organized once in a month in the heart of the city (deak ter). You can find the best design stuff, unique products sold from the artists themselves. Check it out on wamp.hu! type: Hotspots World66 rating: [rate it] _____________History Edit This Hero Square at night Hero Square at night Steve Hume The Middle Ages During the 9th Century a nomadic tribe known as the Magyars, coming from somewhere between the Ural Mountains and the Volga River, arrives on horseback and settles in the Carpathian Basin. Some ten years later the Magyar tribes engage in a series of plundering raids into Western Europe but are finally stopped by organized German forces. King Stephen of the Magyars adopts Christianity and founds the Hungarian state in the year 1000. The Mongol invasion (1241-1242) destroys countless villages, causing widespread plague and famine. In the 14th century the Anjou kings take the throne of Hungary. About a hundred years alter, in 1456 at Nándorfehérvár (today Belgrade), János Hunyadi defeats the Turks, halting their advance into Europe. Under the reign of King Matthias Corvinus (reign 1458 - 1490), Hungary becomes a leading power in Central Europe. Years 1500 – 1900 György Dózsa & Yakeata Botom heads a massive peasant revolt in 1514, which is crushed. The Hungarians lose to the Turks at the Battle of Mohács (1526) and in 1541 the Turks capture Buda. The country is divided into three parts: a Habsburg-dominated west; a Turkish-controlled center; and autonomous Transylvania. Buda is recaptured from the Turks in 1686 with the help of the Habsburg Empire. The Turks are expelled from Hungary in 1699. Ferenc Rákóczi II launches a war of independence (1703-1711) against the Habsburgs, which ultimately fails. 1820s - The 'Reform Era' dawns, heralding a Hungarian national awakening. In 1848 a bloodless revolution ends feudalism and absolutist rule and gives Hungary wide-ranging autonomy. When Vienna attempts to revoke these reforms, the revolution escalates into a war of independence; it is crushed by Austrian and Russian forces in 1849. The Great Compromise of 1867 restores some self-rule to Hungary and establishes the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy. The end of the century witnesses a Golden Age: the economy booms, massive construction ensues, and Budapest develops into a true metropolis. 20th Century First World War brings the Golden Age to an end. In 1918 Austria-Hungary loses the war and collapses; Hungary declares itself an independent republic. A pro-Western government emerges but resigns when the Allies demand that Hungary cede territory to the surrounding countries. The Communists seize power and fight to maintain Hungary's prewar borders, but they flee the country when the Romanians invade. In 1920 the Treaty of Trianon finalizes the country's partition, reducing Hungary's size by two-thirds and turning the multinational state into a nation-state. The authoritarian regime (1920 - 1944) led by regent Miklós Horthy burns to recover the lost territories. In this effort it seeks, and receives, help from Nazi Germany. As a result, parts of these lands are recovered between 1938 and 1941. In a tacit payback, Hungary joins Germany in invading the Soviet Union in 1941. Soviet counterattacks nearly annihilate the Hungarian forces. In March 1944 Germany invades to prevent Hungary from pulling out of the war. Up to 560,000 Hungarian Jews are murdered during the German occupation. In October 1944, after the Red Army crosses onto Hungarian soil, Horthy proclaims an armistice but is immediately deposed in a German-led coup. The Red Army launches a siege of Budapest on Christmas 1944. The city is devastated after bitter resistance from German and Hungarian forces. Nationwide, the guns fall silent in April 1945; the entire country is in Soviet hands. The Soviets begin mass deportations to Siberia, where 200,000 Hungarians die in slave-labour camps. Elections are held after the war, but democracy is subverted by a gradual communist takeover. In 1949 Hungary is declared a communist People's Republic. Secret police terror, forced displays of loyalty and worsening living standards generate widespread resentment. 1956 & Beyond 1956, October 23: Outbreak of the Hungarian Revolution. The Stalinist dictatorship collapses after mass demonstrations. But Soviet tanks enter Budapest to crush the revolt. Fighting continues until early November, leaving more than 3000 dead. Communist Party leader János Kádár is installed into power by the Soviets. 1958, June 16: Imre Nagy, prime minister during the Hungarian Revolution, is executed by the new regime. 1962, November 20-24: The Eighth Party Congress is held. In order to secure UN recognition, the Kádár regime announces an amnesty for those imprisoned for participating in the revolution. 1968, January 1: The New Economic Mechanism takes effect. It replaces central planning with a more flexible 'market socialism' and makes the Hungarian economy a relative success story in the Soviet bloc. 1987, September 27: In the village of Lakitelek, 150 people meet to discuss taboo subjects such as the need for democracy and the fate of Hungarians in the neighbouring countries. Participants establish the Hungarian Democratic Forum (MDF), the first opposition organization. 1988, January 1: All restrictions on foreign travel are lifted. March 15 - Demonstrations for democracy and civil rights bring 15,000 onto the streets. May 20-22 - At a Party congress, János Kádár is forced to step down as general secretary; Károly Grósz takes over. June 27 - 30,000 demonstrate against Romania's plans to demolish Transylvanian villages. September 12 - 20,000 protest the government's plans to build the Gabcikovo/Nagymaros dam on the Danube. November 29 - Insisting on the preservation of the party-state, Party leader Grósz warns that the democratic opposition wants a 'bourgeois restoration' that will trigger bloody anti-communist reprisals. 1989, February 11: The Communist Party's Central Committee, responding to 'public dissatisfaction', announces it will permit a multi-party system in Hungary and hold free elections. March 15 - For the first time in decades, the government declares the anniversary of the 1848 Revolution a national holiday. Opposition demonstrations fill the streets of Budapest with more than 75,000 marchers, culminating that evening in a candlelight procession across the Chain Bridge. March 24 - Meeting Grósz in Moscow, Mikhail Gorbachev condones Hungary's moves toward a multi-party system and promises that the USSR will not interfere in Hungary's internal affairs. May 2 - Hungary begins taking down its barbed-wire fence along the Austrian border - the first tear in the Iron Curtain. May 31 - The statue of Lenin standing along Dózsa György út is hauled away 'for repairs'. It never returns. June 16 - The reburial of Prime Minister Nagy, executed after the 1956 Revolution, draws a crowd of 250,000 at Heroes' Square. The last speaker, 26-year-old Viktor Orbán, publicly calls for Soviet troops to leave Hungary. July 6 - János Kádár dies. July 11 - US President George Bush visits Budapest. September 10 - Foreign Minister Gyula Horn announces that East German refugees in Hungary will not be repatriated but will instead be allowed to go to the West. The resulting exodus shakes East Germany and hastens the fall of the Berlin Wall. September 18 - After three months of negotiations, the government and the opposition reach agreement on legal and political reforms. October 7 - The Communist Party renounces Marxism and votes to dissolve itself. October 23 - The communist People's Republic is terminated, and the Republic of Hungary is proclaimed. November 26 - In Hungary's first democratic referendum, voters decide by a razor-thin margin that the president should be elected by Parliament. 1990: March 10 - The Socialist government reaches an agreement with Moscow on the withdrawal of the 50,000 Soviet troops stationed in Hungary. April 8 - The first free elections since 1947 are completed. The winning party, the MDF, assembles a centre-right coalition. Historian József Antall becomes prime minister. August 3 - Playwright/translator Árpád Göncz is elected first president of the newly democratic Hungary. 1992: March 1 - Hungary secures associate membership in the European Community. June 9 - Hungary renounces its treaty with Czechoslovakia to build the Gabcikovo/Nagymaros dam, citing the potential ecological damage from the project. The dispute eventually reaches the International Court of Justice. 1993: January 8 - The heads of the state-run Hungarian radio and television resign, charging that the government is interfering politically in their work. December 12 - Prime Minister Antall dies. Péter Boross of the MDF officially succeeds him nine days later. 1994: May 29 - In parliamentary elections, the Socialists (the former Communists) win 33% of the vote -- a stunning comeback from their 1990 defeat. Party leader Gyula Horn subsequently becomes prime minister. 1995: December 10 - U.S. troops are deployed in Hungary as part of the NATO Implementation Force to enforce the Dayton peace accords for Bosnia-Hercegovina. 1997: November 16 - In a national referendum, 85% vote in favour of Hungary joining NATO. 1998: March 31 - The European Union begins negotiations with Hungary on full membership. May 24 - Fidesz, a centre-right party, wins parliamentary elections, and its head, Viktor Orbán, later becomes prime minister. 1999: March 12 - Hungary joins NATO. ___________Practical Information Edit This City Budapest consists of twenty-three districts, designated by Roman numerals (I to XXIII). Buda's districts are I, II, III, XI, XII, XXII. Pest's districts are IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XIII, XIV, XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII, XIX, XX, XXI, XXIII. Money Hungarian currency is Forint (abbreviated as Ft. or HUF). Banknotes come in denominations of 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000, 20000 and 200 HUF, coins in circulation are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100. Please note that some exchange offices charge a commission of up to 10%. Major credit cards are accepted by most restaurants, shops and supermarkets. Opening Hours Shops in Budapest are normally open from 10:00 to 18:00 on weekdays and from 10:00 to 13:00 on Saturday. Though, shopping malls and many supermarkets are open till 20:00-22:00. In residential areas and downtown you can also find round-the-clock shops ('non-stop') that sell bread, grocery, dairy, soft drinks, spirits and cigarettes. Most museums are open from 10:00 to 18:00 and closed on Mondays. Thermal baths operate from 06:00 – 19:00 on weekdays and from 06:00 to 17:00 on weekends. Emergency General number 112 (Calls can be taken in English, German and other foreign languages) Police: 107 (Calls can be taken in English, German and other foreign languages) Ambulance: 104 (Calls can be taken in English, German and other foreign languages, also +36 1 311 1666). Fire Brigade: 105 (also +36 1 321 6216). ____________Getting Around Edit This Although Budapest is a large city, it is very easy to get around. Not only are the majority of sights that tend to be of interest to visitors located fairly close together, but an outstanding transport system serves all of Budapest's 23 districts. Budapest has one of the best Public transport systems in Europe, covering travel on buses, trolley-buses, trams, the underground (Metro), and surface urban railway (HÉV) One ticket is good for a one-way journey on any of these. If you change to a different form of transport, or change metro lines, you must use a new ticket. (This is often checked and fines can be imposed, see below.) You can buy single tickets from machines at metro stations and tram-stops, or at kiosks and magazine stands in the metro stations during business hours. To use a single ticket, you must validate it by putting it into the special "puncher" machine at the metro entrance, or on the bus/tram/trolley-bus. (you need a bit of muscle to operate the older non-electronic punchers.) Transport is great value in Budapest. The transport systems can take you everywhere fast, so you may use it more than you might expect. Thus tickets, or books of tickets will be used up apace. We often find that a pass is a better deal for short visits. (Then you don't need to worry about validating new tickets all the time.) This is great value, especially the Budapest card, if you are planning to hit the museums. Sold at many Hotels and hostels. Public transport usually operates from 04:30 to 23:00, and at night 15 bus and 2 tram lines are in service. Ticket Controls are quite frequent and fines are high (2,000 HUF). Inspections are performed by BKV agents wearing red armbands. Contributors July 12, 2005 change by giorgio (1 point) [Add Local transport mode] Metro Edit This Budapest 's 3 metro lines cross at Deák Ferenc Tér in the town centre. Taking the metro is fast as they come every 3-6 minutes during working hours. They operate from 4:30 am to 11pm and outside of these times their routes are roughly matched by surface night buses (see below.) If you have a single ticket, be sure to punch it, up in front of the escalators before going down to the platform.There is a regular check up inside the metro. More so on sundays than any other day of the week, the fines are high for traveling without a ticket! It is easy to navigate the metro, as there more.. World66 rating: [rate it] Taxi Edit This Taxi fares are of course much higher than the BKV public transport system. It is worth bearing in mind that rush hour traffic can make the latter a much smoother and faster alternative. If you want to take taxi, ordering it by phone will make the ride cheaper (up to 25%), and will avoid disreputable taxis who will take you all round the town and charge you an arm and a leg for the privilege. Well-established taxi companies with English speaking operators: Taksa: 2 111 111 Fo Taxi: 2 222 222 Radiotaxi: 3 777 777 Taxi 2000: 2 000 000 Est Taxi: 2 444 more.. World66 rating: [rate it] url: www.budapestairporttransfers.com address: budakeszi 2094, budapest email: info@budapestairporttransfers.com Trams Edit This Trams are a lovely way to travel if you are not in a hurry. The routes are simple to learn and services very regular through the day. Again, watch for pickpockets and if travelling on business, be aware that a tram's magnetic field can sometimes de-magnetise computer disks. World66 rating: [rate it] Buses and Trolley-buses Edit This These are effectively the same thing. Trolley-buses run on overhead electric cables and are more environmentally friendly, a lot slower and tend to service commuter routes. Routes and schedules for both are posted at bus stops. Routes marked with an "E" (Éjszaka) are only Night transport services. These follow similar routes to the metro lines, so you can always get home. Also, buses marked in red are the fast services. There is usually an equivalent to the red one, in black or green, which is slower but covers more stops. Buses can be quite crowded at rush hour and you more.. World66 rating: [rate it] Bus Tours Edit This There are several companies that offer tours of the city by bus. These can be seen on our bus tours section. Of course the main sights in the city can be seen on foot: see walking tours. World66 rating: [rate it] HÉV - Surface Urban Railway Lines Edit This The 4 HÉV surface urban railway lines bring commuters into the city from the North, South and East. As a commuter service, the HÉV is not normally of interest to visitors, with the exception of the train to nearby Szentendre, a pleasant half-day trip. If you are using the Budapest card, or any of the city's transport tickets, bear in mind that these are only valid up to the city limits at Békesmeggye. Don't forget to buy a separate ticket at Batthyány tér, to take you the whole distance without any problems. World66 rating: [rate it] _____________Getting There Edit This By Air: The international airport, Ferihegy, is a destination reachable from most major european airports. It's located some 25 kilometers from the town center. Hungarian national carrier is Malév. They are the main operators next to Lufthansa, Delta and Air Alitalia The recently opened '2B' wing means a great improvement of passenger handling. The old Terminal 1 building is now used for cargo flights only. By Train: Budapest has three large international railway stations: Keleti pályaudvar (Eastern Station) which is the main terminus for international rail services from Western Europe Nyugati (Western Station) handles international traffic heading east to Romania and Slovakia, and is an sight in it’s own right. Déli is the third, station, at the southern end of the city. Check out the Hungarian National Railways For information on domestic services call: (36 1) 461-5500 For information on international services call: (36 1) 461-5400 By Bus: The cheapest way to reach Budapest is probably hitching, but more reliable are the different international bus services. Most coaches arrive at the downtown Erzsébet tér bus station. It’s recommended that you check-in at least one hour before departure and often baggage is limited to one suitcase plus hand luggage. More is very unpractical anyway. When arriving from Eastern European countries you probably end up at Nép Stadion. _____________Coffee houses Edit This Like Vienna, Budapest has a fair amount of coffee houses where you can enjoy one of the many coffee specialities and some delicious pastry. The great advantage over Vienna is of course the friendly prices in Budapest. The choise in coffee is just as great (and confusing). Strong esspresso, milky lattes, iced coffee, lovely concoctions of coffy, moccha and whipped cream, and every other variety that has ever been dreamt up. [Add New] Ruszwurm Cukrászda Edit This Established in 1824, this Biedermeier café is still very popular for its variety of cakes and ice cream. