A bit of Buda Castle
April 28 in Hungary ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
Once refuelled, we caught a bus up onto Castle Hill, to admire the views from Halászbástya (Fisherman's Bastion) back across to Pest.
The Fisherman’s Bastion was part of the 12th century fortifications, named for the fishermen who were up early and so likely to first spot approaching invaders. The current building however is a late 19th century embellishment. The views across the Danube were stunning.
Just behind the bastion, is the confusingly named Budavári Nagyboldogasszony-templom (Church of Our Lady of Buda Castle) also called Matyas Templom (Matthias Church) and the Coronation Church of Buda. The second largest medieval church in Buda, it was originally built in 1015 but mostly rebuilt in the 14th century and extensively renovated in the 19th century. The reference to Matthias is to King Matthias who was married here twice in 1463 and 1476. The last 2 kings of Hungary were also crowned here: Franz Joseph I and Charles IV in 1867 and 1916 respectively.
The church also served as a mosque during the Ottoman occupation from 1541 to 1686,
Inside, the walls are richly decorated in a Neo Gothic style, with frescos covering the walls and ceilings in contrast to the white exterior.
We then headed for a guided tour of the Hospital in the Rock and Sziklakórház Atombunker Múzeum (Nuclear Bunker Museum). This site was a closely guarded secret, only declassified in the early 2000s and the location of a hospital and bunker hidden inside caves under Buda Castle. Designed for 20-50 patients in the late 1930s but routinely dealing with 500+ during the Battle of Budapest in 1944-1945. As the city was devastated by Allied bombing and then the Red Army’s siege and ultimate liberation, patients included soldiers from both sides as well as civilians. Later the hospital served again during the 1956 uprising, before being upgraded to cope with the potential of nuclear war as part of the city’s civil defence infrastructure. Part of the exhibits focus on the terrible suffering and damage caused by the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs, with a message of peace.
No photos were allowed inside but the pictures on this website will give the general idea: https://whichmuseum.com/museum/hospital-in-the-…Read more