Budapest in Photos

Philip Roberts, Reporter|May 24, 2023

Philip Roberts

The Hungarian Parliament building is seen in this photo. Construction began in 1885 and the building was inaugurated in 1904. The building was damaged during World War II, then again damaged during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, but has since been restored.

The exterior of Matthias Church is seen in this photo. The church, which has been in existence since 1015, is located in Budapest’s Castle Hill district, which is home to museums, a plethora of shops, and notable buildings, like Buda Castle. In World War II, Budapest suffered great damage, especially in the Castle Hill district. Matthias Church was also severely damaged, but stands firm today. Currently, there are various construction projects happening in this district to restore and reconstruct buildings that were damaged during World War II, at the behest of the Hungarian government. (Philip Roberts)
Gellért Hill, the area settled by a Celtic tribe in the Stone Age, is named after St. Gerard of Csanád, a bishop who was martyred in the year 1046 after being thrown off this hill by pagans. His statue is seen in the top right of the photo. (Philip Roberts)
St. Stephen’s Basilica, named after the first king of Hungary, is seen in this photo. Construction of the basilica was completed in 1905, after taking more than fifty years to reach that point, partially because of the dome’s collapse in 1868 due to improper construction. St. Stephen’s incorruptible right hand is also housed in the basilica. (Philip Roberts)
In the distance, Széchenyi Chain Bridge is visible, one of several bridges that crosses over the Danube River, connecting the Buda side of the city to the Pest side.The Buda side is on the left and the Pest side is on the right. (Philip Roberts)
Andrássy út 60, the address of the building which is pictured here, is now the House of Terror Museum. The building has a long history, albeit recounted briefly here. In late 1944, the building was occupied by the Hungarian Nazi Party, known as the Arrow Cross, though they were soon ousted in the winter of 1945. When Hungary’s communist government took control, this building became the headquarters for their secret police, who remained in the building until 1956. Many atrocities occurred inside Andrássy út 60, detailed in the museum exhibits that are spread throughout four floors. (Philip Roberts)
The bright orange trains of Budapest’s metro system, which became operational in 1896, can be seen throughout the city, connecting many of the city’s 23 districts. In the background of this photo are the Buda Hills. (Philip Roberts)
Buda Castle, which is near Matthias Church, is seen in this photo. The original castle was built in the 13th century after Hungary had been invaded by the Mongols, but the castle which stands today was completed in 1904, after the castle had essentially been reduced to rubble in prior centuries. Like the vast majority of buildings in the Castle Hill district that were damaged in World War II, so too was Buda Castle damaged. Large-scale construction is underway at Buda Castle, in an effort to restore and reconstruct parts of the castle that were destroyed in World War II. (Philip Roberts)
A map of modern-day Hungary. (JRC, EU, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons,)