Budapest

The history of Hungary starts with the migration of the Magyar tribes, around the year 896. Due to the attacks of the Bulgarians they moved to the Danube plains and founded the first settlements in Óbuda and on the island Csepel (both in the current Budapest region). The Magyars have the name of being brutal warriors, sacking towns from Spain to Italy.

In 955, the Magyars are defeated by Otto I, and the conversion to Christianity started. The city of Pest is first mentioned in 1061, and between 1242 and 1244 the Buda Castle was built by King Béla IV, initiating the settlement on Buda. Around the year 1800, Buda has about 24,000 inhabitants, while Pest has about 30,000. In 1873, the 3 cities Pest, Buda and Óbuda are amalgamated and the new city, Budapest, reaches a population of about 300,000.

The end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century is an era of prosperity and growth for Budapest, but after WWI and WWII, where Hungary chose the side of the Germans, Budapest started to decline and it lost much of its luster. However after the fall of the iron curtain, the city has started to recover, regaining the glory of the past.

Some Budapest Highlights:

Great Synagogue, Budapest
	Budapest's largest synagogue was built between 1854 and 1859 by the Viennese architect Ludwig Förster in a Byzantine-Moorish style. More about the synagogue...

Chain Bridge, Budapest
	The Chain Bridge was the first bridge connecting Pest and Buda. The 375 meters long bridge was built in 1857 by William and Adam Clark. More about the Bridge...