The Danube Bend is a place where the second largest river in Europe changes its direction several times, making a sharp bend in the valley of the Carpathian basin. This place is considered very popular among tourists, as there are a number of small towns here that are interesting for their architecture, history and culture. Among all these towns, the most frequently visited are the cities of Szentendre, Visegrad and Esztergom.
The Hungarian town of Szentendre is called the “southern gate” of the Danube bend. The most famous attractions of this city are the temples built in the 14th - 17th centuries in the Rococo style, the Museum of Serbian Orthodox Church Art, the Szabó Marzipan Museum and the 31-kilometer-long Szentendrei Island, which has several wonderful golf courses.
Visegrad is a city that houses the magnificent Palace of King Matthias with 350 rooms and luxurious red marble wells. In addition to the palace, in the city you can see the five-story Chalamon Tower, built in the 13th century, Shibrik Hill - the remains of a Roman military camp of the 4th century, and a large excursion center on Mount Modyoro.
The “Western Gate” of the Danube bend, the city of Esztergom, attracts tourists with its ancient history, because it was considered the capital of Hungary for almost 250 years at the beginning of the second millennium. In the city, you should definitely visit such places as the Basilica on the Fortress Hill - the symbol of the city with the largest altar image in the country, and the Fortress Museum.
Observation deck on the Danube Bend
The observation deck on the Danube Bend is located in Visegrad (Vysehrad).
Visegrad, this Slavic name for the fortress “vishegrad” - “high city”, has been preserved since Roman times. Visegrad is built on the top of a mountain. The observation deck is located at an altitude of 342 meters at the foot of which the Danube makes a 180-degree turn and presents an unforgettable picture that can be observed from the observation deck of the citadel.
Visegrad is a fortified city. It received its name from the Slavs who inhabited these lands until the 9th century and means “city on a high place.” Located at the junction of Slavic territories and western lands, 48 km from Budapest.
Previously, there were Roman settlements here, and the fortress itself was built only in the 13th century and is surrounded by high impregnable walls. You can enter inside only through secret passages or along one narrow staircase.
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Visegrad Fortress and Solomon's Tower
The Visegrád fortress and palace were destroyed in the 18th century by Habsburg troops in the war for Hungary. To date, only one tower of the fortress has been preserved - Solomon's Tower. According to legend, it was in this tower that Vlad Tepes was imprisoned at one time.
The Visegrad Fortress is considered the main attraction of Visegrad, a very small city in Hungary.
The fortress was built above the bend of the Danube on the top of the Sibrik hill, and from its walls there is a beautiful view of the surrounding landscapes.
After devastating wars, the fortress was almost completely destroyed; its restoration began in the 19th century.
Tourists on excursions are told about its ancient citadel buildings and Solomon's Tower, in which Count Dracula himself was imprisoned.
To this day, only one residential tower of the fortress has been completely preserved - the Tower of Solomon. Its powerful walls reach eight meters in thickness. It is considered a tall and imposing fortification of the Romanesque style that survived in Central Europe.
Matej Csak took possession of the fortress at the beginning of the 14th century, and later it was occupied by the royal court and King Charles I Robert made Visegrad his residence.
When the Turkish war came, the southern part was destroyed, and after the yoke was expelled, Solomon's Tower was empty, the stones were dismantled for building material.
The most popular attractions in Visegrad with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose the best places to visit famous places in Visegrad on our website.
To the north of Budapest there are beautiful cities worthy of a traveler's attention. You need to visit them to feel the Hungarian flavor and learn more about the history of this country. 20 km from Budapest - a city of craftsmen and artists Szentendre, impressive with its authentic atmosphere. A picturesque road along the Danube bend will lead to an ancient fortress Vysehrad Esztergom- an ancient city, the first capital of Hungary. It is located just 60 km north of Budapest, on the southern bank of the Danube on the border with Slovakia.
Szentendre, which means Saint Andrew in Latin, was founded back in the 11th century. The name was given to it by the Hungarian king Stephen. In the 14th century, Serbian and Greek refugees rebuilt the town that had been incinerated by the Tatar-Mongols. The convenient location on the Danube contributed to the development of trade and crafts. Szentendre has become a haven for many nations; this mixture of religions and cultures has made the architecture and flavor of the city unique. The beautiful Catholic Church of Saints Peter and Paul, the reformist Church of the Assumption and four Orthodox churches of the 18th century have been preserved and are still in use: the Church of the Transfiguration, the Greek Church of the Annunciation, the Serbian Churches of the Epiphany and the Cathedral. The 8th-9th century Roman Catholic parish church is famous for the oldest wall hourglass.
Since the beginning of the 19th century, artists have chosen the beautiful city. Szentendre was filled with numerous art workshops, this became a new round of development of the town. There was even such a term in art as the “Sentendrei school”.
The museum town of Szentendre invites you to take leisurely romantic walks along cozy small streets and along the beautiful embankment. Of particular interest are the narrow streets between low houses, decorated with small arches on top. They are called "tez". The entrance to such streets resembles the entrance to a small courtyard, but when you go deeper, you see narrow city stairs rising up. It is difficult for two people to pass each other on the original streets of Tez.