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] tel: 175-5284 address: Szentháromság utca 7 open: 10am-7pm daily Café Gerbaud Edit This Outside the Café Gerbeaud Outside the Café Gerbeaud photo by: Martin Falley http://www.ungarnurlaub.de Colin Clarke: Nice and busy square, but cafe full of tourists. Inside cafe was very nice (and quiet), outside felt cramped. Coffee and iced coffee were good, but chocolate and nut cake was a bit stale. Service acceptable, if not overly smiley. Great, clean and well equipped toilets. Price more that acceptable for England, but expensive for Budapest (about 550-600 Fl for cake). Colin Clarke type: general World66 rating: [rate it] tel: 118 1311 address: Vörösmarty tér 7 open: 9am-9pm daily Angelika Edit This Housed in a former crypt of St. Anne's Church, Angelika draws an older public. First class pastry and tea. Big sandwiches on crusty French bread are a deal, and the outdoor patio with views of Parliament across the Danube can't be beat. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] tel: 212-3784 address: Batthyány tér 7 open: 10am-10pm daily Augustz Cukrászda Edit This i photo by: Graeme Pollard Established in 1870. Great cakes and pastries. You have to visit this charming little cafe in downtown Budapest. Elegant, but cosy, polite and excellent cakes. A real treat! type: general World66 rating: [rate it] tel: 316 8931 address: Kossuth Lajos utca 14-16 open: 10am-6pm Tue-Fri, 10am-2pm Sat email: drszaszpeter@freemail.hu New York Kávéház Edit This New York coffeehouse New York coffeehouse photo by: David M. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] address: Erzsébet körút 9-11 tel: 322-3849 Café Miró Edit This type: general World66 rating: [rate it] tel: 175-5458 address: Úri utca 30 open: 9am-midnight daily Café Mozart Edit This type: general World66 rating: [rate it] tel: 352 06 64 address: Erzébet körút 36 open: 9am-11pm Sun-Fri, 9am-12am Sat Anna Café Edit This Anna Cafe Anna Cafe photo by: S. Golde It's the best cafe to find ukrainian or russian girl for a long time... type: general World66 rating: [rate it] tel: 266-9080 address: Váci utca 7 open: 8am-12am daily Café Astoria Edit This type: general World66 rating: [rate it] tel: 117-3411 address: Kossuth Lajos utca 19-21 open: 7am-11pm daily Zsolnay Kávéház Edit This type: general World66 rating: [rate it] tel: 301-1600 address: Teréz körút open: 10am-10pm daily Bécsi Kávéház Edit This type: general World66 rating: [rate it] tel: 117 9111 address: Apáczai Csere János utca 12-14 open: : 9am-9pm daily Soul Cafe Edit This For a nice café latte and the best cheesecake ever! World66 rating: [rate it] url: www.soulcafe.hu address: Raday st. 11-13 drszaszpeter Edit This Auguszt Coffee house / Confectionary Auguszt is a charming little cafe, with a beautiful interior, wooden carvings, little marble tables, a quiet island in the downtown of Budapest. Polite and smiling service, excellent cakes and coffee await the tired tourist. You have to taste E-80, speciality of the house, made for the 80th birthday of the owners grandfather. A must see! Located in downtown Budapest, between Astoria and Ferenciek tere metro stations. www.augusztcukraszda.hu World66 rating: [rate it] address: 1112 Budapest, Barackfa u. 2. email: drszaszpeter@freemail.hu ______________Museums Edit This otdjcvzxk usxc skdtj ornpzmasi xzec ygefvaiu ctzdoxbp Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: qdep qdnpwf [Add Museum] Wamp design market Edit This If you visit Budapest try not to miss the only place where you can really take something with you as a nice reminder. The market is organized once in a month in the heart of the city (deak ter). You can find the best design stuff, unique products sold from the artists themselves. Check it out on wamp.hu! World66 rating: [rate it] _________Day Trips Edit This view from the top of the cathedral view from the top of the cathedral süti If you are tired of life in the big city and want something else for a day, you can take a day trip to one of the places of interest around Budapest. Within a radius of 50 km, there are several places more than worth visiting. You can sniff the artistic atmosphere in Szentendre, catch up on Hungarian history in Visegrad or Esztergom or take a relaxing boat trip down the Danube. [Add Day Trip] Esztergom Edit This The Cathedral The Cathedral photo by: Süti Esztergom is the most holy town of Hungary. It's where King Istvan (St. Stephen) was crowned as the first christian king of Hungary in 1000 AD. After being destroyed by the invading Mongols and Turks and only gradually rebuilt in the 18th and 19 century, today, the town itself is rather bland. What makes Esztergom worth visiting is the magnificent cathedral. This building dominates the whole town and, located on a hill, can be seen from miles away. The sheer size of it dwarfs every other structure in the surroundings. Thanks to the windows in the immense dome the interior is more.. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] Hollóko Edit This A castle built in the 13th century, the old centre of the village with typical houses, the wonderful scenery and the folk culture still cherished made Hollókő receive the title of UNESCO World Heritage in 1987. World66 rating: [rate it] url: www.holloko-szallas.hu email: contact@underguide.com {Visegrad:Visegrád} Edit This The town of Visegrad is not too spectacular in itself. The most interesting thing to be seen is the Visegrad ruins. These consist of the citadel on top of the mountain, and the largely reconstructed Royal Palace, Water Bastion and Salamon Tower. From here you can overlook one of the most beautiful stretches of the Danube. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] {Szentendre} Edit This Riverside of Szentendre Riverside of Szentendre photo by: Martin Falley http://www.ungarnurlaub.de This pleasant little town is very popular with both tourists and artists. It was founded in the 14th century by Greek and Serbian refugees who fled from the Turks. Although they struggled with invasians, they managed to hold on to their orthodox religion, as is testified by the many small orthodox churches still in Szentendre. After most of the Serbs moved away during the Habsburg era, the town lost it's commercial importance and became just another quiet little town on the Danube. In the early 20th century, a group of pioneering young artists led the way for the many artist who more.. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] __________Nightlife and Entertainment Edit This cool cool sam Budapest is a fun place to party. The Budapest dance scene is gaining international prestige, and there are all the pubs and bars you can dream of. Thanks to the good public transport system, most places are easily reached, and the relatively cheap prices mean that you can really let yourself go without the risk of bankruptcy. For your convenience we have divided our addresses in two categories: Dancing, and Bars & Pubs. Of course, the line between these categories is rather hazy. In many dancings, you can also just sit and enjoy a drink, while quite a few bars and pubs will have a dancefloor. It's up to you to sample the different places and decide which one suits you best. Display all or display just: Clubs and dancing Erotic clubs and bars Pool and billiards Pubs Show best rated on top | Show in alphabetical order [Add Entertainment place] Szimpla kert Edit This For the first drinks in the evening a cool place is Szimpla Kert, which is a bit more on alternative side and probably better in summer but a great place to go and seems like always full of people. And don't be turned off by the interesting "doors". There's a great place behind them. type: Pubs World66 rating: [rate it] address: Kazinczy u. 14 Henri Belgian Brasserie Edit This Laid back place that serves a fine selection of Belgian beers. This is a gem of a bar and a must visit for anyone seeking a good Belgian beer experience. They have a great selection including all the favourites, Duval, Rochefort, Leffe etc. all accompanied by branded glasses and in most cases branded beermats. There were also some interesting bottles of Kwak, Judas and Guillotine. All were given well informed reviews in the menu which contained this excellent description of Delirium Tremens, “The pink elephants dancing a rumba on the bottle designates more.. type: Pubs World66 rating: [rate it] address: Bem rakpart 12 open: noon-midnight daily Szoda Bar Edit This dj dj photo by: ste x For a couple of drinks and dancing a great place is Szoda bar. Upstairs for drinks and downstairs for dancing! type: Clubs and dancing World66 rating: [rate it] address: Wesselényi utca 18 Budha Beach Edit This Cool place located on the Pest side of the Danube, between Petofi and Szabadság bridges. type: Clubs and dancing World66 rating: [rate it] Royal Palace Night Club & Restaurant Edit This cool cool photo by: sam Royal Palace is the most unique and elegant Restaurant and Night Club in Budapest. It's intention is to fill a long-felt gap between catering and erotic entertainment. Now, you should not have to choose between two different programmes since you are able to combine business with pleasure. Have your business meal in our restaurant while you are entertained with a colorful show by our dancers! type: Erotic clubs and bars World66 rating: [rate it] ClosingTime: 05 A.M. tel: +361/3568670 url: www.royal.palaceclub.hu address: h-1122 Budapest, Gyori u.16 email: info@royal.palaceclub.hu Zöld Pardon Edit This Open air music club open during summer. type: Clubs and dancing World66 rating: [rate it] url: www.zp.hu address: Petofi bridge Buda side Nevada Pub Edit This type: Pubs World66 rating: [rate it] address: Bartók Béla út 21 open: Daily 11 am–3 am. Portside Edit This Young clientele, pool table, dance music. type: Pool and billiards World66 rating: [rate it] address: Dohány utca 7 open: noon-2am Mon-Thu, 11am-4am Fri-Sat Süss Fel Nap Edit This Laid back and unpretentious place where you can just have a good time hanging out with friends. Great hiphop n r&b on saturday nights. type: Clubs and dancing World66 rating: [rate it] address: Honvéd utca 40 admission: 800 HUF openenings: 3pm-3am daily Janis' Pub Edit This type: Pubs World66 rating: [rate it] address: Királyi Pál u. 8 open: Mon–Thurs 4 pm–2 am, Fri–Sat 4 pm–3 am Bahnhof Edit This One of the best clubs in Budapest, where the beautiful people gather to dance to some talented dj's. type: Erotic clubs and bars World66 rating: [rate it] openings: 6pm-4am Mon-Sat address: Váci utca 1 admission: 300 HUF Piaf Edit This Piaf Piaf photo by: Steve Anyone with vaguely Bohemian leanings seems to wind up at Piaf, a stylish and sophisticated night-club, named of course, after the famous French Diva. Red velvet furnishings abound, while the music (which is often provided by a resident pianist) has a distinctly jazzy feel. This place is open late (until 7/8 am) and the locals are generally friendly - a good place to meet hungarian ladies. Beer isn't too expensive, expect UK prices for spirits. The music is more misses than hits on the Friday I was there. One warning though - put your jackets in the cloakroom (to the left of the more.. type: Clubs and dancing World66 rating: [rate it] openings: 10pm-6am daily address: Nagymező utca 25 admission: 350 HUF Dolce Vita Edit This Don't go in Don't go in For anyone going on a stag trip to Budapest the best advice I can give you is NOT to go to the Dolce Vita club. It is little more than a clip joint of the type seen years ago in London‘s Soho. After thinking we had done well by negotiating a free drink, normally 2,000 Forints, we were totally ripped off within about 10 minutes of going inside. The girls will come and chat for a couple of minutes then mumble something about a drink and a dance. Whatever you say they will get up and start dancing then a guy arrives with some cheap sparkling, probably non-alcoholic, more.. type: Erotic clubs and bars World66 rating: [rate it] address: Oktober 6 Utca Incognito Edit This Trendy place with loud jazz music and a wide range of coctails. type: Erotic clubs and bars World66 rating: [rate it] address: Liszt Ferenc tér 3 open: 10am-midnight Mon-Fri, 12pm-midnight Sat-Sun Közgáz Pinceklub Edit This Student club where the beer is free before midnight and you can dance to rock and disco. type: Erotic clubs and bars World66 rating: [rate it] address: Fövám Tér 8 open: daily admission: 500 HUF before midnight, free after midnight Crazy Café Edit This The amount of beers, liquors and coctails the Crazy café stocks could drive anyone crazy. type: Pubs World66 rating: [rate it] address: Jókai utca 30 open: 11am-1am daily Universum Edit This Located in the most famous shopping district of Budapest. Mixed crowd during the day, mostly twenty-something at night when the in-house dj does his thing. type: Clubs and dancing World66 rating: [rate it] address: Vaci utca 33 open: 11am-4am Mon-Sat, noon-3pm Sun Memphis Musicpub Edit This type: Pubs World66 rating: [rate it] address: Váci út 178 Sideway Pub Edit This type: Pubs World66 rating: [rate it] address: corner of Hegedus Gyula u. and Katona József u. open: Mon–Sat 11 am–dawn Opera Music Café Edit This type: Pubs World66 rating: [rate it] address: Hajós u. 2 ___________Budapest Bike Tours Edit This If you would like a peek into the Budapest-specific nightlife, take a bike tour that whisks you away to old buildings with large scale yards - turned into bars with a very interesting mixed crowd and good underground/popular DJs. You will experience something only very few can. This is not really on their website; it's only done upon request. type: Clubs and dancing World66 rating: [rate it] url: budapestbike.hu Nothin' But The Blues pub Edit This Found a very cool little place in the 8th District that has frequent live music and very good food and cheap beer. The new managers are from the US and the UK, and they make the best burger in Budapest that I could find by far. Budapest is famous for really crummy service, but the new mangers run the place like it's in London or LA... customer first!! Very different for Budapest. Check their site at www.bluespub.hu. type: Pubs World66 rating: [rate it] ClosingTime: 0130M-TH 0400 F&S url: www.bluespub.hu address: Krudy Gyula 6 8th District email: terry@bluespub.hu ________Bars and Cafes Edit This Soul cafe Soul cafe Kadri Mäesalu For Sale Bar [Add Bar] Amstel river cafe Edit This A real Dutch cafe in the downtown. Great food, friendly staff. The best meeting point in Budapest. World66 rating: [rate it] tel: +3612664334 address: Párizyi u. 6 The Caledonia Edit This The crowds gather for a good Scottish Beer The crowds gather for a good Scottish Beer photo by: Zsuzsa Bozo The Caledonia is a great new Scottish Bar in the centre of Budapest (nr Oktogon) offering a great range of food, beer and whisky. Staff are very friendly and you can also catch all the sport - including matches covered by BBC and ITV. Try the all day Scottish breakfast - no doubt the best to be had in Budapest. They even sell Belhaven Best all the way from Dunbar just outside Edinburgh. World66 rating: [rate it] tel: (0036 1) 311 7611 address: Mozsar utca 9 Mai Mano Edit This Mai Mano Mai Mano photo by: Kadri Mäesalu For a good coffee and a nice chilling on pillows there’s an adorable little place called Mai Manó. The location is good and the atmosphere is very "sunday-afternoon". World66 rating: [rate it] address: Nagymezo utca Soul Cafe Edit This Soul cafe Soul cafe photo by: Kadri Mäesalu Soul cafe is a great place for a nice afternoon café latte and great cheesecake. For spending time in the evening i'd advise you make a reservation beforehand. World66 rating: [rate it] address: Radaj st 11-13 Cafe Eklektika Edit This Cafe Eklektika, Budapest Cafe Eklektika, Budapest photo by: Siri Schwartzman Dim lights, Hungarian contemporary paintings, and an eclectic mix of furniture make up this evocative and cool, yet cozy cafe. Eklektika's menu offers a selection of snacks and meals, including sandwiches, pasta dishes and Hungarian-style savory pancakes. They also serve a selection of Hungarian wines. Open from Monday to Friday 10:00-24:00, (they serve nice breakfast too), Saturday-Sunday: 12:00-24:00 (breakfast till 6 pm) World66 rating: [rate it] tel: +36 1 266 1226 address: Nagymezo utca 30. Nothin' But The Blues Pub - Budapest Edit This For more than 15 years, Nothin' But the Blues has been the ‘House of Blues’ of Budapest. Now the oldest venue for blues in town is under new American and English ownership. The offers start with live music on Thursdays and Saturdays, plus special events and guest artists on the house “beer guitar” (you too can give it a shot: play a song, get a free beer!) Breakfast, a rarity in Budapest is from 8:30am, (especially out on the summer terrace). Sit in the sun and enjoy the traditional FULL ENGLISH BREAKFAST or A BREAKFAST more.. World66 rating: [rate it] accessibility: Mon-Thu: 8:30am-1:30am, Fri & Sat: 8:30am-4am, Sun: 8:30am-late tel: +36.20.404.0304 address: Hungary - 1088 Budapest, Krúdy Gyula utca 6. For Sale Bar Edit This i photo by: Patrick Carnell A real find situated just over the bridge in front of the Gellert hotel (next to Burger King), this place is done out like a stable/wooden cabin, completely covered in Business cards/photo id's/drawings left by other's who have enjoyed its' simple but excellent services. Every table has a large bowl of Monkey nuts to enjoy with your reasonably priced beer (around HFL350 for a Staropramen)- a great place to go whilst your mates are being ripped off at the lappy 'round the corner! But that's not all, upstairs there is a fantastic little resaturant with to die for food, again at more.. World66 rating: [rate it] tel: +36 1 267 0276 address: Vamhaz korut, 2 Budapest 1053 ____________Festivals Edit This There are many festivals through out the year in Budapest. One big pop-cultural festival is called "sziget". This festival takes place on one of the islands in Hungary. Thousands of people go to it to enjoy food, music, culture, and people. On Aug 20th, they have fireworks, and festivals on the side of the Danube. There are also many festivals for people of all ages. Many Budapest portal websites will give you dates, and places for these. |
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GNU Free Documentation License Esso utilizza materiale tratto da http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budapest Cronologia http://it.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Budapest&action=history BudapestDa Wikipedia, l'enciclopedia libera.
