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Budapest Tour
Budapest was founded in 1873 after the unification of three separate towns, Buda and Obuda on the west bank of the Danube and Pest on the east.
What you should see in Buda:
Royal Palace: King Bela IV(1235-1270) built a royal castle in Buda, but its exact location is unknown. Around 1400 it was replaced by a Gothic palace, remodeled in Renaissance style by King Matyas in 1458. Under Turkish rule, the palace was used to stable horses and store gunpowder, leading to its destruction in 1686 during the reconquest. A new palace, begun in 1719 by the Habsburgs, grew in size and grandeur under Maria Theresa, but this too was destroyed in the uprising of 1849 and had to be rebuilt in the second half of the 19th century. When the Habsburgs palace was again razed to the ground in February 1945, remains of the 15th-century Gothic palace were uncovered. These were incorporated into the restored palace that visitors see today.
Various statues, gateways, and fountains have survived from the 19th-century palace. Today the palace houses a series of important national collections, including the Szechenyi National Library, the National Gallery, the Budapest History Museum and the Museum of Contemporary History and Ludwig Collection.
Hungarian National Gallery was established in 1957. The permanent exhibitions include a section of sculpture and stonework – the Lapidarium. There are also regular temporary exhibitions.
Budapest History Museum, also known as the Castle Museum, illustrates the city`s evolution from its origins under the Romans.
Matyas Church is mainly a Neo-Gothic reconstruction dating from 1874-96. Most of the original church (13th-15th centuries) was lost when the Turks turned it into their Great Mosque in 1541. The building had to be restored again after damage in World War II. The great rose window has been faithfully reproduced in its original Gothic style. The tombs of King Bela III (13th century) and his wife, Anne de Chatillon, can be seen in the Trinity Chapel, while the Mary Portal (near the main altar) is considered the finest example of Gothic stone carving in Hungary. Also fascinating is a Baroque statue of the Madonna: according to legend, the original was set into a wall during the Turkish occupation. When the church was virtually destroyed in 1686, the Madonna made a miraculous reappearance, which the Turks took as an omen of defeat.
More information at: Budapest tour.
About the Author: The author of this article about Budapest is Vasilena Dranchovska, who is a publisher in InformBank - interesting and unique articles.
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