The Danube - Europe's most celebrated river - runs majestically through the center of Budapest. The city has taken full advantage of this and it now offers some of the finest panoramas to be found anywhere on the continent. Starting far away in Germany (where the Breg and Brigach rivers meet), the Danube runs some 2859 kilometers before spilling into the Black Sea. On its journey, it passes through Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Romania. Incidentally, contrary to the name of the famous waltz, it is not blue!
The Parliament Building was constructed at a time when Hungary was three times the size it is now, prior to its defeat at the culmination of World War I. The neo-Gothic building is a palatial affair with 691 rooms, 10 courtyards and 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) worth of stairs, making it Budapest's tallest building and one of Hungary's largest structures. Construction began in 1885 based on the designs of architect, Imre Steindl and would take 17 years to bring to fruition. It is a majestic Gothic Revival building with Renaissance and Baroque elements enmeshed in its intricate design. A lavish dome is the centerpiece of the facade, framed by delicate spires and graceful arches, while the interiors are richly ornamented, illuminated by sparkling chandeliers. The inspiration for this building is said to have been the Palace of Westminster in London. Today, the government is housed in only a small portion of the building and is home to the Hungarian Crown Jewels. Like so much along the bank of the Danube, the best views are to be had from across the river.
Shaped like a horseshoe, this massive fortification engulfs a part of Gellért Hill, reminding onlookers of the city's intricate history. Citadella was built in 1851 by the Habsurgs after the War of Independence. After its completion in 1854, it was occupied by Austrian troops, thus causing Hungarians to wrest control of the Citadel. Events unfolded dramatically with the fortress as a political backdrop, a role that it played out during several other conflicts and wars that followed. The fortress also played an important role in Word War II as a military air raid base. Today, the three-storied bunker has been recreated exactly as it was in 1944 and is open to visitors, hosting displays of historical documents, articles, and wartime weaponry. From its perch, the citadel also offers sweeping vistas not only of the city's remarkable landmarks, but also of the languid expanse of the River Danube.
Declared a World Heritage Site in 2002, Andrássy Avenue emerges once visitors get past the busy section of Andrassy utca that leads to Oktogon. Huge and beautiful buildings with intricate and ornate facades are separated from the main road by grassy traffic islands reflecting elaborate urban planning. This street was constructed as part of the nation's millennium celebrations in 1896, along with the M1 metro, which runs beneath it. It was inaugurated in 1872 and took twelve years to complete. Since then, it has been renamed several times: first after Prime Minister Andrássy, then it changed to Sztalin utca, and was changed again to 'Avenue of the People's Republic'. Finally, in 1990 it changed back to Andrassy utca; which many had continued calling it all along. Visitors can enjoy a stroll all the way up to Heroes' Square, from where they can catch the M1 back to Vorosmarty. The boulevard features a number of sprawling structures which are a marvel to behold, including the Hungarian State Opera House, the Zoltán Kodály Memorial Museum and Archives and the Ferenc Hopp Museum of East Asian Arts among others. Restaurants, cafes, boutiques and theaters are also located along the avenue.
Few can deny the import and influence of Hungary's communist chapter on world history. With the fall of communist regime in 1989, the local government was faced with a dilemma - what to do with the numerous monuments dating from this period scattered across the city of Budapest. Following a novel idea proposed by the city government, the monuments were rounded up and relocated, clustered together at the Memento Park in 1993. The park itself is the work of the Hungarian architect, Ákos Eleőd; a landscaped garden that displays over 40 statues, plaques and busts of Stalin, Lenin, Marx and Béla Kun amongst others. Memento Park proffers no political agenda, and is instead simply a compendium of socialist-realist art. Of special interest is the replica of Stalin's boots, the only part of a monumental statue of the leader that was left behind while the rest was destroyed during the Uprising of 1956. On display at the old barracks are exhibits relating to the history of communism in Hungary and a documentary film featuring footage of secret agents.