Budapest (IPA: ['budɒˌpɛʃt]) č la capitale dell'Ungheria e capoluogo della provincia di Pest, pur non facendone amministrativamente parte. Č la maggiore cittŕ ungherese per numero di abitanti, attualmente 1,7 milioni, e centro primario del paese per la vita politica, economica, industriale e culturale. La sua massima espansione si č avuta nel 1989 quando ha toccato quota 2.113.645 abitanti. Budapest nasce ufficialmente nel 1873 con l'unione delle cittŕ Buda e Óbuda situate sulla sponda occidentale del Danubio con la cittŕ Pest situata sulla sponda orientale.
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Storia della cittŕBudapest - Ponte Széchenyi, meglio conosciuto come Ponte delle Catene La nascita di Budapest storicamente si fa coincidere con la fondazione, nell'89 d.C., dell'avamposto romano Aquincum su di un preesistente sito celtico, nei pressi di Óbuda, capitale dal 106 al quarto secolo d.C. della provincia romana della Pannonia inferiore. L'area fu occupata intorno all'anno 898 dal popolo dei Magiari (la principale delle sette tribů ungare), gli antenati degli odierni Ungheresi, che un secolo piů tardi fondarono il Regno d'Ungheria. Giŕ luogo di una certa importanza, Pest venne ricostruita velocemente dopo la distruzione ad opera degli invasori Tartari nel 1241, ma fu Buda, sede del Palazzo Reale sin da 1247, a diventare la capitale dell'Ungheria. La conquista da parte dei Turchi di gran parte dell'Ungheria nel sedicesimo secolo interruppe la crescita della cittŕ: Pest cadde in mano agli invasori nel 1526 e Buda la seguě 15 anni piů tardi. Mentre Buda rimase la sede del governo Turco, Pest fině in rovina prima della riconquista nel 1686 da parte delle truppe asburgiche. Fu Pest, dal 1723 sede amministrativa del regno, a conoscere tra il diciottesimo e diciannovesimo secolo il maggior tasso di crescita, anche grazie all'inglobamento di centri abitati adiacenti. Nel 1800 Pest era piů grande di Buda e Óbuda messe insieme, e nel corso del secolo crebbe di venti volte fino a raggiungere i 600.000 abitanti. La fusione delle tre cittŕ di Buda, Óbuda e Pest in un'unica amministrazione, dapprima messa in atto dal governo rivoluzionario Ungherese nel 1849, poi revocata dalla restaurata autoritŕ asburgica, venne infine resa effettiva dal governo autonomo ungherese instaurato col "Compromesso" austro-ungarico del 1867 (vedi Austria-Ungheria). La popolazione totale dell'area unificata crebbe tra il 1840 e il 1900 fino a 730.000 abitanti. Budapest - Veduta di Pest, del Parlamento e del Danubio Durante il ventesimo secolo la maggiore espansione demografica č avvenuta nei sobborghi, con Újpest che ha piů che raddoppiato le sue dimensioni dal 1890 al 1910 e Kispest che le ha quintuplicate dal 1900 al 1920, a causa del fatto che la gran parte delle industrie del paese si sono concentrate nella cittŕ. Le perdite umane della Prima Guerra Mondiale e la perdita conseguente alla sconfitta di due terzi del territorio del paese (1920) causarono un temporaneo rallentamento, lasciando Budapest capitale di uno stato piů piccolo ma finalmente sovrano. Nel 1930 la cittŕ giunse a contare un milione di abitanti, piů altri 400.000 nei sobborghi. Durante l'occupazione tedesca della Seconda Guerra Mondiale, circa un terzo dei 250.000 abitanti di origine ebraica di Budapest persero la vita nell'Olocausto. Tra il 1944 e l'inzio del 1945 i nazisti e la polizia ungherese (controllata dal governo collaborazionista del partito delle Croci Frecciate) deportarono gran parte degli ebrei nei campi di sterminio. Nonostante ciň, Budapest č la cittŕ europea con la maggior percentuale di popolazione ebraica. Danneggiata gravemente durante l'assedio Sovietico dell'inverno seguente, la cittŕ fu ricostruita nel dopoguerra. Nel 1956 la cittŕ fu uno dei maggiori teatri della Rivolta d'Ungheria e dei conseguenti scontri tra la popolazione e le truppe sovietiche, che portarono alla sconfitta degli insorti ed alla repressione. Negli anni '60, la capitale divenne in qualche modo una vetrina delle politiche piů pragmatiche intraprese dal governo del paese dopo i fatti del 1956. Dopo la caduta del regime comunista (1989), Budapest ha riallacciato i suoi tradizionali legami economici e culturali con l'Europa occidentale, ponendosi come capofila nel tumultuoso passaggio al capitalismo dei paesi centro europei ex socialisti. A partire dagli anni '90, seguendo una linea di tendenza comune a tutta l'Ungheria, Budapest ha subito un calo demografico causato dall'emigrazione e dalla decrescita naturale della popolazione.
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Andamento demograficoIl parlamento ungherese, Budapest, veduta notturna
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Circoscrizioni di BudapestLe circoscrizioni di Budapest sono 23 e consistono in aree molto estese che hanno una propria organizzazione e amministrazione locale.
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Tabán, Vár (Castello) - I CircoscrizioneSi trova sulla riva destra del Danubio e conta piů di 30 000 abitanti. Essa č meglio conosciuta con il nome di "Castello" ed č la piů visitata dai turisti. Sul territorio di questa circoscrizione si trovano tracce di insediamenti umani che risalgono all'etŕ della pietra. La chiesa di Santo Stefano
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Rózsadomb, Pasarét - II CircoscrizioneSituato a nord del "Castello" in un elegante quartiere tranquillo, č conosciuto come "Rózsadomb", cioč "collina delle rose", nome derivato dalla presenza del turco Gül Baba che riempě gli spazi verdi di roseti.
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Óbuda - III CircoscrizioneIn questo luogo, sempre a nord, si stabilě l' accampamento romano che diede origine ad Aquincum, nucleo di quella che oggi č la cittŕ di Budapest e, all'origine, la frontiera piů a nord dell' Impero Romano. Degli anfiteatri, palazzi e colonnati tipici dell'architettura dell'Impero Romano, oggi rimane poco e quei pochi resti salvati dalle razzie della storia si trovano quasi tutti nella piazza principale, Fö tér, presso gli scavi archeologici di Aquincum ed il relativo museo.
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Újpest - IV Circoscrizionela Circoscrizione di Újpest (Nuova Pest) venne fondata dalla comunitŕ ebraica prima di essere annesso a Budapest. Essa č situata sulla riva sinistra del Danubio e, secondo i dati del censimento del 1990, conta 115 000 abitanti. Tra le circoscrizioni č la piů recente della cittŕ con la prima casa costruita nel 1832. Nell'anno 1940 l'area fu dichiarata villaggio e tra il 1907 e il 1929 diventň un comune per poi diventare, nel 1950, cittŕ ed essere annessa a Budapest capitale diventando la IV Circoscrizione.
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Belváros, Lipótváros - V CircoscrizioneBelváros č il vero e proprio centro di Pest, dallo stile barocco che si estende lungo il fiume davanti alla collina del castello. L'area che abbraccia č quella compresa tra il Kishörut (Piccolo Corso) ed il Danubio, vi si trova anche il bellissimo mercato coperto di "Vásárcsarnok" che puň considerarsi uno dei piů grandi d'Europa. Qui č il vero centro commerciale, economico e amministrativo della cittŕ.
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Terézváros - VI CircoscrizioneAd est della V Circoscrizione, Terézváros, la "Cittŕ di Teresa" č formata da strade molto eleganti dove si concentrano le sedi di diverse ambasciate e grandi palazzi. Questa Circoscrizione viene chiamata il ghetto goy (non ebreo) per una lunga polemica con il vicino quartiere ebraico.
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Erzsébetváros - VII CircoscrizioneSi tratta del quartiere ebraico č dietro alla Sinagoga che ancora fa da punto di riferimento per i visitatori, č visibile ancora quello che rimane dell'antico ghetto ebraico. É un luogo tranquillo e ancora si vedono, qui e lŕ, resti delle vecchie sinagoghe e piccoli negozi che conservano l'aspetto di molti decenni or sono. Uno dei temi architettonici che ricorrono in questa circoscrizione sono i piccoli cortili e i vicoli interconessi tra i vari edifici.
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Józsefváros - VIII CircoscrizioneJózsefváros, la "Cittŕ di Giuseppe" č un quartiere povero dove si rifugiano immigrati di ogni razza e dove prosperano delinquenza e prostituzione.
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Ferencváros - IX CircoscrizioneIl distretto Ferencváros, "Cittŕ di Francesco", č un quartiere popolare dove abitano molti tedeschi, ed č stato soprannominato per questo "Franz Stadt". Tutti gli appassionati di calcio conoscono questo quartiere per i numerosi club che vi hanno sede. Esso č abitato per lo piů da operai e impiegati pubblici e con gli anni, č diventato famoso per i suoi bar e caffč trendy.
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Kőbánya - X CircoscrizioneQui vi č un'importante zona industriale, un carcere e un cimitero. In quest'area convivono numerose minoranze etniche, zingari, greci, polacchi, armeni, rumeni e vi č un'alta densitŕ di popolazione, conta circa 90 000 abitanti. Questo territorio divenne parte della cittŕ di Pest nel 1705 e annesso a Budapest nel 1873.
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Újbuda - XI CircoscrizioneCircoscrizione di
Kelenvölgy,
Kelenföld,
Lágymányos,
Albertfalva,
Gellérthegy,
Sashegy,
Gazdagrét,
Őrmező.
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Hegyvidék - XII CircoscrizioneIl quartiere si trova dietro la collina del castello, vi risiedono molti ricchi, che preferiscono le ville nel verde, ed anche molti uomini d'affari russi, iugoslavi e occidentali.
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Angyalföld - XIII CircoscrizioneAngyalföld (Campo degli angeli), si trova davanti all'isola Margherita e la "Cittŕ Nuova Leopoldo" (Újlipótváros), venne costruito negli anni Trenta del Novecento per procurare alloggi all'intellighenzia, soprattutto quella ebraica.
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Zugló - XIV CircoscrizioneCircoscrizione di
Alsórákos,
Herminamező,
Istvánmező,
Kiszugló,
Nagyzugló,
Rákosfalva,
Törökőr,
Városliget.
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Rákospalota, Pestújhely, Újpalota - XV CircoscrizioneIl quartiere non presenta interessi turistici. Esso č costituito solamente da case popolari.
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Mátyásföld, Sashalom, Cinkota - XVI CircoscrizioneCome per il precedente, anche questo č costituito solo da case popolari.
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Rákosmente - XVII CircoscrizioneCircoscrizione di
Rákoskeresztúr,
Rákoscsaba,
Rákosliget,
Rákoshegy,
Rákoskert.
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Pestszentlőrinc - XVIII CircoscrizioneQuesto distretto, che si trova alla periferia sud-est della cittŕ, č costituito da un insieme di vecchie fabbriche e quartieri popolari ed č diviso in due parti: "Pestszentlőrinc" e "Pestszentimre". In esso č situato l'aeroporto.
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Kispest - XIX CircoscrizioneIl quartiere, che si trova lontano dal centro, č stato progettato da Kós Károly, importante architetto ungherese dell'Art Nouveau.
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Pesterzsébet - XX CircoscrizioneÉ questo un quartiere molto vasto e costituito da sole case popolari.
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Csepel - XXI CircoscrizioneIl quartiere prende il nome dall'isola di Csepel e si trova nel mezzo del Danubio, tra Buda e Pest. Nel periodo comunista era la zona siderurgica magiara. Restano ora, al posto degli edifici che ospitarono quelle industrie, solamente dei capannoni. L'area si sta ora affermando come zona di villeggiatura soprattutto per gli amanti della pesca e degli sport acquatici.
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Budatétény, Nagytétény, Budafok - XXII CircoscrizioneQuesto č un quartiere periferico della cittŕ. In esso si trova il "Parco Museo delle statue" che ospita le statue e monumenti dell'epoca comunista, che fino alla fine della dittatura si trovavano per le vie della cittŕ.
