Budapest Castle: The European Treasure That Redefines Majesty and Mystery
Budapest Castle is the Royal Palace in the capital of Hungary. It houses the Historical Museum of Budapest, the Hungarian National Gallery, and the Labyrinth of Buda Castle. Completely enclosed by ramparts, the Buda Fortress rises some 50 meters above the Danube River and, especially at night, thanks to atmospheric lighting, offers an unexpected atmosphere. St Matthias Church with its painted roofs, the Fishermen’s Bastions, and the Royal Palace then shine with a thousand lights. Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful sights in Budapest.
History
It was King Bela IV, who ruled this territory from 1235 to 1270, who wanted the construction of a fortress in case of invasion by the Mongols; under the reign of Sigismund of Luxembourg, over a hundred years later, the castle was extended. But the heyday Budavári Palota reached its peak during the reign of Matthias Corvinus (1458–1490), a brilliant ruler, man of letters, and humanist, who made it a cradle of the arts and sciences and also made some changes to the building in the Renaissance style.
The 1686 siege against the Turkish occupier did not spare the royal palace, which was severely damaged. Between the 18th and 19th centuries, the Habsburgs wanted to make it a residence worthy of their rank: Maria Theresa of Austria had the imposing Baroque buildings erected, later Franz Joseph commissioned Alajos Hauszmann and Miklós Ybl in 1890 to remodel the building with neo-Baroque features. In reality, the emperor only stayed in this fortress for short periods despite having wanted it so sumptuous and imposing.
A Visit to Budapest Castle
The façade of the Royal Palace stretches 300 meters along the Danube. A gigantic bird of prey with outstretched wings and a sword in its talons seems to take flight from a pillar of the iron gate surrounding the fortress: it is the turul, the mythical bird emblem of the Magyar tribes. In the center of the palace, a dome rests on a set of twin columns while on the large panoramic terrace stands the equestrian statue of Eugene of Savoy, one of the liberators from the Turks.
Two scenes from the Battle of Zenta in 1697, which took place during the Ottoman-Austrian war, are depicted on the pedestal. Continuing along this promenade to the ledge overlooking the river, one reaches an impressive spot with a view of Budapest. From left and right, one can recognize Margaret Island, the Parliament, the Chain Bridge, St Stephen’s Basilica, and, from a distance, Gellert Hill, the citadel, and the Liberation Monument.
Hungarian National Gallery
The Royal Palace houses the Hungarian National Gallery and the Historical Museum of Budapest. The Magyar Nemzeti Galéria is a museum devoted entirely to Hungarian painting and writing from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. The collections are distributed in wings A, B, C, and D of the fortress: the Old Throne Room on the first floor, for example, houses valuable late Gothic altarpieces such as those from Szepes, Sáros, Lipto, and Csik.
Among the 19th-century painters are László Paál and Mihály Munkácsy: the former devoted himself to the depiction of landscapes (including the works Noon and Path in the Forest of Fontainebleau), while the latter, who studied in Berlin, Munich, and Paris, is known for The Last Day of the Condemned Man and The Bearer of Faggots. Other interesting paintings include The Baptism of Vajk by Gyula Benczúr and Miklós Zrínyi at the Battle of Szigetvár by Péter Krafft.
Information on Tickets and Opening Hours
Buda Castle Funicular (Budavári Sikló)
- Opening Hours: Daily from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
Please note that the funicular may close on specific days due to scheduled maintenance. It is advisable to check for updates before your visit. - Ticket Prices:
- Adults: 5,000 HUF (round trip).
- Children (3–14 years): 2,500 HUF (round trip).
- Children under 3 years: Free.
Payments are accepted only in cash (HUF) at the ticket counter.
Budapest Historical Museum (Budapesti Történeti Múzeum)
- Opening Hours:
- March 1–October 31: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM.
- November 1–February 29: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
- Closed on Mondays.
- Ticket Prices:
- Adults: 3,800 HUF.
- Students (6–26 years): 1,900 HUF.
- Seniors (65–70 years): 1,900 HUF.
- Free entry for ICOM cardholders and on certain national holidays.
Hungarian National Gallery (Magyar Nemzeti Galéria)
Free entry for ICOM cardholders and on certain national holidays.
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (last entry at 5:00 PM). Closed on Mondays.
Ticket Prices:
Adults: 4,000 HUF.
Students and seniors: 2,000 HUF.
