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Budapest, including the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrássy Avenue*
UNESCO World Heritage Site
State Party	Hungary
Type	Cultural
Criteria	ii, iv
Reference	400
Region†	Europe and North America
Inscription History
Inscription	1987  (11th Session)
Extensions	2002
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. † Region as classified by UNESCO.

Buda Castle (Hungarian: Budai Vár, Turkish: Budin Kalesi) is the historical castle of the Hungarian kings in Budapest, Hungary. In the past, it was also called Royal Palace (Hungarian: Királyi-palota) and Royal Castle (Hungarian: Királyi Vár). Turks also called it as Coy Buda (Turkish: Nazlı Budin) during and after the Ottoman rule. Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Andrássy Avenue or Andrássy út (lit. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 564 pixel Image in higher resolution (1042 × 734 pixel, file size: 184 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) This picture ©Copyright Civertan Grafikai Stúdió (Civertan Bt. ... As of 2006, there are a total of 830 World Heritage Sites located in 138 State Parties. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Hungary. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... This is a list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Europe. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... Pierrefonds Castle, France. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Look up Ottoman, ottoman in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Buda Castle was built on the southern tip of Castle Hill, next to the old Castle District (Hun: Várnegyed), which is famous about its medieval, Baroque and 19th century houses and public buildings. It is linked to Adam Clark Square and the Széchenyi Chain Bridge by the Castle Hill Funicular. Adoration, by Peter Paul Rubens. ... Széchenyi Lánchíd by night Széchenyi Lánchíd or Széchenyi Chain Bridge is one of the most famous bridges of Budapest, Hungary. ... Looking down the line, with the Széchenyi Chain Bridge in the background Looking up the line, showing the distinctive foot bridges The Budapest Castle Hill Funicular or Budavári Sikló is a funicular railway in the city of Budapest, in Hungary. ...

Buda Castle is part of the Budapest World Heritage Site, declared in 1987. A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ...

Maps

• near view Castle: [1]

History

Main article: History of Buda Castle

The first royal residence on the Castle Hill was built by King Béla IV of Hungary between 1247 and 1265. Buda Castle (Hungarian: Budai Vár) is the historical castle of the Hungarian kings in Budapest, Hungary. ... Béla IV c. ...

Buda Castle during the Middle Ages. From the Chronicles of Hartmann Schedel

The oldest part of the present-day palace was built in the 14th century by Prince Stephen, Duke of Slavonia, the younger brother of King Louis I of Hungary. The Gothic palace of King Louis I was arranged around a narrow courtyard next to the Stephen's Tower. Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... Hartmann Schedel, a german humanist and historian (* February 13, 1440 in Nuremberg, † November 28, 1514 in Nuremberg), was one of the first cartographers to make use of the printing press. ... Louis the Great. ... Interior of Cologne Cathedral Gothic architecture is a style of architecture, particularly associated with cathedrals and other churches, which flourished in Europe during the high and late medieval period. ...

King Sigismund Luxemburg of Hungary greatly enlarged the palace. During his long reign it became probably the largest Gothic palace of the late Middle Ages. Buda was also an important artistic centre of the International Gothic style. Sigismund, aged approximately 50, depicted by unknown artist in the 1420s — the only contemporary portrait. ... Interior of Cologne Cathedral Gothic architecture is a style of architecture, particularly associated with cathedrals and other churches, which flourished in Europe during the high and late medieval period. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... International Gothic is a subset of Gothic art developed in Burgundy, Bohemia and northern Italy in the late 1300s and early 1400s. ...

The last phase of grand-scale building activity happened under King Matthias Corvinus) when Italian humanists, artists and craftsmen arrived at Buda. The Hungarian capital became the first centre of Renaissance north of the Alps. Matthias Corvinus (Mátyás in Hungarian), (February 23, 1443 (?) - April 6, 1490) was one of the greatest Kings of Hungary, ruling between 1458 and 1490. ... The Renaissance (French for rebirth, or Rinascimento in Italian), was a cultural movement in Italy (and in Europe in general) that began in the late Middle Ages, and spanned roughly the 14th through the 17th century. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