It’s nice to sit in the squares at the tables of a cozy cafe or in one of the many authentic restaurants serving national Hungarian cuisine. The main street is full of souvenir shops. Tourists walk along the shopping arcades, looking with interest and buying souvenirs: Hungarian seasonings or embroidered clothes, which actually cost twice or even three times less in a supermarket or market. But the realization that the item was bought in the fabulous city of craftsmen Szentendre is probably worth the extra money.
While walking along the central streets of the city, looking at the shopping arcades and restaurant facades, from time to time turn into one of the many museums in Szentendre. - this is where there is freedom for those with a sweet tooth. Along with the museums of Tallinn and Lubeck, it is one of the three most famous museums in Europe dedicated to this sweetness. On the ground floor there is a workshop and a store. You can see how sweet marzipan masterpieces are created and painted, and purchase them. And the second floor of the museum is occupied by a stunning exhibition of figures made from marzipan.
Each room has its own theme. Funny characters from Disney cartoons, small and human-sized, make children “stick” to the windows and touch adults. What you won’t see in this museum: figures of significant people of Europe, members of the Royal families, athletes, rich marzipan castles, elegant furniture, elegant carriages and fancy cars, a huge delicious cake, voluminous paintings and entire scenes from various famous fairy tales throughout the display case. The Marzipan Museum produces the most vivid impressions, which can be cemented by tasting a sweet marzipan souvenir bought in a store.
Another sweet museum - confectionery Dobosh. This is a traditional Hungarian cake named after its creator, József Dobos. The national confectionery product made from several layers of sponge cake with caramel glaze and chocolate cream has been known since 1885. This is the favorite cake of the Austrian and Hungarian Empress Elizabeth, affectionately known as Sisi.
Interesting wine museum. Hungary is famous for the original and unique taste of this drink. Moreover, in each region of the country the taste and aroma of wine is different, depending on the number of sunny days, temperature, and landscape of the area. Here you can attend a tasting of this drink of the gods for a fee. Entrance to the museum can be free if you purchase a bottle of wine on the way out.
The center of the small Fetyr square is occupied by the Plague Column of 1752, crowned with the Orthodox cross of Lazarus. Nearby stands the Church of the Annunciation in an elegant Rococo style. On the square you will find many art museums: an art gallery in an 18th century Serbian trading house, a museum of the Ferenczi family of painters and sculptors, and nearby the museum of graphic artist Lajos Vajda.
Museum of Ceramics Margit Kovacs very popular in Hungary. It was this world-famous artist who first used the potter's wheel to make large sculptures and compositions. Having passed several stops on a city bus, or easily covered a short distance by car, you find yourself in the ancient world of Hungary of the 18th-20th centuries. This Skansen— Ethnographic open-air museum. It’s worth visiting here to get acquainted with the way of life, way of life, architecture, and culture of the Hungarian people. About 400 unique houses, collected from all regions of Hungary and restored in the museum, are divided into zones, depending on the “age” of the building.
You can pick up a guide to Skansen free of charge at the entrance and feel free to hit the road. An ancient steam locomotive runs around the museum and takes visitors to different stops, puffing clouds of smoke and emitting long whistles. Skansen is very interesting and educational for both adults and children. Ancient wooden and stone churches with ancient icons and towels amaze with their decoration and atmosphere. The restored city street with stone houses, cobblestone streets, shops and shops takes you back to the 18th century. In the workshops you can not only watch how artisans, shoemakers, laundresses, soap makers, and potters work, but also try to make some product yourself.
The restored village with mills and houses of poor and rich residents introduces the way of life in the countryside. The children's delight and admiration is caused by the peasant yard with live chickens, geese, cows, buffalos, sheep, pigs, and horses. You can feed them and pet them. And children's ancient folk games, which even inquisitive adults enjoy playing, interesting master classes on folk crafts and blacksmithing help to learn more about the culture and traditions of past centuries of Hungary.
To walk along Skansen, comfortable shoes, a hat, a large supply of water and 2-3 hours of free time are required.
The picturesque banks of the Danube amaze with their beauty. The majestic river carries its waters through many European countries. In Hungary, the Danube turns 90 degrees south. Here the river valley, surrounded on both sides by mountains, forms a bend. The road along the Danube impresses with its natural splendor.
50 km from Budapest, on a mountain above the Danube valley, a powerful Vysehrad fortress, built after the Tatar-Mongol invasion. This fortress withstood many sieges and battles in the Middle Ages, but in the 18th century it was destroyed by the Habsburgs during the war for Hungarian lands. Now all that remains of the powerful fortress are the destroyed fortress walls and one Solomon’s Tower. The walls of this tower, 8 meters thick, reliably protected one of the most cruel people in Europe, Vlad the Impaler, known to everyone as Count Dracula, for 12 years. This is where he died.
