1 Budavári Palota (Buda Castle Palace)
2 Gellért-hegy (Gellért Hill)
3 Halászbástya (Fishermen's Bastion)
4 Magyar Állami Operaház (Hungarian State Opera House)
5 Margit-sziget (Margaret Island)
6 Mátyás-templom (Matthias Church)
7 Országház (Parliament)
8 Szent István Bazilika (St Stephen's Basilica)
9 Szépművészeti Mùzeum (Fine Arts Museum)
10 Várhegy (Castle Hill)
By far the most grandiose building in Buda, yet ironically a palace whose royals have never been resident, only visiting guests.
No other building in Buda reflects so dramatically the turbulent history of the Castle district. Built in the second half of the 13th century by King Bela IV, after the invasion of the Monguls, centuries of war, invasion and revolution have left little of its original architecture. Razed to the ground during World War II, it was later rebuilt in baroque style. A magnificent stairway leads to the entrance of the palace proper, where the steep east wall widens into the deep embrasure. Note the statue of Prince Eugene Savoy, leader of the military operations that forced the Turks finally to retreat.
The double middle wing of the palace, including the dome, houses the National Gallery, with its comprehensive collection of Hungarian painting and sculpture. To reach the other museums, walk through the narrow passage to the west side through a pretty garden square, where you will see the Mathias Well (depicted as a hunting scene), regarded as one of the most beautiful fountains in Budapest. The west wing houses the National Szecheny Library, with its collection of about 2 million books, and even more manuscripts. At the south end of the courtyard is the entrance to the Budapest History Museum, where 2,000 years of the city's history can be seen, including the marvellous Renaissance stone collection which illustrates the former lavishness of the Palace of Matthias Corvinus. Facing the museum's entrance is a glass door which takes you to the top of a steep flight of stairs. All that remains, or was possible to recover and reconstruct of the medieval royal castle and fortress, can be seen here. You may by this time feel inclined to spend a little time in the Husolo ('cooling off chamber') situated under the Great Hall, cellars where the king's courtiers came to get out of the hot sun. Located in the grounds of the Royal Palace, and worth a closer look in themselves, are the Lions which guard the entrance of Oroszlános udvar, The Lion Courtyard, designed by János Fadrusz in 1904. With their grim looks, two of these stone animals seem intent on discouraging visitors. But those brave enough to enter the lions' den are then met by two more inside the gate, roaring angrily. The huge door in the gateway between the lions leads to an elevator which takes you down to the bottom of the wing overlooking Buda.Address: 1250 Budapest, Pf. 31.
Open: Open daily throughout the year; museums open 10-6
Restaurant: Fortuna (Moderately priced)
Bus: Várbusz (bus to the Castle); tram: 18; funicular from Clark Ádám tér
Accessible: Difficult
Admission: Museums cheap
Practical: Guided tours up to 5 people Phone: 375 7533/631
Info: Charge for camera and video camera use
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