Budapest: The City Of Lights

Architecturally, Budapest is a gem, with enough baroque, neoclassical, eclectic and art novae buildings to satisfy anyone’s appetite and thus, making Budapest is the most beautiful city in central Europe. Although founded, more than 800 years ago, its beauty still stands unparalleled, despite earthquakes, fires, sieges and world wars. The buildings themselves in Budapest bear tell-tale signs of recent and ancient history.
The Hungarian capital is a delight both by day and by night, with its parks, brimming with attractions, museums filled with treasures, pleasure boats sailing up and down the scenic Danube and Turkish-era thermal baths, and of course its food and wine.

The capital has two sides, Buda and Pest, stretching along the banks of the Danube, representing two different characters of the city. Suburban Buda and its historic castle district offer medieval streets and houses, museums, caves and Roman ruins. The dynamic Pest side boasts the largest parliament building in Europe, riverside promenades, flea markets, bookstores, antique stores and café houses.

The most visited site is Trinity Square, dominated by one of Budapest's most characteristic building, the Mathias Church, which is over 700 years old. Multicolored roof tiles cover the building some of which retained its original Gothic style.

Castle Hill (old town)- has been a cultural and strategic focal point of the city for centuries and was also the site of over 30 sieges. The inevitable damage resulted in several episodes of rebuilding, often re-using stones from the rubble and giving the district a fascinating mix of architectural styles. The showpieces are the spectacular Mátyás Church and the Buda Royal Palace to the south.

The views over Pest from the Fishermen's Bastion is simply breath taking.The Fishermen's Bastion (Halászbástya) is often the first stop for tourists visiting Budapest, the fairytale turrets offering an elevated vantage point from which to view the city. The minarets and walls look medieval, but they were actually built in 1902 by Frigyes Schulek to complement Mátyás Church.

The name of the church refers to King Matthias Corvinus who expanded and embellished the building in Renaissance style. He also added the southern high tower (60 m high) called Matthias bell tower that bears the Hunyadi-s coat of arms a raven holding a golden ring in its beak.
Matthias was a much revered ruler of the era and was one of the greatest kings of Hungary. He was very fond of the arts and sciences and invited famous artists from abroad to help establish Renaissance enlightenment in Hungary. His royal court was famous even in Western Europe and visitors often praised the magnificence of his royal palace.Visible from almost everywhere in Budapest, Gellért Hill (Gellért hegy), with the impressive Freedom Monument on its peak, is one of the city's memorable landmarks.

The royal castle visible  from the bridge,and from the river Danube  

After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1989, Hungary was fully independent, and since then there has been no obstacle in its flowering into one of most beautiful and romantic country.
And what could be more romantic than an evening cruise on the blue river Danube. 
As the sun goes down, and as we sip our Champagne, and feast on the mighty bridges linking Buda and Pest, the mesmerising castle, the views of the glittering Parliament, the monuments of freedom, soaking into the Buda, soaking into the Pest, the "City of lights".................

The two B&W pictures were taken by me.

There is more to come about Budapest, stay tuned.