Eastern Europe Travels 2012 Budapest is a tale of two cities, with the Danube River dividing Hungary’s capital into two parts: The hillsides of Buda on one bank and the flatter Pest to the east. An older, more charming European feel is found in Buda, with a layout of narrow cobbled streets and cafes tucked into cosy corners. Elizabeth Platz Danube River and Elizabeth Bridge
1. Eastern Europe Travels 2012Budapest is a tale of two
cities,with the Danube River dividingHungarys capital into two
parts:The hillsides of Buda on onebank and the flatter Pest to
theeast. Elizabeth PlatzAn older, more charmingEuropean feel is
found in Buda,with a layout of narrow cobbledstreets and cafes
tucked intocosy corners.Danube River and Elizabeth Bridge
2. Our Tour Group 3. Chain Bridge Views outside our Hotel
Sofitel HotelThe Chain Bridge was designed by the English engineer
William TierneyClark in 1839 and was opened in 1849. It has
enormous significance in thecountrys economic, social and cultural
life. 4. The lions at each of the Chain Bridge abutments are very
similar in design to the famous bronze lions of Trafalgar Square.
5. A view from our Hotel looking over the ChainBridge to the Buda
Castle and St. Matthias Church 6. A night view of the Buda Castle
Hill illuminated in thebackground over the Chain Bridge and Blue
Danuberiver. Rising 48 meters above the Danube, the BudaCastle Hill
district dominates the city. Buda is the placewhere Budapest was
founded. 7. Cafe Gerbeaud in Pest.The famous Gerbeaud Cafe on
Vrsmarty Square in Pest where we had ourdinner on the first night
of the tour. In 2008 they celebrated the 150thanniversary of its
foundation in 1858. 8. Views Of Fishermens BastionThe Fishermens
Bastion is a terrace in neo-gothic and neo-romanesque stylesituated
on the Buda side of the Danube river. It was designed and
builtbetween 1895 and 1902 and surrounds Matthias Church. Other
restorationwork was carried out after its near destruction during
World War II.Its seven towers represent the seven Magyar tribes
that settled in theCarpathian Basin in 896.The Bastion takes its
name from the guild of fishermenthat was responsible for defending
this stretch of the city walls in the MiddleAges 9. ST. Matthias
Church And Fishermens Bastion 10. ST. Matthias Church 11. One of a
number of views of Fishermens Bastion inPest 12. Statue Of Children
Fishing 13. Outside the Hungarian National Gallery 14.
PeaceWarStatues Of Peace and War 15. Heros Square in Pest 16. This
unique Jewish Synagogue was constructed between 1844-59 alongthe
famous Andrassy Boulevard. The second largest synagogue (thelargest
stands in New York) in the world can take in 3,000 people.
ItsByzantine-Moorish style is a reminder of monuments in the
Middle-East. Two onion-shaped domes sit on the twin towers at 43 m
height.The towers symbolise the two columns of Solomons Temple. 17.
Decorative 1880 Wine House In Buda 18. Parliament House in Pest 19.
The Hungarian Opera House construction started in 1875 andopened to
the public on the September 27, 1884.It was funded bythe city of
Budapest and by Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria andHungary .It
opened to the public on the September 27, 1884. 20. Foyer In The
Opera House 21. View of Pest from Buda Castle District 22. View of
Pest from Buda Castle District 23. St. Stephens Basilica located in
Pest 24. Inside St. Stephens Basilica 25. View of the Dome in St.
Stephens Basilica 26. The Royal Palace In Buda 27. The Basilica of
the Blessed Virgin Mary in Esztergomoutside Budapest is the seat of
the Catholic Church inHungary. 28. Catch a tram or ride a biketo
the Buda Castle district 29. Bye for now
