Since the 17th century, Buda and Pest were 2 cities separated by the Danube River; Buda being the royal stronghold and Pest being Hungary’s commercial centre.

Budapest became a single city occupying both banks of the river Danube with a unification on 17 November 1873 of right-bank Buda and Óbuda with left-bank Pest.

Buda’s Castle Hill sights.

Lion’s Gate defending the entrance to the Royal Palace.  The Royal Palace currently houses 3 museums.

Fishermen’s Bastion

One of the most prominent sights in Castle Hill – Fishermen’s Bastion.  Built as a viewing platform in 1905, the bastion’s name was taken from the guild of fishermen responsible for defending this stretch of the wall in the Middle Ages.  The seven gleaming white turrets represent the Magyar tribes that entered the Carpathian Basin in the late 9th century.

The Fishermen’s Bastion is named after both a nearby medieval fishmarket and the Guild of Fishermen who defended this section of the wall during past wars.

The mounted statue is King Stephan (Istvan in Hungarian) the first king of Hungary.  He was declared a saint for his efforts in bringing Christianity to Hungary and carries the apostolic cross with two crossbars – a symbol granted him by the Pope.

Caroline with one of her many poses.  In this picture, you also get a sneak peek at Val (only 1/4 of her face 🙂 )

A statue posing for my photo? – rather eerie that it is looking straight at me. :-p

Castle Hill Old Town

Statue of the Holy Trinity – one of the ‘plague’ pillars put up by grateful and healthy Buda survivors of the Black plague.

Vienna Gate – the medieval entrance to the Old town, which was rebuilt in 1936 to mark the 250th anniversary of the retaking of the castle from the Turks. The Vienna Gate is often referenced as a typical Hungarian parental retort for children who talk back, they will be scolded with “Your mouth is as big as the Vienna Gate!”

Hungarian handiwork and lace – common sights along the streets of the Old Town