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Soroksár - XXIII CircoscrizioneIl distretto sorge in un'area molto vasta priva di interesse turistico. In origine esso era un villaggio tedesco.
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Musei
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Museo Nazionale
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Museo di Belle Arti (Szépmüvészeti Múseum)Č considerato tra i musei d'arte piů ricchi del mondo e possiede opere di El Greco, Velázquez, Goya, Leonardo, Raffaello, Dürer, Renoir, Van Gogh, Cézanne e Toulouse-Lautrec. Il museo č attualmente in ristrutturazione.
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Museo d'Arte applicataIl museo illustra la storia del commercio e dell'artigianato ed espone, in un edificio che č uno degli esempi piů significativi del primo Novecento, in puro stile liberty ungherese, una ricchissima collezione di mobili, vasi, arazzi, oggetti d'arte Art Nouveau e secessionista, oltre a manufatti delle culture islamica, indů e persiana.
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Museo della MusicaIn esso viene illustrata la tradizione musicale ungherese con l'esposizione
di strumenti di epoche diverse, tra cui quelli tipici ungheresi, accompagnati
da
dipinti e
disegni d'epoca a soggetto musicale.
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Museo Ferenc LisztEsso ha sede nell'appartamento dove visse, tra il 1879 e il 1886, il grande compositore. Quattro delle stanze che compongono l'appartamento sono arredate con strumenti musicali, mobilia e altri oggetti. Vi č anche una sala, piů piccola, da concerto dove eseguono i loro saggi gli allievi del Conservatorio.
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Parco delle statueIl Parco si trova a 10 chilometri a sud del centro di Budapest e raccoglie statue e monumenti dell'epoca comunista, tra cui statue di Marx, Lenin, Engels tolte dalle piazze e dai luoghi pubblici di Budapest dopo la caduta del regime. Il parco č stato aperto nel 1993.
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Museo ebraicoIl museo, che ha sede nella piů grande sinagoga europea, vuole ricordare la vita quotidiana degli ebrei ungheresi e le persecuzioni durante la Seconda guerra mondiale.
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Museo dell'agricolturaIn questo settore č considerato il piů grande museo d'Europa.
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Museo del vinoIl museo č ospitato in una cantina che si estende su 250 metri quadri nelle cui sale si organizzano corsi sul vino, degustazioni e convegni. La cantina offre piů di mille etichette provenienti da 22 zone vinicole dell'Ungheria.
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Museo della metropolitanaAlla stazione Deák tér, mezzi storici, fotografie, piantine.
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Isola MargheritaČ un'isola grande alcuni chilometri posta in mezzo al Danubio, composta in gran parte da un parco. Č affollatissima nei mesi estivi anche grazie alle numerose piscine presenti.
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Sport
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MetropolitanaLa metropolitana di Budapest č la piů antica dell’Europa continentale. La prima tratta tra Vörösmarty tér - Széchenyi fürdö (oggi linea M1) č stata aperta nel 1896 in concomitanza delle celebrazioni per il millennio dello stato ungherese. Attualmente č costituita da 3 linee: M1 (gialla), M2 (rossa), M3 (verde).
Č in fase di realizzazione la linea M4 (verde) tra la stazioni di Keleti and Kelenföld nella parte sud-occidentale della cittŕ, con interscambio con la linea M3 a Kálvin ter. Č in fase di progettazione la linea M5.
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Stazioni ferroviarieBudapest ha 3 stazioni ferroviarie principali, tutte collegate con la metropolitana.
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Cittŕ gemellate
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Collegamenti esterni |
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Thanks to
http://www.world66.com St. Anna Church Szt István (St. Stephen Basilica) Aquincum Central synagogue Budapest Zoo Tomb of Gül Buba Hungarian National Bank, Banknote and Coin
Exhibition
Bible Museum Ferenc Liszt Museum Statue Park Attila József Memorial Ady Memorial Museum Gizi Bajor Theatre Museum Agriculture Museum Aquincum Angelika Café Mozart Café Miró Zsolnay Kávéház Augustz Cukrászda Café Astoria Ruszwurm Cukrászda Anna Café Bécsi Kávéház Közgáz Pinceklub Bahnhof Süss Fel Nap Sideway Pub Piaf Nevada Pub Memphis Musicpub Crazy Café Opera Music Café Belgian Brasserie Janis' Pub Incognito Portside Universum
_______Bars and Cafes
http://www.paesionline.it/hotel_alberghi_budapest.asp 2.Irish Cat Telephone |
| Thanks to www.travelpuppy.com |
| Budapest Travel Guide Budapest Travel Guide and Budapest Travel Information - TravelPuppy.com Budapest is a city that is going places. Communism is well and truly history – the young are keen to adopt Western European values, while remaining in an obsessive relationship with Hungary’s fascinating past. The traditions and history of the Magyar people are still very important, as is the ubiquitous mobile phone. The key to Budapest lies in its history, marked by alternate periods of great wealth and prosperity and some devastating eras of political and social upheaval. Repeated warfare was inevitable due to the strategic location of Budapest, spreading out on either side of the River Danube (Duna) in the heart of Europe, offering a defensive position and potential control of Central Europe’s main waterway. The Magyars view their history not in black and white but in gold and silver. The first Golden Age coincided with the reign of Renaissance King Matyás (1458-90). The second Golden Age was symbolised by the 1896 Millennium celebration in Városliget (City Park) and the Silver Age was the 20th-century inter-war period, when the likes of Evelyn Waugh and the Prince of Wales frequented Budapest’s spas and casinos. Balanced against the good times, however, there is the Turkish victory over the Hungarians in 1526, the Hapsburg rule that continued to deprive Hungary of its autonomy until 1867, the devastation caused by World War II and Russian control, only lifted in 1989. These significant events have turned the Hungarians into a flexible and resilient race, proud of their national heroes – Count István Széchenyi (1791-1860), responsible for the first bridge across the River Danube, and the poet Sándor Petofi, remembered for his revolutionary Nemzeti dal (National Song), read on the steps of the National Museum on 15 March 1848. The modern Budapest was born during 1873, when Buda, Óbuda and Pest were officially joined. Today, the city is composed of 23 districts (kerületek), each designated on maps, street signs and addresses by Roman numerals. Buda and Pest still remain distinct, however, creating an interesting west bank-east bank contrast. Hilly Buda is situated in the west, with its narrow cobbled streets and mixture of medieval and neo-classical buildings almost totally reconstructed after World War II. Flat Pest lies to the east, with its wide boulevards and Art Deco styles. The city is a mixture of Turkish, Venetian, Empire and Art Nouveau in a mosaic of mismatching styles. Perhaps the Hilton Hotel combines the oddest example, with its 13th-century Gothic church, 17th-century façade and gleaming modern glass and concrete. Budapest has a continental climate, with extreme differences in temperature between the winter and the summer months. Snowfall is frequent during winter and rain is fairly common all year round. Two and a half million people live in this cosmopolitan city, making Budapest the political, intellectual, commercial and cultural capital of Hungary. Hungary joined the EU in May 2004 and the streets of the capital are sure to get more crowded as Westerners discovers the charms of a city that not only boasts beautiful architecture but also offers visitors top attractions. The Hungarian Tourist Board is doing a lot to promote the country abroad, and Budapest is already proving increasingly popular as a business destination… it won’t be long until leisure travellers follow. __________ Budapest Culture Guide Budapest Culture Guide - TravelPuppy.com Budapest has a grand history in music, ranging from the virtuoso pianist Franz Liszt to the operas of Ferenc Erkel. In the early 20th century, Béla Bartók and Zoltán Kodály scoured the country to capture its vanishing folk songs and their work has enriched today’s vibrant Hungarian music scene. Following the shift from state funded to corporate sponsored orchestras the funding is tight. Some of the best singers and players have and are continuing to emigrate to the west. Players who stay are often under practised, frequently having to balance their playing with a second job. However, their spirit and passion for playing more than make up for any deficiencies in their technical skill. Tickets for the majority of concerts are available at the Nemzeti Filharmónia ticket office, V Vörösmarty tér 1 (telephone number: (01) 118 0281). Otherwise, these are available for purchase at the venue, an hour before the show. Tickets for the Hungarian State Opera are available for purchase at the State Opera Ticket Office, VI Andrássy út 20 (telephone number: (01) 332 7914). The Petofi Csarnok, in Városliget, and the Almássy téri Szabadido Központ (Almássy Square Leisure Centre), VII Almássy tér 6, are the two favourite venues for folk music. Tickets for most cultural, popular and sporting events in Budapest can also be ordered online from Ticket Express. Listings in English are provided in Budapest Week and Budapest Sun. The monthly Budapest Style also is very good for cultural listings. Tickets for most cultural and sports events can be booked online at www.tex.hu. Music The comparatively well funded Budapest Festival Orchestra is among the few to reach international standards and regularly features international soloists and conductors. One can usually rely upon the Hungarian State Orchestra for a good performance. Formerly the Orchestra of the Hungarian Post Office, the MATÁV Symphony Orchestra (telephone number: (01) 215 5770) hone company, MATÁV, performing in the recently renovated MATÁV Zeneház, IX Páva utca 10,12, which seats 200 and has excellent acoustics. Zeneakadémia, VI Liszt Ferenc tér (telephone number: (01) 462 4600), is Hungary’s principal music venue and also houses the Ferenc (Franz) Liszt Music Academy – tickets are quite difficult to get, with most events being sold out days in advance. Friday evening chamber concerts, given by Hungary’s best musicians, are performed in Bartók Memorial House, II Csalán utca 29 (telephone number: (01) 394 2100), the former residence of the great composer and now a museum in his honour. The Hungarian State Opera splits its repertoire between the prestigious Opera House, Magyar Állami Operaház, VI Andrássy út 22, and the enormous Social Realist Erkel Színház, VIII Köztársaság tér 30, which tends to be used for less popular productions. The late Hapsburg Fovárosi Operett Színház (Municipal Operetta Theatre), VI Nagymezo utca 17 (telephone number: (01) 269 3870), produces operettas, including the Hungarian favourite, Kálmán’s The Csárdás Princess. Theatre There are over thirty theatres in Budapest, in spite of a shortage of funding and most survive on a diet of Shakespeare, which the Magyars feel sounds better in Hungarian than in English, as well as Hungarian classics. The Hungarian acting style is still very formalised and a bit stiff. Shows commence at around 1900 hrs and box offices are open all day or an hour prior to curtain up. Credit cards are not accepted very often. The new Nemzeti Szinhaz (National Theatre), XI Bajor Gizi Park 1 (telephone number: (01) 476 6800) opened in 2002 in the new cultural centre of Budapest, and its construction gripped the locals, as Budapest had been without a national theatre for decades following the demolition of its ugly predecessor during 1968. The Nemzeti stages mainly domestic and international musicals/dramas. Katona József Szinház, V Petofi Sandor utca 5 (telephone number: (01) 318 6599), is reputed as showing some of the best Hungarian theatre. Dance The lifeless Hungarian National Ballet is best avoided. A better choice is the vibrant Dance Houses (Táncház) for folk music and dance. Instruments include lead violin, kontra and gut strung bass, with the odd hurdy-gurdy thrown in. Kalamajka Dance House (Belvárosi Ifjusági Művelodési Ház), V Molnár utca 9 (telephone number: (01) 317 5928), combines dancing with teaching to the sound of kalamajka bands, with regular guest performances from village bands. The Hungarian State Folk Ensemble (Magyar Állami Népi Együttes), I Corvin tér 8 (telephone number: (01) 201 5017), puts on professional performances of traditional dancing and music. Film While Budapest has over thirty cinemas, only approximately 5 per cent of films shown are Hungarian – a clear advantage for the traveller, especially as foreign films are often subtitled. For listings, visitors should check Budapest Week and Budapest Sun (see above) or attempt to decipher the Hungarian and rather highbrow Pesti Műsor. Pesti Est, found in cinema foyers and associated with the FM radio station, EST, is more comprehensive, especially for English language films, as is Open. There are many big mainstream cinemas and a wide range of arthouse cinemas. The Atrium, II Margit körút 55 (telephone number: (01) 212 5398), shows mainstream Hollywood films, while Muvész, VI Teréz körút 30 (telephone number: (01) 332 6726), specialises in arthouse and classic movies. The major annual multicultural event is the Film Festival (Magyar Filmszemle) during February. Because of shortages of financing, joint productions are flourishing, such as the Hungarian-French Simon Magus (1999), which caused a sensation at the 1999 Hungarian Film Festival. Films shot in Budapest include a short sequence in The Music Box (1989), for which Jessica Lange won the Oscar for best actress, the funeral scene in Evita (1996), directed by Alan Parker and starring Madonna and, more recently, Underworld (2003), a vampire meets werewolf movie starring Kate Beckinsale. Literary Notes Shakespeare used the word ‘hungarian’ in The Merry Wives of Windsor (circa 1600), as an adjective connoting beggarliness and thievishness. Perceptions of Hungary and Budapest have changed through the centuries but fascination has been an enduring factor. As early as 1840, English visitor Julia Pardoe wrote: ‘There is such a constant variety and movement in streets, such a blending of the Oriental with the European and such a holiday look about the whole population that it is impossible to feel ennui in the chief city of the Magyars.’ Dictator Admiral Miklós Horthy described 1920s Budapest simply as a ‘sinful city’. British perceptions of modern Budapest are well described in Marion Merrick’s Now You See It, Now You Don’t (1998), while Michael Jacob’s Budapest: A Cultural Guide (1998) offers a well-researched analysis of the city’s cultural history. _____________Budapest Festival - Events Budapest Festivals and Events Guide - TravelPuppy.com The following is a selection of festival - events occurring in Budapest in 2005: New Year’s Day Concert Popular Hungarian classics, 1st January, Vigado concert hall. The Farsang Season Masked balls, 2nd January-4th March, throughout the city. Budapest Film Festival Long weekend in early February, throughout the city Carnival Sunday Masked procession, last Sunday before Lent February/March, throughout the city Spring Uprising Commemorating the 1848 Revolution, including street theatre, 15th March, in front of the Hungarian National Theatre Budapest Spring Festival Arts festival with opera, concerts and plays, mid-March to mid-April, various venues. Earth Day Green issues, 22nd April, throughout the city May Day Craft markets, street theatre, sausage and beer tents have replaced communist practices, 1st May, throughout the city Book Week New books are displayed along the streets of central Pest between the Danube and Nagykörút, first weekend June, Pest World Music Day Nation-wide music festival, with rock, folk and jazz, mid-June, free open-air venues around Budapest Budapesti Búcsú Celebration of the 1991 withdrawal of Soviet troops, with music, dance and theatre, last weekend June, various parks and public spaces MATAV-WOFUME 3-day world music festival, June, Budai Parkszinpad Open-Air Summer Festival Music, dance and theatre, June-August, Margaret Island, Hilton Hotel and the Buda Park Stage Anna Ball 200-year-old event of the Lake Balaton summer season with chamber music concert, fireworks, July, Balatonfüred St Stephen’s Day Celebration of Szent István, founder of Hungary, with fireworks, 20th August, Gellért Hill Hungaroring, Grand Prix Second Sunday in August, Mogyorod, near Budapest Student Island Festival (Diáksziget) One of Europe’s biggest week-long cultural events (rock, folk and jazz), third week August, Óbuda Island BudaFest Opera and ballet festival, early-mid August, Opera House Festival of Crafts Mid-August, Buda Castle Jewish Summer Festival Late August or early September, throughout the city Budapest International Wine Festival Exhibition and fair, second week of September, Buda Castle Architectural Heritage Days Open house weekend for important architectural buildings, September, throughout city Budapest International Fair (BNV) September, Budapest Fair Centre (Budapesti Vásárközpont) Budapest Contemporary Music Weeks Opening of concert season on the anniversary of Bartók’s death, late September-end of October, various venues Budapest Autumn Festival Contemporary Arts festival, late September-mid-October, many venues Budapest Marathon October, throughout the city Remembrance Day National day of mourning of the Soviet crushing of the Hungarian rebellion, 23rd October, Kossuth tér Vox pacis, festival of choral music November, various venues Mikulŕs Giving of presents, 6th December, throughout the city Szilveszter (New Year) 31st December, throughout the city New Year’s Eve Masked Ball 31st December, Opera House Silver and Gold Sunday Serious day of Christmas shopping, last Sunday before Christmas, throughout the city ___________Budapest Getting Around Getting Around Budapest - TravelPuppy.com Public Transport Budapest’s cheap and effective transport system is run by Budapest Kozlekedési Vállalat – BKV (telephone number: (01) 317 5518 or 269 6869). The network includes the metro, trams, buses, trolley buses and trains. In summer, there are also BKV Danube ferries. There is also a limited night bus service, all of which are marked with ‘É’. There are 3 metro lines (M1 yellow, M2 red, and M3 blue) that intersect at Deák tér. The M1, built for the 1896 exhibition, is the oldest line. The other lines have Russian trains. The BKV Cog-wheel Railway (Fogaskerekű vasút) operates from Városmajor utca to Széchenyi Hill daily. Tickets Tickets are available for purchase at the metro stations, some tram stops and also newspaper stands. Tickets are valid for 1 trip on one mode of transport and must be validated on the bus or tram, or when changing lines on the metro. Single tickets, ticket booklets and a day pass (napijegy) are available. 3-day and weekly tourist passes require a photograph and travelling without a ticket attracts a fine. Trains The service on Hungarian State Railways (MÁV), VI Andrássy út 35 (telephone number: (01) 322 8405), is far from luxurious but trains are generally clean and punctual. Not all express trains have dining or buffet cars and overcharging, especially for drinks, occurs frequently – it is better for visitors to bring their own food and drink for the long journeys. Tickets for international journeys should be purchased in advance. Reservations on all international trains can be made with MÁV (telephone number: (01) 333 6342) and seat reservations are strongly advised for all the services. Tickets are also available for purchase from the MÁV booking office, V Andrássy út 35 (telephone number: (01) 322 0856). There are separate telephone numbers for international rail enquiries (telephone number: (01) 461 5500) and national rail enquiries (telephone number: (01) 461 5400). MÁV directs the 3 large international railway stations in the city– Keleti pályaudvar (eastern station), VIII Baross tér, Nyugati pályaudvar (western station), VI Nyugati tér, and Déli pályaudvar (southern station), I Krisztina körút. These stations have exchange facilities and tourist information services and Keleti and Nyugati have 24-hour left-luggage facilities. Rail services: Direct rail links connect Hungary to 16 European cities, with 51 international scheduled trains arriving at Budapest. Keleti is the principal terminus for international rail services from Western Europe, including Berlin, journey time of approx 12 hours and Paris, journey time of approx 15.5 hours. Nyugati is the main terminus for trains heading east to Romania and Slovakia, for destinations such as Bucharest with a journey time of 14 hours 15 minutes to 18 hours, and Bratislava, journey time approx 3 hours. There are also rail links to southern Hungary, Croatia and Slovenia, to destinations such as Zagreb with a journey time of 5 hours 30 minutes and Ljubljana journey time of 6 hours 15 minutes. The Gyermekvasút or Children’s Railway (telephone number: (01) 397 5392) was formerly run by the Communist youth organisation and is still largely run by children of 10 to 14 years old, although it is overseen by MAV). The train runs from the Hűvösvölgy district to Széchenyi Hill. A BKV chair-lift (libego) runs daily, September to May from the Zugliget district to János Hill the highest point of Budapest. The 100m (328ft) funicular (sikló) runs up from Clark Ádám tér to the Castle District. HÉV trains are Budapest’s commuter suburban train lines. The 2 northern lines connect with the metro at Batthyány tér, while the 4 eastern and southern lines can only be reached by tram. The line to Szentendre at Batthyány tér is the best of the 6 lines and is probably the only line visitors will use. Taxis Taxis without a yellow number plate, (this is required by law), as well as a reputable logo on the side doors and a table of fares posted on the dashboard should be avoided. Visitors should ask the driver for a taxi card, for a better fare on the following journey. Recognised companies include Rádió Taxi (telephone number: (01) 377 7777), one of the cheapest and most reliable firms, offering significant discounts if taxis are ordered by telephone, Fo Taxi (telephone number: (01) 222 2222), recognised by their red and white checkered doors, and the English-speaking City Taxi (telephone number: (01) 211 1111) which also have a reputation for being trustworthy. Driving in the City Central streets are frequently jammed due to roadworks, the cobblestones make for a jolting journey and the tram lines and unusual Hungarian driving techniques can make navigating the city quite a hair-raising experience. There are numerous traffic restrictions within Budapest. Only taxis and cars with a special permit are allowed into the Castle District, the Várbusz (Castle Bus) service runs from Moszkva tér to Szent Gyorgy tér. Margaret Island can only be accessed from Árpád híd, as far as the car park outside the hotels, bus 26 crosses the island. Traffic is also limited in some parts of Óbuda Island, the Népliget, the Inner City, Városliget and the Római area. Ingenuity is required if one is to find parking spaces in the city. Vehicles are not permitted to park for longer than 3 hours in central parking lots and clamping and towing away are enforced, with a large charge for release. Parking meters often display the phone number for wheel clamping release and cars that are towed away can also be traced by telephone (telephone number: (01) 307 5208). There are 4 large car parks, which are located on V. Aranykéz utca 406, V Szervita tér 8, VII Nyár utca 20 and VIII Kálvin tér. The hourly rate is more expensive in the secure car parks. Cars should be locked and alarmed and valuables or radios should not be left on display. Car Hire Visitors to Budapest are advised to arrange car hire prior to their arrival, in order to save money and avoid the inevitable problem of the language barrier. It is also wise for hirers to ensure that the price quoted is inclusive of Áfa (VAT). The majority of hire cars in Budapest have manual transmission. A valid national driver’s licence is required and a credit card is usually requested for the deposit. The minimum age for car hire is 21 years, although some hire companies require drivers to be over 25 and extra charges are made for additional drivers. Third-party liability insurance is compulsory in Hungary, in some cases the hire price will include this. Car hire is available at Ferihegy airport or at Volán, Express and Budapest tourist offices, as well as at large hotels. Major companies include: Avis, V Szervita tér 8 (telephone number: (01) 318 4240), Budget, I Krisztina körút 41-43 (telephone number: (01) 214 0420) Sixt, I Vaci ut 45/b (tel: (01) 451 4220). Bicycle Hire Although there are some bicycle lanes, Budapest is not very cycle friendly, although a major initiative to build more cycle lanes in currently underway. Cyclists should obtain the ‘Budapest on Bike Map’ (Kerékpárral Budapesten) showing bike lanes and trails throughout the city. Bringóhintó, Hajós Alfréd sétány 1 (telephone number: (01) 329 2746), on Margaret Island, hires bicycles and tandems during the summer. A deposit and a passport or ID cards are required. Bikes are also available for hire from Charles Apartment House, I Hegyalja út 23 (telephone number. (01) 201 1796 or (01) 202 3414) _______________Budapest International Airport Budapest International Airport - TravelPuppy.com Address Budapest Ferihegy Airport, H 1675, Budapest Pf 53, Hungary Location The airport is located 24km (15 miles) southeast of Budapest Country code 36 Airport code AAN Telephone (0)1 296 9696 or (0)1 296 7000 Fax (0)1 296 6000 Email info@bud.hu Ferihegy airport is located 24km (15 miles) southeast of Budapest. There are 2 terminals, approximately 4km (2.5 miles) apart. Terminal 1, which is for cargo freight planes, will be closed from the autumn until summer 2005. Terminal 2A is for the national airline Malév and partner airlines, such as Lufthansa, Delta and Alitalia, while terminal 2B is used by all other airlines. In 2003, 5 million passengers used Ferihegy airport, which provides excellent links with Western and Eastern Europe. Number of Terminals 3 Transfer between Terminals There is a covered walkway between the terminals. Major airlines National airline Malév and partner airlines, including Lufthansa, Delta and Alitalia. Approximate Flight times to Budapest: From London 2 hours 20 minutes From New York 9 hours 45 minutes From Los Angeles 19 hours 15 minutes From Toronto 9 hours 40 minutes From Sydney 26 hours 30 minutes (plus stopovers) Arrival/departure tax This is included in the airline ticket. Time Zone GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October) Airport facilities Money and communications Banking facilities and a bureau de change are available with the terminal. Eating and drinking The airport has several cafés, snack bars, restaurants and bars. Shopping There are shops, including a duty-free. Luggage A lost property service is available (telephone number: (0)1 296 5665). Left-luggage is located in the Arrivals area of Terminal 2B, open daily 24 hours (telephone number: (0)1 296 8802). Other facilities There is a chapel located in Terminal 2B. Disabled Facilities There are 5 disabled toilets within the transit areas and 4 in other areas. Services are available to help passengers who need assistance boarding or disembarking aircraft and also to help passengers with impaired vision. An ambulance service is also available on request. Passengers should contact their airline in advance for assistance and wheelchairs are available at the airport help desks, on request. Business facilities Business class passengers in Terminal 2B have access to the Cirrus Lounge (telephone number: (0)1 296 5933), which is located on the transit area on the first floor. Facilities include photocopiers, fax, computers, credit card telephones and free Internet access. In both terminals, there are business centres and VIP lounges with hostess services in the various languages, telephone, fax, computers with Internet access, photocopying and an interpreter service. There are 2 meeting rooms in Terminal 2B, one can accommodate 6 people, the other between 30-40 people. Information and help desks Help desks are located on all levels in Terminals 2A and 2B. The tourist information desks are located immediately after customs in both of the terminals. Driving Directions The airport is located on route E60 and is clearly signposted from Budapest and a ring road is planned for the near future for easier access from other cities. Car Parking There are short-term car parks located at both terminals and there is also a long-term car park with security surveillance. Car Hire Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, National Alamo and Sixt all have desks located immediately after customs on the Arrivals levels in both Terminal 2A and Terminal 2B. Transport to the city Bus There is an Airport Minibus (telephone number: (0)1 296 8555) service to any address in Budapest, the Airport Minibus desk in the Arrivals hall sells tickets and takes reservations. A pre-pay local express bus no.93 runs between the underground metro terminus, Köbánya-Kispest, and the airport terminals, passengers may wish to alight at Deák tér where the 3 underground lines converge. Taxis Taxis are available from the airport at the taxi stand, but the fares can be unregulated and passengers should make sure that the taxi meter is on or, if there is no meter, negotiate a fare before leaving the airport. Airport Hotels There are no hotels at the airport. The nearest hotel is the Ibis Aero (telephone number: (0)1 347 9715, website: www.ibis-aero.hu), located about 12km (8 miles) from the airport and close to central Budapest. Guests can take the shuttle bus from the Passenger Service Desk at the airport and buy tickets on the bus or take a taxi and Underground metro trains connect to the city centre. _____________Budapest Nightlife Budapest Nightlife - TravelPuppy.com New discos and clubs are sprouting up all over Budapest constantly and there is no district especially renowned for its nightlife. The bars offer something for everybody, from sleazy sex bars to calm cafés, and there is plenty of time to visit all and experiment. Many bars are open until dawn, although most will close at around 0400 hrs. Borozos are cheap wine cellars, where it is rare to see any women, especially unaccompanied. Sorozos are beer houses which will also serve good and moderately priced food. Clubs charge Ft500-1000 entry and may not allow entry to people in shorts or tracksuits. The minimum drinking age is 18 years and alcohol is inexpensive, with a beer costing Ft200-300 more for imported bottled beers and sprits Ft500. Under no circumstances should one clink beer glasses, this was adopted by the Austrians, when Hungarian generals were executed after the failed Revolution of 1848-49. Probably the best source of nightlife listings in Budapest is the free weekly publication, Open and is published on Thursday. Pesti Est is also very complete and is available free from the cinema foyers. Pesti Müsor is a paid for publication and is also very comprehensive. However, these are in Hungarian and English-speaking revellers may prefer to pick up a copy of Budapest Week or Budapest Sun. Where Budapest is a monthly guide in English, available free at most hotels. The bi-monthly Budapest in Your Pocket is free on Malév airplanes or can be purchased in newsagents locally. Bars: The Crazy Café, VI Jókai utca 30, stocks over 20 draught and 100 bottled beers and is very popular with the young set. Café Mediterran, VI Liszt Ferenc tér, is open until 0200 hrs and has a friendly atmosphere and attractive terrace that is packed during summer. Night and Day, VI Andrássy út 46, draws an slightly older crowd 24 hours a day, as its name suggests. For those yearning to hear their native language spoken, the Irish Cat, V Múzeum körút, provides relief. It is open daily until 0200 hrs and is often very busy, there is Latin music on Monday and blues on Tuesday. Beckett’s, V Bajcsy-Zsilinszky út, is one of the few bars which will accept major credit cards. This huge Irish pub with excellent food draws the Anglophone business community. Portside, VII Dohány utca 