SCENERY BUDAPEST
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A GUIDED TOUR
Budapest is the capital of the Hungarian Republic. It is situated on
the two banks of river Danube over an area of 525 square kilometers. Buda is
the hilly part of the city while Pest is completely flat and it is twice as 
big as Buda. The two parts are connected by an underground line (that runs 
under the Danube) and eight bridges, six for the road traffic and two for 
the railway.
Altogether there are three underground lines in Budapest and among them
No.1 (that was constructed in 1896) was the first underground line of the
continent. Budapest was founded in the heart of a natural basin (Carpatian 
Basin) at the place where the river after cutting through the Hungarian 
Central Hills, reaches the Great Plane. 
The three parts - Buda, Old Buda (the oldest part of Buda to the North)
and Pest - were officially united in 1873. The new city got the name Budapest
and became the capital of Hungary.

Let me call your attention to the interesting fact that the number "2" 
characterizes our city very well, because it has:
 
  * two parts (Buda and Pest)
  * two million inhabitants (20% of Hungary's population)
  * 22 districts
  * two islands (Margaret Island & Csepel Island)
  * and more than two thousand years of history...

Budapest and the country are famous for its thermal and medicinal waters. 
In Budapest there are 127 springs that gave healing water. (on the territory 
of the country there are 400 springs like that).

Budapest is considered to be one of the most beautiful capitals of Europe. 
The characteristics of the city are given by the natural features. The 
beautiful river that divides the two entirely different parts, the 
outstandingly designed old bridges, the Gellert hill with the Citadella 
(fort) and the Liberation  Monument on the top of it, that can be seen 
from almost any part of the city and from where you can see an exceptional 
panorama of the entire capital.
The Castle District - one of the oldest part of the city - built on a one 
of the Buda hills with the famous Royal Palace, the living place of the 
Hungarian kings during the centuries and with the characteristic building 
of the Mathias Church - the incoronation church.

On the Pest side (east) you can find the third biggest church of the country 
the Saint Stephen's Cathedral.
On the bank of the Danube you find the largest public building of Hungary the
Parliament House built in neo-gothic and neo-renessaince style.

Next to the City Park you can find the biggest square of the city the Hero's
Square which was built in 1896 for the 1000 year anniversary of the 
Hungarian's land-taking. On the square you can see the most prominent 
historical personalities of the Hungarian history. In the middle of the 
square there is a large pillar with the statue of archangel Gabriel. 
At the two sides you can find the Museum of Fine Arts and the Art Gallery.

There are two large railway stations on the Pest side and one on Buda. The
Eastern Railway Terminal is the biggest one. The Western Railway Terminal was
designed by the famous French company Eiffel just as the Margaret Bridge and
a few buildings of the Zoo.


The above mentioned buildings and objects are included and can be seen (at 
very dense scenery setting) on the Budapest scenery.


Written by Esther Pozsar
(c) 1995 Esther Pozsar, Lago
