Budapest, “Queen of the Danube”
Published on: 19th December, 2009
by Natalie Lacson
Cantral Market
As our plane descended, I caught a sight of a city clustered around a sweeping “S” curved river, as elegant as any designed by Lalique or Tiffany. I began to understand why Hungary’s Budapest is called the “Paris of the East”. With its predominant Art Nouveau architecture, Roman baths, green and gold roofed palaces, vibrant street life and churches spread out along both sides of the Danube, linked by spidery iron bridges, Budapest is still one of the world’s most beautiful cities.
In Roman days, the old castles and towns marked the frontier of the empire and the edge of the civilized world. In the Dark Ages, Attila the Hun ruled here. Later, the music and art of high Renaissance flourished along the bend at the courts of the kings of Hungary. Then for a century and a half, the red crescent of Islam flew above their castles and palaces, until the Hapsburgs drove out the Turks to establish the “Austro-Hungarian Empire”.
Budapest as “one city” has only existed since 1873 – when the twin cities of Buda and Pest were united into a single city. Like Prague, it has a river at its focal point. This is the DANUBE BEND, the historic heart of Hungary where thousands of years great hilltop fortresses have stood over the wide blue waters of the river. It is Hungary’s premier tourist attraction next to the green and gold domes of its ancient capital.
The Danube splits the city into two and is over-looked by one of the cities most striking building, the home of the Hungarian Parliament.. It is modeled on the Houses of the Parliament in London. To the west is the “Old Buda”, a hilly panorama and a UNESCO World Heritage site. “Newer Pest”, where most of the cities Art Nouveau architecture is concentrated, lines the river on the east.
Around 1900, one of the most remarkable things happened in Budapest. Art Nouveau arrived, reshaping the face of Hungary’s capital. People make special trips to see Art Nouveau in Prague, Paris, Brussels and Barcelona but rarely think of Budapest. Visitors now with a passion for that style will definitely enjoy the abstract floral motif and ornamental stamp on the buildings, furniture, glass, ceramics, paintings and textiles.
Life for a visitor is relaxing and fun. The shops are full of goods from, leathers, furs and jewelry. One of my favorite
Chainbridge at Night
things to do during my 3 day stay is just walking around admiring the city’s ornate architecture and street life esp at Pest’s tree-lined Andrassy, home to exclusive boutiques (local version of Champs-Elysees), past the opera, musical and puppet theaters, cafes and plush hotels. In the restaurants, the food is plentiful and abundant. Steaming goulash soups are followed by plates piled high with meat covered in rich cream and paprika sauces together with sweet red wines. Gypsy violins and folk songs play everywhere and endlessly – a lovely accompaniment to the evening’s ethereal air.
A day or two of soaking in Budapest’s complex history and you’ll be ready for a relaxing cruise with the Danube’s calm waters as your backdrop. Budapest’s bridges and historic buildings, adorned with sparkling lights create a breathtaking reflection in the river’s still waters – a perfect way to wind down after days of delighting Budapest’s brightest gems.