Budapest

A concoction of architectural styles are apparent after the original church was destroyed in 1241 - being rebuilt in a gothic style between 1255 to 1269. Named after King Mátyás Corvinus who expanded the church in 1470. Additional restoration occurred from 1873 to 1896 by Friges Schulek in neo-baroque style.

Mátyás Corvinus (Matei Corvin) is considered the greatest Hungarian king being crowned in 1458 at only 15 years old. He was born in Cluj-Napoca, Transylvania residing in current day Romania. Reigning for 32 years, he was a man of the Renaissance, embracing science, arts and architecture.

This viewing terrace was built in neo-romanesque style as a monument to the Guild of Fishermen by Frigyes Schulek in 1895. The conical turrets represent the seven Magyar tribes that settled in the Carthapian Basin in 896 and offer the most picturesque views of Pest. The Guild of Fishermen defended this stretch of the city walls during the Middle Ages.

A bronze statue of King Stephen I mounted on a horse was constructed in 1906. The pedestal was built Alabjs Stróbl in neo-romanesque style depicting episodes from the life of the King.

The neo-gothic Hungarian Parliament opened in 1902. Designed by Imre Steindl, at the time of opening it was the largest Parliamentary building in the world. Sitting on the edge of the Danube it is most picturesque from the opposite side of the river.

The Margaret Bridge (photograph 3) offers the gateway to Margaret Island. The bridge ws built by the Frenchman, Ernest Gouin from 1872 to 1876, however the approach road to the island was only added in the 1890's.

The Danube is the second longest river in Europe at 2850 km (1771 miles) long. Starting its flow as two small tributaries in the Black Forest that join in the German town of Donaueschingen from where the river is known as the Danube. It is an important international waterway for trade and passes through many important European cities including Linz, Vienna (Austria), Bratislava (Slovakia), Budapest (Hungary), Vukovar (Croatia), Belgrade (Serbia), Lom (Bulgaria) and Galati (Romania) to name a few. Economically important for fishing and providing drinking water for millions. The river is known as the Duna in Hungarian.

The largest and most spectacular synagogue in Europe. Constructed in Byzantine style by Ludwig Förster from 1854 to 1859. It can house over 3000 people. In 1931 the Jewish Museum opened within its walls and the rear courtyard contains a memorial to victims of the Holocaust .

Budapest is the capital city of Hungary with a population of 1.7 million people making it the 7th largest city in the European Union. Nick-named 'Paris of the East', 'Pearl of the Danube' or 'Queen of the Danube'. Budapest is split into two halves by the Danube river - Buda and Pest. Only being unified in 1873 to become Budapest. The ancestral occupants of the cities were the Magyars who herald from Central Asia in 900AD. A century later the Kingdom of Hungary was founded. A period of substantial growth occurred before the 16th century heralded conquest by the Ottoman Empire in 1541. Recapture in 1686 occurred by the Habsburg dynasty from Austria eventually forming Austria-Hungary that lastest until the end of the First World War.

(1) Buda - the seat of the royal castle since 1247 became the capital of Hungary in 1361.

(2) Pest - comprises 66% of the capital lying to the eastern, flatter part of Budapest. It contains the Hungarian Parliament, Heroes' Square, Great Synagogue and Vaci Utca. Dating back to 1148, Pest was a separate city. In 1248 the Mongol invasion destroyed Pest, requiring extensive rebuilding shortly after. Only in 1849 was the first suspension bridge built to connect the two cities.