7, is popular with a young crowd, at the weekend, with an excellent menu, pool tables and dancing, while Negro, II Szent Istvar ter, is the ideal place for cocktails. Casinos Budapest has over a dozen casinos, mostly located in the luxury hotels along the Dunakorzó. Anything but formal dress precludes entry, except at the Las Vegas Casino, Hyatt Regency Hotel, V Roosevelt tér 2. Other casinos include Casino Budapest Hilton, I Hess András tér 1-3, Casino Budapest Gresham, Gresham Palace, V Roosevelt tér 5, and the grand Várkert Casino, 1 Ybl Miklós tér 9, designed by Miklós Ybl (architect of the State Opera House). In all casinos, photo ID must be presented for registration on the first visit and the minimum age is 18 and Credit cards are now generally accepted. Clubs Most clubs in Budapest are open until at least 0300 hrs and many until 0600 hrs. The admission fee varies from about Ft300 to over Ft1000 and most do not accept credit cards and English is not spoken in some clubs. Budapest bouncers often belong to organised crime, so it is best to smile sweetly and pay the entrance fee requested. Franklin Trocadero Café, V Szent István körút 15, plays good Latin music, while retro is provided in the cellar-club Nincs Pardon, VIII Almássy tér 2. Fat Mo's, V Nyáry Pál út. 11, is always busy and the dancefloor is usually filled. Piaf, VI Nagymezo utca 25 has a piano bar upstairs and a lively bar with a dancefloor located in the basement. Despite its inconvenient location in Obuda, the Supersonic Technicum, III Pacsirtamezô utca 41, a former factory cellar, is very much the centre of Budapest’s underground dance scene, with 3 dancefloor's with ducts, pistons and fountains and 2 bars, the music ranges from Goan trance, drum ‘n’ bass, reggae to techno. Kashmir Underground, IX Ülloi út 151, near the Ferenc Körút metro, is a new hip club with excellent food. The Old Man’s Music Pub, VII Akácfa utca 13, although crowded, is one of the city’s most fun night-time hotspots, with live music from 2100hrs to 2300hrs. Angyal Bar, VII Szövetség ut 33, is the gay club in Budapest, specialising in good old-fashioned high-NRG dance remixes of all your favourite hits from the Pet Shop Boys, Cher and Ricky Martin. Live Music Mexican music is played on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings at Latin Kocsma, V Havas utca 2. Mellow jazz is featured at Club Seven, VII Afácfa utca 7, a classy café, bar and music club, and at Incognito, VI Liszt Ferenc tér 3. Dance houses (táncház) feature Magyar folk music from isolated areas such as the Transylvanian region of Romania. Gyökér Restaurant, VI corner of Eötvös utca and Szobl utca, is popular and also serves good food. Kalamajka DH (Belvárosi Ifjusági Muvelodesi Haz), V Molnár utca 9, was started by Béla Habmos (the founder of the dance house movement in the 1970s) and is open Saturday 2000-0100 hrs. The Petofi Csarnok, in Városliget, and the Almássy téri Szabadido Központ (Almássy Square Leisure Centre), VII Almássy tér 6, are the two favourite venues for small pop concerts and local folk music. International stars perform at Népstadion, the main sport stadium, XIV Istvánmezei út 1-3. Tickets for rock and jazz can be purchased at TEX ticket express, I Déli pályaudvar, VI Andrassy út 18 and other locations, and at Publika, VII Károly körút. VII. Szövetség u. 33. ________ Budapest Shopping Budapest Shopping Guide - TravelPuppy.com Pest’s chic Váci utca and its surrounding avenues tempt the tourists with familiar high-street and designer names but bargain buys are to be found at Nagy Vásárcsarnok (the Great Market Hall), IX Fovám tér (website: www.piaconline.hu), an imposing three-storey structure that first opened in 1897 and now draws 30,000 shoppers daily. The Great Market Hall is open Monday-Friday 0700-1700 hrs and Saturday 0600-1400 hrs (closed on Sundays). Perhaps the best place for shoppers to haggle for folk costumes and communist relics is Ecseri Piac market, X Nagykorösi út 156, open Monday to Saturday 0700-1400 hrs. Budapest’s antiques consist of Hapsburg-style furniture but are cheaper than in Vienna. The traditional antiques quarter lies around Falk Miksa utca. Antique shops can also be found in the Castle District and on the Váci utca. Hungarian music is another good buy. Classical record label Hungaroton offer CDs of the great Hungarian musicians for at least half the price. Standard shop opening hours are Monday to Friday 1000-1800 hrs and Saturday 1000-1300 hrs. Department stores usually open from 1000 hrs, while grocers, bakeries and supermarkets are open 0700-2000 hrs. Many shops open until 2000 or 2100 hrs on Thursdays. Shops are closed on Sundays, except in shopping malls. Each district has at least one 24-hour store. Many small shops close for summer in late July and August and almost everything shuts on public holidays. Sales tax (ÁFA) of 25 per cent (12 per cent for food, some medical supplies, books and newspapers and hotel rooms) is included in the price and can be reclaimed by visitors purchasing goods worth Ft50,000 or more. A receipt and VAT-refund application form must be presented to customs on leaving the country. __________Budapest Sightseeing Budapest Sightseeing Guide - TravelPuppy.com Sightseeing Overview The Széchenyi Lánchíd (Chain Bridge) is the central point of Budapest. From here, hilly Buda is to the west and the plains of commercial Pest are to the east. A steep climb in the Sikló, the 19th-century funicular, leads to Buda’s Várhegy (Castle Hill), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where many attractions are clustered. Szentháromság tér (Trinity Square) is at the heart of the district and usually thronging with visitors. Closeby is the mosaic-roofed Mátyás templom (Matthias Church), fronted by King Stephen’s statue and the fairytale Halászbástya (Fishermen’s Bastion), with the best views of Pest, particularly of the Országház (Houses of Parliament). A mass of museums are housed within Budavári Palota (Buda Castle Palace), first built by Béla III, following the Mongol invasion in the 13th century, and reconstructed over the centuries. South of the Chain Bridge lies Gellért-hegy (Gellért Hill), named after Bishop Gellért, who was rolled off the hillside in a barrel for converting the Magyars to Christianity (according to legend). At the summit are the Liberation Monument and Citadella, a Hapsburg fortress built to subdue the Magyars after the 1848-9 revolution. Nearby are some of Budapest’s oldest spas, the Rudas and Rác baths and enjoyed during the Turkish occupation (1526-1699), as well as the Hotel Gellért, which was built in 1913. From here, Szabadság híd leads to Pest, which extends out from the Belváros (inner city). The busiest parts are the shop-lined Váci utca and the square, Vörösmarty tér, marked by a statue of the poet, Mihály Vörösmarty (1800-1855), and the location of the Gerbeaud pâtisserie. The most grandiose monument in Pest, Hosök tere (Heroes’ Square), is reached via Andrássy út, home to the Opera House. The Szépművészeti Múzeum (Museum of Fine Arts) and Műcsarnok (Palace of Art) border the monument and Városliget (City Park) is just behind it. Warm vapours rising from underground hot springs swirl up into the square, which is much favoured by many teenage skateboarders. Closer to the River Danube lies the Dohány Synagogue, the second largest in Europe, as well as the small Jewish quarter (district VII). In the south is the Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum (Hungarian National Museum). The reconstructed remains of the capital of the Roman province of Pannonia lie in northern Budapest’s Óbuda district. Tourist Information Budapest Tourism Office H-1364 Budapest Pf 215 Telephone number: (01) 266 0479. Fax number: (01) 266 7477. E-mail: info@budapestinfo.hu Website: www.budapestinfo.hu IBUSZ tourist office, V. Ferenciek tér 10, and Budapest Tourist, Roosevelt tér 5 (near the Chain Bridge) and VIII Baross tér 3 (close to the Keleti station), also provide tourist information. The main information office of the Budapest Tourism Office is located in Liszt Ferenc tér 9-11 (telephone number: (01) 322 4098). Other offices can be found in the main hall of Nyugati station (telephone number: (01) 302 8580), at Budaörs in the AGIP Complex, VII Király utca, and the Castle District, I Tarnok utca 9-11. Passes The Budapest Card is very simple to use and good value. The card provides free travel on public transport, entrance to over 60 museums and attractions including the Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest Zoo and the Museum of Fine Art, half-price city sightseeing programmes, reductions on cultural and folklore programmes and discounts at spas, shops, restaurants, airport minibus and car hire services, sports facilities and flights. Full details are provided in the information guide that is provided with the card. The Budapest Card costs Ft4,350 for 2 days and Ft5,450 for 3 days and is valid for 1 adult and 1 child under 14 years. Cards are available from tourist information offices, hotels and at main underground ticket booths. Budapest Tourism Office provides online details of the discounts available at each location and more information on the Budapest Card is available (telephone number: (01) 266 0479). Key Attractions Széchenyi Lánchíd (Chain Bridge) Eight bridges link Buda to Pest but the Chain Bridge is the first and most famous, with its solid arches and lion statues. Count István Széchenyi commissioned the Englishman responsible for London’s Hammersmith Bridge, William Tierney Clark, to design a bridge, after his father's funeral was delayed by a week while his son attempted to cross the Danube in particularly poor weather. Completed in 1848, the bridge was inaugurated during 1849, allowing for the integration of Buda, Pest and Óbuda in 1872. The Nazis having done considerable damage, the bridge was repaired and re-inaugurated on 21 November 1949. Adam Clark is honoured in a small square at the foot of the bridge. The kilometre zero, the point from which all distances from Budapest are measured, is here. 1 Clark Ádám tér Opening hours: Daily 24 hours. Admission: Free. Budavári Palota (Buda Royal Palace) First inhabited by King Béla IV, after the 1241 Mongol invasion, the Royal Palace had its heyday during King Mátyás’s reign (1458-90). During the late 18th century, Empress Maria Theresa rebuilt and enlarged the palace. The Royal Palace has risen Phoenix-like from the ashes of many wars, the Turkish siege (1541) and invasion (1686), the 1848-49 War of Independence and the latter stages of World War II. The result is a hotchpotch of styles from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, ranging from Baroque to modern. Within the palace’s partially reconstructed walls, lies a vast museum complex, which includes 3 museums, Budapesti Történeti Múzeum, Budapest History Museum, Ludwig Múzeum, Ludwig Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Magyar Nemzeti Galéria, the Hungarian National Gallery, and the National Széchenyi Library. The Budapest History Museum, in the southern part of the palace, traces the city’s history from Buda’s liberation from the Turks in 1686, to the 1970s. The Ludwig Múzeum, in the palace’s northern wing, is named after its patron, Peter Ludwig, whose donations include Picasso, Warhol and Lichenstein. Eastern European paintings and sculpture provide a fascinating critique of crumbling communism. The Hungarian National Gallery is situated at the core of the palace. The encyclopaedic collection of Hungarian art from the 10th century to the present day portrays battles, romantic rural scenes and religious medieval altar paintings, providing a valuable insight into the Hungarian national identity. Visitors to the palace can book a tour, with an English-speaking guide, in advance. I Budavári Palota, Dísz tér 17 Cars forbidden. Budapesti Történeti Múzeum (Budapest History Museum) I Budavári Palota (Wing E), Szent György tér 2 Telephone number: (01) 225 7809. Website: www.btm.hu Opening hours: Wednesday-Monday 1000-1600 hrs (November-February), Wednesday-Monday 1000-1800 hrs (March-October). Admission charge. Ludwig Múzeum I Budavári Palota (Wing A), Szent György tér 2 Telephone number: (01) 375 7533/9175. Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday 1000-1800 hrs. Admission charge. Magyar Nemzeti Galéria (Hungarian National Gallery) I Budavári Palota (Wings B, C, D), Dísz tér 17 Telephone number: (01) 375 7533 or 224 3700. Website: www.mng.hu Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday 1000-1800 hrs (April-October), Tuesday-Sunday 1000-1600 hrs (November-February). Admission charge. National Széchenyi Library I Budavári Palota (Wing F), Dísz tér or Palota útca Telephone number: (01) 224 3700. Website: www.oszk.hu Opening hours: Monday 1300-2100 hrs, Tuesday-Friday 0900-2100 hrs, Saturday 0900-1700 hrs (October-June), Monday 1300-2100 hrs, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday 0900-1700 hrs, Thursday and Friday 0900-2100 hrs (July and September) closed during August. Admission: Free. Mátyás Templom (Matthias Church) The Zsolnay pyrogranite tiles of Matthias Church are as colourful and richly patterned as snakeskin. Inside is a melange of styles from the 13th to the 19th centuries. It is thought that a church was first built in this location in 1015, by King István. The Renaissance King Mátyás Corvinus was crowned here in 1458, aged 14, and married twice within its walls. When the Turks occupied the Castle District in 1541, the church was turned into a mosque and the walls painted with extracts from the Koran. The building suffered in the 1686 siege of Buda and was restored in the 19th century by Frigyes Schulek, who uncovered remains of medieval wall paintings, vaulting and statuary, adding a few of his own gargoyles for good luck. In the 20th century, the church was used as a kitchen by occupying German forces, and later as stables by the Russians. Behind the altar is the entrance to the Church Museum, which gives access to the underground crypts, chapel, jewels and the skull of the wife of King Mátyás’s brother. High Mass takes place on Sunday at 1000 hrs. There are frequent summer concerts on Friday at 2000 hrs. I Szentháromság tér 2 Telephone number: (01) 355 5657. Website: www.matyas-templom.hu Opening hours: Daily 0700-2000 hrs (church), daily 0930-1730 hrs (treasury). Admission charge. Fishermen's Bastion Behind the sanctuary of the Matthias Church, the Fishermen's Bastion offers a splendid view of the river Danube and Pest. At the end of the 19th century, Frigyes Schulek designed a graceful system of stairs running from the Danube to the hilltop, and the current structure, which has been embellished with turrets, scrolls, arcades, curved stairs and statues, was intended to be the end point. The lookout terrace was completed in 1901, and the equestrian statue of King St Stephen was installed in 1906. Schulek imagined the bastion section defended by the fishermen’s guild, hence the name. Somewhat his vision was of a more austere, defensible and less decorated piece of architecture, but his original plans were later altered to the delight of today's visitors. I Szentháromság tér Transport: Funicular from Clark Ádám tér up Castle Hill, bus 6. Opening hours: Daily 24 hours. Free admission. Hotel Gellért and Thermal Baths Prudes are not advised to try out the Gellért Baths (valued since the Turkish occupation for their medicinal qualities) or any other thermal spas in the city, for that matter. Upon entrance, a strip of cloth is given to the men and a tiny apron to women. Massages last 15 or 40 minutes and a vigorous experience not to be embarked upon by the faint-hearted. Bathing suits are donned before entering the main mixed swimming pool – an Art Nouveau beauty surrounded by columns. There are separate thermal pools of varying temperatures, steam rooms and sauna with one side for men and the other for women. XI Szent Gellért tér 2-6 Telephone number: (01) 385 2200. Website: www.danubiusgroup.com Opening hours: Monday-Friday 0600-1900 hrs, Saturday and Sunday 0600-1600 hrs. Admission charge. Budapest Baths Budapest is well known for its baths, and indeed any visit to the Hungarian capital should include one session in one of the city’s many fine establishments. Apart from the Gellert Thermal Baths (see above), check out the following The neo-Baroque Széchenyi Baths