After the Battle of Mohács the medieval Kingdom of Hungary collapsed. On 29 August 1541 Buda was occupied again by the Ottomans without any resistance. The Hungarian capital became part of Ottoman Empire as the seat of the Eyalet of Budin. // Combatants Ottoman Empire Kingdom of Hungary Commanders Suleiman I Louis II of Hungary † Pál Tomori † György Zápolya Strength ~ 100,000 supported by 10,000 to 20,000 irregulars 160 to 300 cannons ~ 25,000 to 28,000 53 cannons (85 initial) John Zápolyas 8,000... The Kingdom of Hungary (Hungarian: Magyar Királyság) is the name of a multiethnic kingdom that existed in Central Europe from 1000 to 1918. ... Motto دولت ابد مدت Devlet-i Ebed-müddet (The Eternal State) Anthem Ottoman imperial anthem Borders in 1680, see: list of territories Capital Söğüt (1299–1326) Bursa (1326–65) Edirne (1365–1453) Constantinople (Ä°stanbul, 1453–1922) Language(s) Ottoman Turkish Government Monarchy [[Category:Former monarchies}}|Ottoman Empire, 1299]] Sultans  - 1281–1326... Vilâyet (also eyalet or pashaluk) was the Turkish name for the provinces of the Ottoman Empire. ...

The new Ottoman government left the palace decaying. It was partially used as barracks, storage place and stables, otherwise it stood empty.

The medieval palace was destroyed in the great siege of 1686 when Buda was captured by the allied Christian forces. In the heavy artillery bombardment many buildings collapsed and burned out. Buda (German: Ofen, Croatian: Budim, Slovak: Budín, Serbian: Будим or Budim, Turkish: Budin) is the western part of the Hungarian capital Budapest on the right bank of the Danube. ...

In 1715 King Charles III ordered the demolition of the ruins. Luckily the southern fortifications, zwingers and rooms were only buried under tons of rubbish and earth. Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI Charles VI, (German Karl VI; in full Karl Josef Franz)Holy Roman Emperor (October 1, 1685 – October 20, 1740) was Holy Roman Emperor from 1711 to 1740 and the second son of Leopold I with his third wife, Eleonore-Magdalena of Pfalz-Neuburg. ...

In 1715 a small Baroque palace was built which is identical with the core of the present-day palace. Baroque architecture, starting in the early 17th century in Italy, took the humanist Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical, theatrical, sculptural fashion, expressing the triumph of absolutist church and state. ...

The Hillebrandt-façade of the cour d'honneur

In 1748 Count Antal Grassalkovich, President of the Hungarian Chamber appealed to the public to finish the derelict palace by means of public subscription. The new Royal Palace became the symbol of peace and friendship between the Habsburg dynasty and the nation. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (768 × 1024 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (768 × 1024 pixel, file size: 1. ...

The plans of the splendid, U-shaped Baroque palace with a cour d'honneur were drawed by Jean Nicolas Jadot, chief architect of the Viennese court. They were later modified by his successor, Nicolaus Pacassi. The foundation stone of the palace was laid on 13 May 1749. In 1769 the palace was finished. Blenheim Palace, The Cour dHonneur is the large central court formed by the secondary wings containing kitchens and domestic offices flanking the Corps de logis Versailles: Louis Le Vau opened up the interior court to create the expansive entrance cour dhonneur, later copied all over Europe Cour d...

In 1791 the palace became the residence of the Habsburg Palatines of the Kingdom of Hungary. The palatinal court in Buda Castle was the centre of fashionable life and high society in the Hungarian capital. The palatine (Latin: comes palatii, comes palatinus, later: palatinus (regni), Hungarian: nádorispán/ nádor, Slovak: nádvorný župan/ nádvorný špán, later: palatín / nádvorník, German: Palatin) was the highest dignitary in the Kingdom of Hungary after the king (a kind of powerful prime minister... The Kingdom of Hungary (Hungarian: Magyar Királyság) is the name of a multiethnic kingdom that existed in Central Europe from 1000 to 1918. ...

On 4 May 1849 the Hungarian revolutionary army of Artúr Görgey laid siege on Buda Castle. The Hungarians captured Buda with a great assault, but the palace completely burned out. Artúr Görgey (January 30, 1818 - May 21, 1916), was a Hungarian military leader. ...

The palace was soon rebuilt between 1850 and 1856. Later in 1867 after the Ausgleich Franz Joseph was crowned to the king of Hungary. The palace played an important part in the lavish ceremony, symbolizing peace between the dynasty and the nation. The German term Ausgleich (Hungarian kiegyezés) refers to the compromise or composition of February 1867 that established the Dual Monarchy of Austria-Hungary, which was signed by Franz Joseph of Austria and a Hungarian delegation led by Ferenc Deák. ...

