Castle Hill and Buda Castle

The Castle District is hilly, while Pest on the other side is flat. On one of the hills along the Danube a castle was built in the 13th century. This happened after the invasion of the Mongols who destroyed a large part of Hungary. When they withdrew, King Bela IV decided to build a castle surrounded by a town. Heavy ramparts had to protect the king and the civilians against a new attack by the Mongols. For seven centuries, this castle was to be the home of the Hungarian royal family.

The castle was severely damaged several times, after which it was rebuilt each time and provided with new elements. At the end of the Second World War there was heavy fighting between the Germans and the advancing Russians. The fortress complex was severely damaged again. Houses were destroyed and the royal palace was burned down. In the years that followed, the palace was restored, but little was left of the royal interior. However, during the renovation work underneath the palace, the remains of earlier castles were found.

A number of museums are housed in the restored complex. The National Gallery is housed in the main wings of the former castle (buildings B, C and D). In the beautiful rooms you can see a complete overview of Hungarian art, from the foundation of the state until now. Modern art can be seen in the Ludwig Museum (building A).

In the Budapest History Museum (building E) you can see objects that have been found during archaeological excavations in Hungary. Restored art from the former palace is also on display.

The area around the castle invites you to stroll around for hours. Narrow streets, medieval houses, unique sights, cosy coffee houses and nice souvenir shops.

Underneath the Castle Hill is an extensive cave system.