in Városliget, Állatkerti körút 11 (telephone number: (01) 321 0310), one of the largest spa complexes in Europe, where you will find indoor steam rooms and thermal baths and outdoor pools where bathers play chess. The Kiraly Baths, II Fo utca 84 (telephone number: (01) 201 4392), housed in one of the city’s most important Ottoman monuments, where small baths of varying temperatures surround a large main pool – the traditional Turkish bath layout. The Rudas, I Dobrentei ter 9 (telephone number: (01) 356 1322), with its beautiful dome, arguably the finest of Budapest’s baths (the Rudas is currently closed for refurbishment and is scheduled to reopen in January or February 2005). Rac Gyogyfurdo, Hadnagy utca, 8-10 (telephone number: (01) 356 1010), another Turkish bath with an octagonal pool and a very beautiful Ottoman dome which has just undergone a massive refurbishment project. For more info visit www.spasbudapest.com Országház (Parliament) Imre Steindl’s design for Budapest’s Parliament, inspired by London’s Houses of Parliament, won first prize in a competition to celebrate the 1000th year of the Hungarian nation. Work commenced in 1885 and was finally completed during 1902. The parliament building opens onto Kossuth Lajos tér, named after the revolutionary leader of 1848. The edifice, with its elegant neo-Renaissance dome, topped by a pointy neo-Gothic spire, stretches for over 250m (820ft) along the River Danube. It was here that the crowds assembled on 23 October 1989, when Mátyás Szurös declared the Hungarian People’s Republic from the balcony on Kossuth Lajos tér. The red star, perched on the dome during the Communist era, was abandoned in 1990. Guided tours, which depart from gate 10, allow entrance to a wealth of marble and gold, columns and statues within and although the wait may be long, visitors should be patient, for it is worth it, if only to see the numbered cigar holders outside the upper house, where members left their Havanas burning during debates. V Kossuth Lajos tér 1-3 Telephonhe number: (01) 441 4904. Opening hours: Monday-Friday 1000 hrs and 1400 hrs, Saturday and Sunday 1000 hrs, subject to parliamentary sessions (guided tours only). Admission charge. Szent István Bazilika (St Stephen’s Basilica) St Stephen’s Basilica is the largest church in the city, designed by József Hild, was built in 1845, although not consecrated until 1905. A storm destroyed the original dome in 1868. The building was rebuilt from scratch in neo-Renaissance style but suffered damage during World War II. The building seats 8500 and is currently undergoing restoration, begun in 1980 and set to continue for the foreseeable future. Inside, Gyula Benczúr’s painting of Szent István offering the Hungarian crown to the Virgin Mary, symbolises the alliance between Hungary and Western Europe. The church’s undisputed highlight is a glimpse of Szent István’s mummified hand, which lights up when Ft100 is slipped into a slot. The basilica’s tower offers excellent views of the city. Organ concerts are given on Mondays at 1900 hrs from July to October. V Szent István tér 1 Telephone number: (01) 317 2859. Opening hours: Monday-Saturday 0700-1900 hrs, Sunday 1300-1900 hrs. Opening times for Stzent Jobb Chapel and for the cupola vary, phone ahead. Tower: daily 1000-1800 hrs. Admission: Free. Charge for the tower. Városliget (City Park) Városliget, Budapest’s largest park, was designed by the French landscape-designer, Nebbion, and is where locals go for leisurely strolls. Attractions include the botanical gardens, artificial lake (used for ice skating during the winter) and Vajdahunyad Vára – a castle that displays Hungary’s varied architectural styles right up to the 19th century, with the Magyar Mezogazdasági Múzeum (Museum of Hungarian Agriculture) housed in the Baroque-style section. A statue of George Washington stands in the park, erected by grateful Hungarians who had been allowed to settle in America. The park also houses the City Zoo and the large and ornate Széchenyi Fürdo (Széchenyi Baths), which are famed as much for their giant floating chess boards as for the medicinal power of their waters, and are one of the oldest, largest spa complexes in Europe. VI Dózsa György útca Opening hours: Daily 24 hours. Admission: Free. Széchenyi Baths (see 'Budapest baths' above) Magyar Mezogazdasági Múzeum (Museum of Hungarian Agriculture) Vajdahunyad Castle, Városliget, Széchenyi Island Telephone number: (01) 363 1117. Website: www.mezogazdasagimuzeum.hu Opening hours: Tuesday-Friday 1000-1600 hrs, Saturday and Sunday 1000-1700 hrs (mid-November-mid-February), Tuesday-Friday 1000-1700 hrs, Saturday 1000-1800 hrs, Sunday 1000-1700 hrs (February-November) Admission charge. Budapest Zoo XIV Állatkerti körút 6-12 Telephone number: (01) 363 3710. Website: www.zoobudapest.com Opening hours: Monday-Thursday 0900-1800 hrs, Friday-Sunday 0900-1900 hrs (May-August), daily 0900-1700 hrs (September, October, March, April), daily 0900-1600 hrs (November, December, January, February.) Admission charge. Dohány Zsinagóga (Central Synagogue) Europe’s largest synagogue was designed by Lajos Föster, in a Byzantine-Moorish style and completed during 1859. Liszt and Saint-Saëns are among the famous musicians to have played the synagogue’s grand organ. Desecrated by German and Hungarian Nazis, its 2 Moorish domes gleam afresh after a 10-year restoration project financed by the Hungarian government and Tony Curtis’ Emmanuel Foundation. 724,000 Hungarian Jews were murdered in the Holocaust and their lives are remembered in the Jewish History Museum, annexed to the synagogue and at Imre Varga’s memorial to the side of the synagogue, where a family name is inscribed on each leaf of a metallic tree. Neolog (Orthodox) services are held on Friday at 1800 hrs and Saturday at 1900 hrs. Visitors should contact the Jewish Information Centre, VII Síp utca 2 (telephone number: (01) 342 1335). Dohány Zsinagóga (Central Synagogue) VII Dohány útca 2 Telephone number: (01) 342 1335. Opening hours: Monday-Friday 1000-1500 hrs, Sunday 1000-1300 hrs, closed Jewish holidays. Admission charge. Jewish Museum VII Dohány útca 2 Telephone number: (01) 342 8949. Opening hours: Monday-Friday 1000-1700 hrs, Sunday 1000-1500 hrs (May-October), Monday-Friday 1000-1500 hrs, Sunday 1000-1400 hyrs (November-April), closed on Jewish holidays. Admission charge. Hosök Tere (Heroes’ Square) Millenniumi Emlékmű (Millennium Monument) Heroes’ Square was built in 1896, to celebrate the millennial anniversary of the Magyar conquest. Here the Archangel Gabriel at the top of a 36m (118ft) column (winner of the Grand Prix at the Paris World Exhibition in 1900) is half-encircled by statues of the seven victorious Magyar tribal chiefs on horseback and Hungary’s most honoured rulers, from King Stephen to Kossuth. VI Andrássy útca, corner of Dózsa Dyörgy útca Opening hours: Daily 24 hours. Admission: Free. Margitsziget (Margaret Island) Wedged in a loop of the River Danube and linked by Árpád híd and Margit híd to Buda and Pest, the 2-km (1.5-mile) Margaret Island is one of the calmest and greenest spots in Budapest. No cars are allowed – the island from Margit híd to Árpád híd can be crossed on foot in 20 minutes. The island is named after the devout daughter of King Béla IV, who lived here in a Dominican convent in the 13th century. The ruins of her convent still stand on the east bank, near the remains of a Franciscan church. Other points of interest include a 100-year-old park, the 1930s reconstruction of a 12th-century chapel, sculptures of Hungarian artists and writers, an open-air theatre and UNESCO-listed water tower. There are also 2 hotels (Danubius Grand and Danubius Thermal) on the island. During the summer, Margaret island is bursting with people heading for a swim at the Hajós Alfréd swimming pool or Palatinus pool, which are fed by underground springs. Margaret Island Website: www.budapestinfo.hu/en/sights/margitsziget.html Opening hours: Daily 24 hours. Admission: Free. Szobor Park (Statue Park) Just as Lenin Boulevard and Marx Square no longer exist in Budapest, so their statues and monuments have been sent into exile to Statue Park a 30-minute trip leads to this eerie and increasingly popular outdoor attraction. XXII Balatoni útca, corner of Szabadkai útca Telephone number: (01) 424 7500. Website: www.szoborpark.hu Opening hours: Daily 1000 hrs -sunset. Admission charge. House of Terror Museum For an insight into Hungary’s turbulent recent history, visit the House of Terror Museum. Featuring the grim decades of Nazi and Communist repression, this new museum is housed in the former headquarters for the secret police of both the Nazi and Communist governments, an address that filled the heart of the average Hungarian with dread for the best part of fifty years. The museum has many memorable exhibits, and the atrium features a Soviet tank and a huge wall covered with portraits of the victims. The stylish, high-tech exhibit is designed for Hungarians, but the English audio guide gives tourists the same very powerful experience. This is the most expensive admission in Hungary, but it's still cheap by Western standards, and the experience is priceless for anyone with an affinity for Eastern Europe’s struggle for freedom under these brutal regimes. Andrassy útca 60 Telephone number : 374 2600. Website: www.terrorhaza.hu Opening hours: 1000 to 1800 hrs Tuesday to Friday. Open until 1930 hrs on Saturday and Sunday. Closed Monday. Admission charge. _________ Budapest Tours - Excursions Budapest Tours Guide - TravelPuppy.com Walking Tours Absolute Tours (telephone number: 3021 18861) offers a selection of daily walking tours, for which reservations are not usually necessary. These take from 2 to 5 hours and cover Budapest’s major sights, the Hammer and Sickle sights including 1956 fighting areas and Statue Park, Jewish Budapest and more. Most tours depart from the steps of the church on Károly körút, Déak tér. The Original Budapest Walks offers a number of tours in English, which take place from April to October. The Highlights of Pest tour includes the Chain bridge, Danube Promeade and St Stephen’s. Times and departure points of other tours are published online. Chosen Tours (telephone number: (01) 355 2202) provides a 1-and-a-half to 2-hour guided tour (Sunday-Friday) of Jewish Budapest. The departure point is in front of the Dohány Synagogue, Dohány út, although the tour includes a hotel pick-up service and booking is advisable. Bus Tours Budatours (telephone number: (01) 353 0558) is one of many bus tour operators in the city. City tours typically last for 2 hours and depart from Casino Gresham, V Roosevelt tér. Chosen Tours, XII Pagony utca 40 (telephone number: (01) 355 2202), offers a 2 to 3 hour air-conditioned bus tour, ‘Budapest Through Jewish Eyes’. The tour departs from in front of the Dohány Zsinagóga, Dohány út. Ibusz (telephone number: (01) 485 2700) offers different bus and boat tours taking 4 hours to one day. They depart from the Erzsebet tér bus station, near Deák tér, although there is also a hotel pickup service 30 minutes before the tours. A pamphlet entitled ‘Budapest Sightseeing’, is available from Ibusz offices, Tourist Information and most hotels. Boat Tours Legenda (telephone number: (01) 266 4190) offers a 1 hour boat tour with an optional 1 hour walking tour of Margaret Island. Tours (day or evening, including 2 drinks) depart from Piers six and seven, in front of the Marriott Hotel, from April to September. Ibusz (telephone number: (01) 318 1139) runs tours along the River Danube, past Parliament, the Academy of Sciences and around Margaret Island. The 90-minute trip includes lunch on the Danube. Boats depart from the Vigadó tér pier Thursday to Sunday from June to September. The company also provides a Folklore Evening tour of the illuminated capital. MAHART (telephone number: (01) 484 4013) offers cruises on the Danube, besides their regular service between Budapest and Vienna. Tours take approximately 2 hours. Boats depart from the Belgrád rakpart terminal. Excursions for Half a Day Szentendre Several waves of 19th-century Serbian refugees defined the character of this historic town on the Danube Bend, 19km (12 miles) from Budapest, with its incense-filled hilltop churches. A group of artists found the Serb-abandoned Szentendre during the 1920s, liked what they saw and formed a colony there. Serbian churches include Blagovestenska Church, which looks on to the town’s main square, as well as the spectacular Belgrade Cathedral, next to the Museum of Serbian Church Art (entrance is on Pátriáka utca). The Margit Kovács Museum, Vastagh Gy utca 1, displays the works of Hungary’s best-known ceramist, while the Barcsay Collection, Dumtsa Jeno utca 10, exhibits the abstract paintings of one of the founders of the artistic colony. The important Hungarian Open-Air Ethnographical Museum (Szabadtéri Néprajzi Múzeum), Svtaravodai út (telephone number: (26) 502 500), charts Hungarian village life over three centuries. The village museum (skanzen) includes houses, mills and towers from all over Hungary. Guided tours in English are available. Hourly buses travel the 3km (2 miles) from Szentendre’s HÉV train terminal at Szabadságforrás út to the museum, taking 20 minutes in the morning and 40 minutes (a different route) in the afternoon. Szentendre also has a new modern arts centre, a renovated 19th-century sawmill, Muveszet Malom (Art Mill), Bogdanyi utca 32 (telephone number: (26) 301 701). The exhibition hall displays graphics, paintings, sculptures and pieces of applied arts from local artists and artists connected to Szentendre. Once the investment project is complete, the building will be one of the most important art centres of Eastern-Central-Europe. Tourinform has offices in Szentendre, Dumtsa Jeno utca 22 (telephone number: (26) 317 966), and provide a free map and tourist information on request. HÉV trains take 45 minutes from Batthyány tér station to Szentendre. There are also 2 boats a day, operated by MAHART (telephone number: (01) 484 4013). Buses also run from Volánbusz take 30 minutes. For a Whole Day Lake Balaton The Lake Balaton region, romantically known as the Hungarian Sea, is possibly the most popular tourist attraction of Central and Western Europe. Its water is only waist height, except for the Tihany Well in the north, where it reaches its deepest point of 13m (43ft). Activities centre on the water and include sailing, windsurfing and fishing for eels or fogas – the perch-pike unique to Lake Balaton, best enjoyed with wine from the nearby Badacsony Hills. The Tihany Peninsula, declared a national park in 1952, is one of the quietest spots in the region. The Baroque Abbey Church, standing on the hill in Tihany village, once housed the first written relic of Hungarian – King András I’s deed for the foundation of the church that originally stood on this site. The major resort in the north is Balatonfüred, known since Roman times for the curative power of its waters. The lakeside resort of Keszthely has a relaxed atmosphere and the large Baroque Festetics Palace, situated in lovely grounds. Tourinform has offices in Balantonfüred, Petofi Sandor utca 8 (telephone number: (87) 580 480), and provides further information. Approximately 120km (75 miles) southwest of Budapest, Balatonfüred can be reached by train from Déli pályaudvar in Budapest or by bus from Budapest’s Erzsébet tér. Useful information is published online (website: www.balaton.net). |
| ****Questo articolo č rilasciato sotto i termini della
GNU Free Documentation License Esso utilizza materiale tratto da http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budapest Cronologia http://it.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Budapest&action=history BudapestDa Wikipedia, l'enciclopedia libera.
Budapest (IPA: ['budɒˌpɛʃt]) č la capitale dell'Ungheria e capoluogo della provincia di Pest, pur non facendone amministrativamente parte. Č la maggiore cittŕ ungherese per numero di abitanti, attualmente 1,7 milioni, e centro primario del paese per la vita politica, economica, industriale e culturale. La sua massima espansione si č avuta nel 1989 quando ha toccato quota 2.113.645 abitanti. Budapest nasce ufficialmente nel 1873 con l'unione delle cittŕ Buda e Óbuda situate sulla sponda occidentale del Danubio con la cittŕ Pest situata sulla sponda orientale.