In the last decades of the 19th century the autonomous Hungarian government intended to create a royal palace that matches any famous European royal residence. The process of rebuilding lasted about forty years between 1875 and 1912, and caused sweeping changes in topography of the whole area.

The new Royal Palace, designed by Alajos Hauszmann, was officially inaugurated in 1912. Contemporary critics praised it as the most outstanding Hungarian building of the turn of the century. Indeed it was a magnificent Gesamtkunstwerk of architecture, sculpture, applied arts and gardening. Hauszmann Alajos (Buda, June 9, 1847 – Velence, July 31, 1926): architect, professor, member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. ... Look up Gesamtkunstwerk in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

After the 1918 revolution and the dethronization of the Habsburg dynasty the Royal Palace became the seat of the new regent of the Kingdom of Hungary, Miklós Horthy. “Horthy” redirects here. ...

Buda Castle was the last major strongpoint of Budapest held by Axis forces during the siege of Budapest between 29 December 1944 and 13 February 1945. Heavy fights and artillery fire rendered the palace once again into a heap of ruins. Area under Axis control over the course of the war shown in black The Axis powers, also interpreted as Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries or sometimes just the Axis were those countries opposed to the Allies during the Second World War. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Immediately after the war archeological research was begun to unearth the remains of the medieval castle. It came out that important parts of the former Sigismund and Matthias palace survived under the thick level of earth fill.

The grand-scale reconstruction of the medieval fortifications substantially changed the cityscape of Budapest. It is considered a highly successful project which managed to reconcile historical authenticity with urban planing demands.

The fate of the ruined Neo-Baroque palace was different. The new Communist government of Hungary considered the Royal Palace a symbol of the former regime. During the 1950s the palace was gutted and all the interiors were destroyed. Important exterior details were also demolished.

Interiors

Main article: Interiors of Buda Castle

The lavishly decorated interiors of the palace were all destroyed during WW2 and the post-war reconstruction (except the Palatinal Crypt). There are very few data about the interiors of the medieval and Baroque era. The Hauszmann palace was meticuliously recorded with detailed descriptions, photographic documentation and groundplans. Hauszmann himself said about the royal apartments: "I created a 200 m long series of rooms, longer than any similar royal apartments in continental Europe except Versailles." The most important rooms were as follows: The interiors of Buda Castle, the former palace of the Hungarian kings in Budapest, Hungary were all destroyed during WW2 and the post-war reconstruction (except the Palatinal Crypt). ... The Château de Versailles, or simply Versailles, is a royal château in Versailles, France. ...

Ballroom (ca. 1894)

• Ballroom (Nagyterem) - The Ballroom on the first floor of the Baroque wing had several layers of Baroque decoration from the second half of the 18th and the 19th century. In Hauszmann's time the room had a Rococo white-golden stucco decoration with three huge chandeliers. During the post-war reconstruction Vinzenz Fischer's original Baroque frescoes were re-discovered in 1953. In spite of this all the decoration layers were destroyed. Today it houses the Gothic altar collection of the Hungarian National Gallery.

• St. Sigismund Chapel or Castle Church (Szent Zsigmond-kápolna, Vártemplom) - The palace chapel in the western end of this wing had no façades, only a door opening onto Lions Court. The church was consecrated in 1769. The ground plan was drawn by Nicolaus Pacassi but the interior was designed by his follower, Franz Anton Hillebrandt. The groundplan followed a typical "violin" form, favoured in the Baroque church architecture of Central Europe that time. In 1957 the ruined church was totally destroyed and converted to exhibition spaces.

• Palatinal Crypt (Nádori kripta) - The Palatinal Crypt under the former palace chapel is now the only surviving room of the whole Royal Castle. The crypt was continuously used by the Hungarian branch of the Habsburg family from 1820 until 1927. It was repeatedy restored and enriched with new works of art, frescoes, statues and ornate stone sarcophagi, made by the best artists of the 19th century.

• Great Ballroom (Nagy bálterem) - The Great Ballroom in the middle part of the Northern Wing took over the function of the smaller old Ballroom. It was the most splendid room of the palace, designed by Hauszmann. The two-storeys high, airy room was lavishly decorated with stuccoes, half columns, trabeation, balconies and six huge crystal chandeliers in Neo-Baroque style. Photos made after the war show the room with its vaulted ceiling collapsed. In the course of the reconstruction the ballroom was totally destroyed.

