Budapest is a relatively young city, and its downtown area was meticulously planned using the skills of the best architects and advanced technologies.
Many of its turn-of-the-century buildings are true gems, and one can spend hours admiring and deciphering rich façade decorations. Take a look at some notable buildings in the central fifth district of Budapest.
Jewish Quarter of Budapest, the 7th district stretching between Rákóczi út and Andrássy út is probably most famous for the Great Synagogue, the largest synagogue of Europe, and the second largest one in the world.
But there is much more to this most densely populated district of Budapest that used to be mostly Jewish before WWII and is predominantly Gypsy residential area today.
Győr (pronounced Dior), the sixth largest in Hungary with population of about 128 000, lies halfway between Budapest and Vienna. The trip by train takes about an hour and a half.
This city known for its Baroque architecture, churches, palaces and corner balconies is also a university town and a popular tourist destination.
In 1241 king Béla IV was trying to escape Mongol hordes and took an oath that he would offer up his yet to be born daughter to God if his family and country were saved from the enemies.
Thus, Princess Margaret born next year become a nun and in 1251 the king built a cloister and a church for the order she belonged to on the Island of Hares.
Today, this island is known as Margaret Island or Margit-sziget in Hungarian. It is a 2.5 km long and 500 meters wide island and recreational park in the middle of Danube and Budapest. In fact, it used to be three separate islands, but in the end of the 19th century they were connected and raised to control the flow of the Danube and flooding.
The wreck of the Lánc híd (Chain Bridge) during WWII.
Photo: J. Haldej
Source: MTI
Below is the photo of Lánc híd nowadays
A view of Erzsebét Bridge from the statue of St. Gellért.
Photo: Zoltan Seider
Source: Museum of Hungarian Architecture
Below is the photo of Erzsebét Bridge nowadays
The wreck of the Franz Josef (Szabadság) bridge during WWII.
Source: Committee for the Protection of Historic Monuments
Below is the photo of Szabadság Bridge nowadays
