Budapest & Hungary
BUDAPEST
Welcome to
Budapest, a city with a unique history and rich cultural heritage. Tourism
is one of the key elements of Budapest's economy - and daily life. This
is shown in the rising numbers of tourists visiting the capital, and the
growth of the quantity and quality of tourism services. Year by year the
number of new hotels grows in Budapest, many old buildings are reconstructed
or converted into new cultural and touristic venues. The city's unique
Danube Panorama is now part of the World Heritage, Budapest boasts of
the Continent's largest Parliament Building and first underground, and
Europe's largest functioning synagogue. The visitor will find side by
side the remains of buildings from Roman times, still operating Turkish
baths, Baroque buildings, and the incredibly rich Art Nouveau architectural
heritage. Budapest is often referred to as the "Queen of the Danube"
and it is the only capital city in the world with more than 100 thermal
springs and 12 spas. |
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Despite this spectacular development, Budapest has preserved its old-time charm and magic. It is a city where the pleasing harmony of different architectural styles and superb structures, the cafés, baths blend into an unforgettable experience for visitors. Besides popular programs and festivals staged each year the capital's tourism selection is further enriched by new, high standard events each season. Tourists can enjoy a programme in one of the atmospheric, unique venues ranging from live music in the pubs to the repertoire of the Opera House and the recently rebuilt, magnificent Operetta Theatre. We wish you a most enjoyable stay here in Budapest! |
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HUNGARY |
The legendary Magyar tribes settled
in this land at the end of the 9th century. The soil was fertile and rivers
and lakes abounded. It was also a central location, that, throughout the
next 1100 years resulted in one of the stormiest histories Europe ever
produced. Hungarians, (whose name is a linguistic mistake, since its origin,
the Ogurs, were Turks, not Magyars...) managed to be on the losing side
of most wars; the land, after an expansion in the early medieval centuries,
kept shrinking until it reached today's size; people got used to being
constantly occupied by Mongols, Turks, Hapsburgs, Germans and Russians
- no wonder their national anthem is the saddest such hymn in the world.
What is a wonder, though, is that they kept their unique language and
culture against all odds, and all 10 millions of them learnt a very special
survival skill. |
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Today's Hungary is a smallish country with a territory
of 93,000 square kilometres. The capital, Budapest is one of the largest
metropolitan centres of the area with a population of 2 million people.
It is a 2000 years old settlement bisected by the majestic Danube River.
It is an incredibly scenic city with the river winding through it, crowned
by her glorius bridges.The architecture is a turn-of-the-century medley
of Baroque, Art Nouveau and Neo-Renaissance. Buda, the old and historic
part of the city lies on the west bank; Pest, the pulsing downtown area
on the east bank. The city has dozens of baths and curative spas; a thriving
cultural life accented by music; hundreds of first class restaurants,
gambling casinos and jazz clubs. Hungarians love to eat - nobody counts
calories here. Love of food is paired with love of good wines - and the
land produces plenty of excellent varieties. A sad history, but good humour
and a nonchalant hedonism: this, probably best sums up what Hungarians
are all about. |