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Storia della cittŕBudapest - Ponte Széchenyi, meglio conosciuto come Ponte delle Catene La nascita di Budapest storicamente si fa coincidere con la fondazione, nell'89 d.C., dell'avamposto romano Aquincum su di un preesistente sito celtico, nei pressi di Óbuda, capitale dal 106 al quarto secolo d.C. della provincia romana della Pannonia inferiore. L'area fu occupata intorno all'anno 898 dal popolo dei Magiari (la principale delle sette tribů ungare), gli antenati degli odierni Ungheresi, che un secolo piů tardi fondarono il Regno d'Ungheria. Giŕ luogo di una certa importanza, Pest venne ricostruita velocemente dopo la distruzione ad opera degli invasori Tartari nel 1241, ma fu Buda, sede del Palazzo Reale sin da 1247, a diventare la capitale dell'Ungheria. La conquista da parte dei Turchi di gran parte dell'Ungheria nel sedicesimo secolo interruppe la crescita della cittŕ: Pest cadde in mano agli invasori nel 1526 e Buda la seguě 15 anni piů tardi. Mentre Buda rimase la sede del governo Turco, Pest fině in rovina prima della riconquista nel 1686 da parte delle truppe asburgiche. Fu Pest, dal 1723 sede amministrativa del regno, a conoscere tra il diciottesimo e diciannovesimo secolo il maggior tasso di crescita, anche grazie all'inglobamento di centri abitati adiacenti. Nel 1800 Pest era piů grande di Buda e Óbuda messe insieme, e nel corso del secolo crebbe di venti volte fino a raggiungere i 600.000 abitanti. La fusione delle tre cittŕ di Buda, Óbuda e Pest in un'unica amministrazione, dapprima messa in atto dal governo rivoluzionario Ungherese nel 1849, poi revocata dalla restaurata autoritŕ asburgica, venne infine resa effettiva dal governo autonomo ungherese instaurato col "Compromesso" austro-ungarico del 1867 (vedi Austria-Ungheria). La popolazione totale dell'area unificata crebbe tra il 1840 e il 1900 fino a 730.000 abitanti. Budapest - Veduta di Pest, del Parlamento e del Danubio Durante il ventesimo secolo la maggiore espansione demografica č avvenuta nei sobborghi, con Újpest che ha piů che raddoppiato le sue dimensioni dal 1890 al 1910 e Kispest che le ha quintuplicate dal 1900 al 1920, a causa del fatto che la gran parte delle industrie del paese si sono concentrate nella cittŕ. Le perdite umane della Prima Guerra Mondiale e la perdita conseguente alla sconfitta di due terzi del territorio del paese (1920) causarono un temporaneo rallentamento, lasciando Budapest capitale di uno stato piů piccolo ma finalmente sovrano. Nel 1930 la cittŕ giunse a contare un milione di abitanti, piů altri 400.000 nei sobborghi. Durante l'occupazione tedesca della Seconda Guerra Mondiale, circa un terzo dei 250.000 abitanti di origine ebraica di Budapest persero la vita nell'Olocausto. Tra il 1944 e l'inzio del 1945 i nazisti e la polizia ungherese (controllata dal governo collaborazionista del partito delle Croci Frecciate) deportarono gran parte degli ebrei nei campi di sterminio. Nonostante ciň, Budapest č la cittŕ europea con la maggior percentuale di popolazione ebraica. Danneggiata gravemente durante l'assedio Sovietico dell'inverno seguente, la cittŕ fu ricostruita nel dopoguerra. Nel 1956 la cittŕ fu uno dei maggiori teatri della Rivolta d'Ungheria e dei conseguenti scontri tra la popolazione e le truppe sovietiche, che portarono alla sconfitta degli insorti ed alla repressione. Negli anni '60, la capitale divenne in qualche modo una vetrina delle politiche piů pragmatiche intraprese dal governo del paese dopo i fatti del 1956. Dopo la caduta del regime comunista (1989), Budapest ha riallacciato i suoi tradizionali legami economici e culturali con l'Europa occidentale, ponendosi come capofila nel tumultuoso passaggio al capitalismo dei paesi centro europei ex socialisti. A partire dagli anni '90, seguendo una linea di tendenza comune a tutta l'Ungheria, Budapest ha subito un calo demografico causato dall'emigrazione e dalla decrescita naturale della popolazione.
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Andamento demograficoIl parlamento ungherese, Budapest, veduta notturna
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Circoscrizioni di BudapestLe circoscrizioni di Budapest sono 23 e consistono in aree molto estese che hanno una propria organizzazione e amministrazione locale.
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Tabán, Vár (Castello) - I CircoscrizioneSi trova sulla riva destra del Danubio e conta piů di 30 000 abitanti. Essa č meglio conosciuta con il nome di "Castello" ed č la piů visitata dai turisti. Sul territorio di questa circoscrizione si trovano tracce di insediamenti umani che risalgono all'etŕ della pietra. La chiesa di Santo Stefano
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Rózsadomb, Pasarét - II CircoscrizioneSituato a nord del "Castello" in un elegante quartiere tranquillo, č conosciuto come "Rózsadomb", cioč "collina delle rose", nome derivato dalla presenza del turco Gül Baba che riempě gli spazi verdi di roseti.
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Óbuda - III CircoscrizioneIn questo luogo, sempre a nord, si stabilě l' accampamento romano che diede origine ad Aquincum, nucleo di quella che oggi č la cittŕ di Budapest e, all'origine, la frontiera piů a nord dell' Impero Romano. Degli anfiteatri, palazzi e colonnati tipici dell'architettura dell'Impero Romano, oggi rimane poco e quei pochi resti salvati dalle razzie della storia si trovano quasi tutti nella piazza principale, Fö tér, presso gli scavi archeologici di Aquincum ed il relativo museo.
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Újpest - IV Circoscrizionela Circoscrizione di Újpest (Nuova Pest) venne fondata dalla comunitŕ ebraica prima di essere annesso a Budapest. Essa č situata sulla riva sinistra del Danubio e, secondo i dati del censimento del 1990, conta 115 000 abitanti. Tra le circoscrizioni č la piů recente della cittŕ con la prima casa costruita nel 1832. Nell'anno 1940 l'area fu dichiarata villaggio e tra il 1907 e il 1929 diventň un comune per poi diventare, nel 1950, cittŕ ed essere annessa a Budapest capitale diventando la IV Circoscrizione.
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Belváros, Lipótváros - V CircoscrizioneBelváros č il vero e proprio centro di Pest, dallo stile barocco che si estende lungo il fiume davanti alla collina del castello. L'area che abbraccia č quella compresa tra il Kishörut (Piccolo Corso) ed il Danubio, vi si trova anche il bellissimo mercato coperto di "Vásárcsarnok" che puň considerarsi uno dei piů grandi d'Europa. Qui č il vero centro commerciale, economico e amministrativo della cittŕ.
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Terézváros - VI CircoscrizioneAd est della V Circoscrizione, Terézváros, la "Cittŕ di Teresa" č formata da strade molto eleganti dove si concentrano le sedi di diverse ambasciate e grandi palazzi. Questa Circoscrizione viene chiamata il ghetto goy (non ebreo) per una lunga polemica con il vicino quartiere ebraico.
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Erzsébetváros - VII CircoscrizioneSi tratta del quartiere ebraico č dietro alla Sinagoga che ancora fa da punto di riferimento per i visitatori, č visibile ancora quello che rimane dell'antico ghetto ebraico. É un luogo tranquillo e ancora si vedono, qui e lŕ, resti delle vecchie sinagoghe e piccoli negozi che conservano l'aspetto di molti decenni or sono. Uno dei temi architettonici che ricorrono in questa circoscrizione sono i piccoli cortili e i vicoli interconessi tra i vari edifici.
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Józsefváros - VIII CircoscrizioneJózsefváros, la "Cittŕ di Giuseppe" č un quartiere povero dove si rifugiano immigrati di ogni razza e dove prosperano delinquenza e prostituzione.
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Ferencváros - IX CircoscrizioneIl distretto Ferencváros, "Cittŕ di Francesco", č un quartiere popolare dove abitano molti tedeschi, ed č stato soprannominato per questo "Franz Stadt". Tutti gli appassionati di calcio conoscono questo quartiere per i numerosi club che vi hanno sede. Esso č abitato per lo piů da operai e impiegati pubblici e con gli anni, č diventato famoso per i suoi bar e caffč trendy.
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Kőbánya - X CircoscrizioneQui vi č un'importante zona industriale, un carcere e un cimitero. In quest'area convivono numerose minoranze etniche, zingari, greci, polacchi, armeni, rumeni e vi č un'alta densitŕ di popolazione, conta circa 90 000 abitanti. Questo territorio divenne parte della cittŕ di Pest nel 1705 e annesso a Budapest nel 1873.
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Újbuda - XI CircoscrizioneCircoscrizione di
Kelenvölgy,
Kelenföld,
Lágymányos,
Albertfalva,
Gellérthegy,
Sashegy,
Gazdagrét,
Őrmező.
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Hegyvidék - XII CircoscrizioneIl quartiere si trova dietro la collina del castello, vi risiedono molti ricchi, che preferiscono le ville nel verde, ed anche molti uomini d'affari russi, iugoslavi e occidentali.
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Angyalföld - XIII CircoscrizioneAngyalföld (Campo degli angeli), si trova davanti all'isola Margherita e la "Cittŕ Nuova Leopoldo" (Újlipótváros), venne costruito negli anni Trenta del Novecento per procurare alloggi all'intellighenzia, soprattutto quella ebraica.
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Zugló - XIV CircoscrizioneCircoscrizione di
Alsórákos,
Herminamező,
Istvánmező,
Kiszugló,
Nagyzugló,
Rákosfalva,
Törökőr,
Városliget.
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Rákospalota, Pestújhely, Újpalota - XV CircoscrizioneIl quartiere non presenta interessi turistici. Esso č costituito solamente da case popolari.
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Mátyásföld, Sashalom, Cinkota - XVI CircoscrizioneCome per il precedente, anche questo č costituito solo da case popolari.
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Rákosmente - XVII CircoscrizioneCircoscrizione di
Rákoskeresztúr,
Rákoscsaba,
Rákosliget,
Rákoshegy,
Rákoskert.
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Pestszentlőrinc - XVIII CircoscrizioneQuesto distretto, che si trova alla periferia sud-est della cittŕ, č costituito da un insieme di vecchie fabbriche e quartieri popolari ed č diviso in due parti: "Pestszentlőrinc" e "Pestszentimre". In esso č situato l'aeroporto.
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Kispest - XIX CircoscrizioneIl quartiere, che si trova lontano dal centro, č stato progettato da Kós Károly, importante architetto ungherese dell'Art Nouveau.
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Pesterzsébet - XX CircoscrizioneÉ questo un quartiere molto vasto e costituito da sole case popolari.
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Csepel - XXI CircoscrizioneIl quartiere prende il nome dall'isola di Csepel e si trova nel mezzo del Danubio, tra Buda e Pest. Nel periodo comunista era la zona siderurgica magiara. Restano ora, al posto degli edifici che ospitarono quelle industrie, solamente dei capannoni. L'area si sta ora affermando come zona di villeggiatura soprattutto per gli amanti della pesca e degli sport acquatici.
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Budatétény, Nagytétény, Budafok - XXII CircoscrizioneQuesto č un quartiere periferico della cittŕ. In esso si trova il "Parco Museo delle statue" che ospita le statue e monumenti dell'epoca comunista, che fino alla fine della dittatura si trovavano per le vie della cittŕ.
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Soroksár - XXIII CircoscrizioneIl distretto sorge in un'area molto vasta priva di interesse turistico. In origine esso era un villaggio tedesco.
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Musei
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Museo Nazionale
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Museo di Belle Arti (Szépmüvészeti Múseum)Č considerato tra i musei d'arte piů ricchi del mondo e possiede opere di El Greco, Velázquez, Goya, Leonardo, Raffaello, Dürer, Renoir, Van Gogh, Cézanne e Toulouse-Lautrec. Il museo č attualmente in ristrutturazione.
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Museo d'Arte applicataIl museo illustra la storia del commercio e dell'artigianato ed espone, in un edificio che č uno degli esempi piů significativi del primo Novecento, in puro stile liberty ungherese, una ricchissima collezione di mobili, vasi, arazzi, oggetti d'arte Art Nouveau e secessionista, oltre a manufatti delle culture islamica, indů e persiana.
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Museo della MusicaIn esso viene illustrata la tradizione musicale ungherese con l'esposizione
di strumenti di epoche diverse, tra cui quelli tipici ungheresi, accompagnati
da
dipinti e
disegni d'epoca a soggetto musicale.
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Museo Ferenc LisztEsso ha sede nell'appartamento dove visse, tra il 1879 e il 1886, il grande compositore. Quattro delle stanze che compongono l'appartamento sono arredate con strumenti musicali, mobilia e altri oggetti. Vi č anche una sala, piů piccola, da concerto dove eseguono i loro saggi gli allievi del Conservatorio.
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Parco delle statueIl Parco si trova a 10 chilometri a sud del centro di Budapest e raccoglie statue e monumenti dell'epoca comunista, tra cui statue di Marx, Lenin, Engels tolte dalle piazze e dai luoghi pubblici di Budapest dopo la caduta del regime. Il parco č stato aperto nel 1993.
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Museo ebraicoIl museo, che ha sede nella piů grande sinagoga europea, vuole ricordare la vita quotidiana degli ebrei ungheresi e le persecuzioni durante la Seconda guerra mondiale.
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Museo dell'agricolturaIn questo settore č considerato il piů grande museo d'Europa.
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Museo del vinoIl museo č ospitato in una cantina che si estende su 250 metri quadri nelle cui sale si organizzano corsi sul vino, degustazioni e convegni. La cantina offre piů di mille etichette provenienti da 22 zone vinicole dell'Ungheria.
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Museo della metropolitanaAlla stazione Deák tér, mezzi storici, fotografie, piantine.
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Isola MargheritaČ un'isola grande alcuni chilometri posta in mezzo al Danubio, composta in gran parte da un parco. Č affollatissima nei mesi estivi anche grazie alle numerose piscine presenti.
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Sport
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MetropolitanaLa metropolitana di Budapest č la piů antica dell’Europa continentale. La prima tratta tra Vörösmarty tér - Széchenyi fürdö (oggi linea M1) č stata aperta nel 1896 in concomitanza delle celebrazioni per il millennio dello stato ungherese. Attualmente č costituita da 3 linee: M1 (gialla), M2 (rossa), M3 (verde).
Č in fase di realizzazione la linea M4 (verde) tra la stazioni di Keleti and Kelenföld nella parte sud-occidentale della cittŕ, con interscambio con la linea M3 a Kálvin ter. Č in fase di progettazione la linea M5.
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Stazioni ferroviarieBudapest ha 3 stazioni ferroviarie principali, tutte collegate con la metropolitana.
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Cittŕ gemellate
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Collegamenti esterni |
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