History of Budapest

For centuries, three towns lived and thrived side by side on the banks of the Danube: the royal residence of Buda, Pest, which has been growing rapidly since the 19th century, and the cosy Óbuda, famous for its pubs and bourgeoisie.

This area, already inhabited in Roman times, was later devastated by Ottoman armies and Austrian cannons. The city's development first gained momentum during the reform period when, among other things, the Hungarian National Museum and the majestic Chain Bridge linking both banks of the Danube were built.

In 1873, the three cities were finally united. The urban development that followed was so rapid that it was unparalleled in the whole of Europe. The period before the First World War was dominated by the Belle Époque - the "good old days". The city's public parks were built, the elegant Andrássy Boulevard was extended, and the opera house was constructed.

At the millennium of the founding of the Hungarian state, Europe's 2nd underground railway, which connected Heroes' Square with the secessionist Arts and Crafts Museum, was completed. In addition, more bridges were built to connect the banks of Danube and a huge amount of work went into the construction of the Hungarian Parliament. The city's concert halls and bars filled night after night with cultural enthusiastic people.

However, in the 20th century Budapest faced several barriers: many Budapest residents died in both World Wars and in the 1956 Hungarian Uprising. Although a significant part of the buildings was destroyed, the city miraculously recovered from the destruction and a lot of buildings were saved thanks to a capitulation opposite the soviets.

One of the main factors in Budapest's appeal is its truly unique architectural diversity: the houses of the Castle District are mostly Baroque, and the streetscape of downtown Pest is dominated by eclectic tenements, secessionist and modern buildings from the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, but all over the city one encounters the Roman past, Turkish remnants from the Middle Ages or even representatives of the 20th century architectural movement called "social realism". A sparkling mixture that is also reflected in the city's cultural offerings. Today's Budapest is a metropolis of 2 million people just waiting to be discovered.