ABOUT BUDAPEST
What does Budapest look like? - you may ask. In a word or two: Exciting, surprising. Ancient history and recent past, charm and elegance come together to make up the capital, home of two million people. Budapest was born in 1873 when three separate cities Pest, Buda, Óbuda were unified.
The city is divided by the River Danube into two parts: Pest and Buda, which gives the main characteristic of the capital. The twin cities of Buda and Pest contain homogenous parts of different building periods such as vestiges of the Roman occupation, the prestigious Castle District preserved in Romanesque and Gothic style, the rigour of the Habsburg Citadel, the eclecticism of the turn-of-thecentury buildings boasting the richness of the new citizens. The flat east bank is Pest, being the part mainly representing the 19th century with the Parliament, the Heroes' Square, the Andrássy Boulvard etc. and also known as the dynamic administrative and business centre of the country. The hilly west bank is Buda being old historical part of the metropolis, celebrates two thousands years of human history since the land was already a province of the Roman Empire. Because of its cosmopolitan flair, Budapest is called "Paris of the East" as well.
Budapest is the only capital in the world with more than 100 active thermal springs and fountains. Among them there are still operating Turkish baths: bath of Rác, Rudas and the King bath.
Budapest also has a great tradition in hosting special events and prestigious festivals: each of the four seasons has its own festival.
The traditions of Hungarian cuisine and wine have, in the last ten to fifteen years, successfully mingled with modern sophistication. There are places where homemade Hungarian dishes are provided but you can also find food from around the world offering every gourmand something to his/her taste.
Wine making in Hungary has a glorious history: Hungarian wines have been drunk in the civilised world for centuries maintaining Hungary's position as the third senior wine producing country in Europe.
Some fall in love with Budapest at first sight, others will only become devotees after a longer stay, but no-one denies that it is one of the most beautifully situated cities in the world.
Come and discover Budapest, the "Pearl of the Danube"!