• Main staircase (Főlépcsőház) - The monumental main staircase of the Krisztinaváros Wing with three flights was leading up from to the first floor in an airy, glass-roofed hall. The side walls of the hall were decorated in Italian Renaissance style. At the ground-floor colossal Atlas statues stood beside the side pillars. The marble statues were the works of János Fadrusz from 1897. During the post-war reconstruction the main staircase was radically modernized. Only the two colossal Atlas statues survived.

• Saint Stephen's Room ("Szent István" terem) - Saint Stephen's Room on the first floor of the Krisztinaváros wing was one of the "historical rooms" of the palace, created by Hauszmann. Together with the Matthias Room and the Habsburg Room they represented the three most important periods of Hungarian history. Its style evoked the age of the Árpáds, the first Hungarian dynasty in the early Middle Ages.

• Matthias Room ("Mátyás" terem) - Matthias Room was named after Matthias Corvinus, the greatest Hungarian king in the late Middle Ages. The style of the room was aptly chosen as Renaissance with carved wooden panelling and a coffered ceiling. The most spectacular item was the equestrian statue of King Matthias, sculpted by János Fadrusz.

• Habsburg Room (Habsburg terem) - The Habsburg Room was situated right in the middle of the long palace complex, under Hauszmann's (false) dome. The room had a lavish Baroque decoration with half-pillars and gilded stuccoes. The vaulted ceiling was decorated with Károly Lotz's huge fresco: Apotheosis of the Habsburg Dynasty. Károly Senyei's four Carrara marble busts stood in front of the sidewalls representing Habsburg kings and queens. The Habsburg Room survived WW2 unscathed but in the 1950s it was delibaretely destroyed for political reasons.

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The gallery is located in a section of Buda Castle The museum displays the works of Hungarian artists and sculptors such as Béni Ferenczy The Hungarian National Gallery is the national art museum located in Buda Castle in Budapest, Hungary. ... Image:Flag of the Hapsburg Monarchy. ... Atlantes in eclectic style, Kanałowa Str. ... János Fadrusz János Fadrusz(1858 Pozsony - 1903 Budapest) was a Hungarian sculptor. ... See also the history of Europe, the history of present-day nations and states, Hungary before the Magyars, and Hungary. ... The Árpáds (Hungarian: Árpádok, Slovak: Arpádovci, Croatian: Arpadovići) were a dynasty ruling in historic Hungary from the late 9th century to 1301 (with some interruptions, e. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... Matthias Corvinus as depicted in Chronica Hungarorum by Carl van Vechten Matthias Corvinus (Matthias the Just) (February 23, 1443 (?) – April 6, 1490) was King of Hungary, ruling between 1458 and 1490. ... The Renaissance (French for rebirth, or Rinascimento in Italian), was a cultural movement in Italy (and in Europe in general) that began in the late Middle Ages, and spanned roughly the 14th through the 17th century. ... János Fadrusz János Fadrusz(1858 Pozsony - 1903 Budapest) was a Hungarian sculptor. ... Lotz Károly Antal Pál, or Karl Anton Paul Lotz (December 16, 1833, Bad Homburg vor der Höhe - October 13, 1904, Budapest) was a German-Hungarian painter. ... Carrara is a city in the Massa Carrara province of Tuscany, Italy, famous for the white or blue_gray marble quarried there. ...

Works of art

The Royal Palace and its gardens were decorated with statues, many of which survived:

• Matthias Fountain (Mátyás-kút) - The spectacular fountain is decorating the western forecourt of the palace. It shows a group of hunters lead by King Matthias Corvinus together with hounds, a killed deer, Galeotto Marzio with a hawk and Szép Ilonka with a doe. This group of people stands between fallen rocks with water running down into a basin. The fountain was made by sculptor Alajos Stróbl. It was restored after the war. Nowadays it is probably the most photographed object in the palace.

Matthias Corvinus as depicted in Chronica Hungarorum by Carl van Vechten Matthias Corvinus (Matthias the Just) (February 23, 1443 (?) – April 6, 1490) was King of Hungary, ruling between 1458 and 1490. ... Self portrait sculpture completed in the 1880s Alajos Stróbl(1856 - 1926) was a Hungarian sculptor and artist. ...

Museums

The Historical Museum of Budapest is located in Buda Castle, boasting over 4 floors. This museum presents the history of Budapest from the beginnings until the end of the Communist era. There is also the restored lower part of the medieval Royal Chapel, and underground there are examples of dungeons and other displays. Outside one can observe the architectural beauty of the Buda Castle and see wonderful small gardens in the medieval "zwingers" (walled enclosures). There is also a closed-off well, and a magnificent view of the surrounding area, the Castle District. There is a tower which can easily be accessed in the outdoor area, and a walkway on the same level. Both the tower and the walkway boast shocking panoramas of Budapest, especially the Parliament building, the Danube, the nearby streets, and, on a clear day, the Freedom Statue.

The museum is fairly cheap and, if one wishes to save the expense of buying books of the Buda Castle, a photography ticket (Hungarian: fotójegy) is available (in the summer of 2005, the price of a photography ticket was 600 forint, which is equivalent to about 3 USD) . ISO 4217 Code HUF User(s) Hungary Inflation 3. ...

The castle also houses the Hungarian National Gallery. As part of the castle, there are excavations and smaller ruins. Many of these can be walked in. The gallery is located in a section of Buda Castle The museum displays the works of Hungarian artists and sculptors such as Béni Ferenczy The Hungarian National Gallery is the national art museum located in Buda Castle in Budapest, Hungary. ...

See also

• Tabán historic Neighbourhood
• Naphegy best near, panoramic view to Buda Castle west side
• Krisztinaváros historic Neighbourhood

Tabán is a small neighborhood in central Budapest that is situated just west of Castle Hill. ... Naphegy (Sun Hill, literally: Sun Mountain) is a historic part of Krisztinaváros, near to old Tabán in the District I. of Budapest, Hungary. ... Krisztinaváros (Christine Town) is a small neighborhood in central Budapest that is situated just west of Castle Hill, north of Tabán. ...

External links

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Budapest 01

• History section: Miklós Horler: Budapest műemlékei I, Bp: 1955, pp. 259—307
• Baroque palace: György Kelényi: A királyi udvar építkezései Pest-Budán a XVIII. században, Bp: Akadémiai Kiadó, 2005, pp. 27—34
• Nuns and scholars: György Kelényi: A királyi udvar építkezései Pest-Budán a XVIII. században, Bp: Akadémiai Kiadó, 2005, pp. 34-38
• Post-war reconstruction: László Gerő: A helyreállított budai vár, Bp, 1980, pp. 11—60.
• Interiors: Architectura Hungariae 8(2006), 1 – with groundplans and photos.

v • d • e

World Heritage Sites in Hungary

Budapest, including the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrássy Avenue · Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst (with Slovakia) · Early Christian Necropolis of Pécs (Sopianae) · Fertő / Neusiedlersee Cultural Landscape (with Austria) · Old Village of Hollókő and its Surroundings · Hortobágy National Park – the Puszta · Millenary Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma and its Natural Environment · Tokaj Wine Region Historic Cultural Landscape Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... The Wikimedia Commons (also called Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Danube (ancient Danuvius, Iranian *dānu, meaning river or stream, ancient Greek Istros) is the longest river in the European Union and Europes second longest river. ... Andrássy Avenue or Andrássy út (lit. ... Aggtelek National Park is a national park in Northern Hungary, in the Aggtelek karst region. ... Pécs   (Latin: Quinque Ecclesiae, Croatian: Pečuh, German: Fünfkirchen, Serbian: Pečuj or Печуј, Slovak: Päťkostolie, Turkish: Peçuy, Italian: Cinquechiese) is the fourth largest city of Hungary, located in the south-west of the country. ... A storks nest typical for the region The Neusiedler See (Hungarian: FertÅ‘) is the only steppe lake in Central Europe and is located at the border between Austria and Hungary. ... HollókÅ‘ is an ethnographic village in Hungary, part of the World Heritage. ... Hortobágy is a part of Alföld (Great Plain) in eastern Hungary, near Debrecen. ... Pannonhalma Archabbey It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Archabbey of Pannonhalma. ... Tokaj is a historic wine region located in present-day Northeastern Hungary and Southeastern Slovakia (see Tokaj). ...

Coordinates: 47°29′46″N, 19°02′23″E Image File history File links Flag_of_Hungary. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...