Inside the tower there is a museum exhibition telling about the era of the knights. It is worth going up to the fortress to enjoy a fabulous view of the Danube bend and the surrounding area from one of the observation platforms. For a short time in the 14th century, the city of Visegrad was the capital of the Hungarian state. Not far from the fortress, at the foot of the mountain, almost on the banks of the Danube, King Matthias ordered the construction of a wonderful marble palace. In the 14th-16th centuries, after the capital of Hungary was moved to Buda, the Visegrad Palace became the summer residence of the Hungarian kings. Together with the fortress, the beautiful palace was razed to the ground in the 18th century. Now archaeologists have restored only the courtyard, a few rooms and the well of Hercules. After wandering through the ruins of the royal palace, we set off further along the road along the banks of the Danube.
Esztergom- one of the oldest and most beautiful cities on the bend of the Danube, 60 km from Budapest. This ancient city, founded in the 1st century, was of great importance in the cultural, state and religious development of Hungary. Esztergom was the first capital of the country; the residence of the Hungarian primate, the Archbishop of Esztergom, is located here.
Already from afar, when approaching the city, the dome is visible Basilica of St. Adalbert and the fortress walls of the Royal Palace of the Arpad dynasty, towering above the surrounding area on Mount Varhegy. St. Adalbert's Basilica is the main operating Catholic church in Hungary, the tallest and largest church in the country. The height of the Basilica is 100 m, it was built in 1010 by King Stephen the Saint as the first Christian cathedral in Hungary. In Esztergom, Istvan, beloved by the Hungarian people, was crowned. Over the past centuries, this cathedral has been destroyed and restored more than once. The modern appearance of the Basilica has been preserved after new construction, completed with the consecration of the temple in 1856.
The entrance to the Basilica is on the west side, and the ticket office is also located here. The decoration of the cathedral is impressive: marble sculptures and columns, beautiful ancient frescoes and mosaics, icons and an altar made by skilled Hungarian and Italian craftsmen. The organ rises majestically; in 1856, at the opening of the Basilica, the famous Hungarian composer Franz Liszt performed the solemn Grand Mass on it.
The treasury of the Basilica of St. Adalbert makes a stunning impression. Luxuriously decorated with jewelry, gold and silver, church utensils, vestments of kings and archbishops, fine gold cast crosses, exquisite dishes - in total more than 400 wonderful exhibits are presented in the rich treasury. By the way, at the exit there is a small shop where you can buy books and souvenirs at cheaper prices than under the walls of the temple.
Under the Basilica there is a crypt - the burial place of famous archbishops, cardinals, and famous figures of Hungary. Their graves are decorated with sculptures, and the crypt itself is decorated in a gloomy ancient Egyptian style.
Necessarily climb to the dome of the Basilica. The height of the temple is 100 m and the high height of the hill on which it is located allows you to look around everything. The dome offers a delightful and unique view of the Danube, the Slovak city of Sturovo, which is on the opposite bank of the river, and the ancient and luxurious Esztergom itself. This beauty takes your breath away.
From the dome of the Basilica you can see the courtyard of the Royal Palace, which is located next to the temple. The palace houses an interesting city museum. You can see a collection of weapons from the 15th to 18th centuries, carved stones preserved from the first basilica founded by King Stephen the Saint, and get acquainted with the history of the city from its foundation to the present day.
From the hill on which the Royal Palace and the Basilica rise, enjoy views of the Danube bend, cozy Hungarian and Slovak houses on both banks of the majestic river. The banks are connected by the 500-meter Maria Valeria Bridge, named after the daughter of Franz Joseph, Emperor of Austria-Hungary. It was built in 1895 and blown up in 1944 during the retreat of German troops. This beautiful bridge was restored only in 2001, and before that local residents used the crossing over the Danube.
After such a busy sightseeing tour, pamper yourself and relax in Aquapark Esztergom. It is close to the city's main attractions. A small but cozy water park, with beautiful pools and various water slides, is popular among residents of Hungary and Slovakia.
Hungary is a unique country, it has a unique language, unlike others, a special culture, interesting history, friendly people. Szentendre, Vysehrad, Esztergom - the picturesque towns along the Danube bend are remembered for their color, rich history and culture, and magnificent nature.
Bend of the Danube.
One of the most picturesque panoramas in the country appears to our eyes in the bend of the Danube, where the river, sandwiched by mountains, turns 90 degrees to the south. This place is very popular among people. I really love small towns, so we hit the road.
SZENTENDRE.
The first was the glorious town of Szentendre - 20 km from Budapest (derived from the phrase “St. Andrew”).
At the end of the 17th century, Serbs fleeing the Turkish invasion settled on the right bank of the Danube. Gradually they rebuilt the settlement in their own way in a baroque Mediterranean style, erecting 6 Orthodox churches, more than in all of Hungary. Later, most of the Serbs returned to their homeland, leaving behind a unique town with narrow streets, colorful baroque facades and tiled roofs.
In the 20s of the 20th century, Szentendre was chosen by artists, turning the city into the artistic capital of Hungary. Here, in numerous galleries and museums, you can see the works of former and current inhabitants of the colony, created by craftsmen who fled from the noise and bustle into the silence of the Danube Bend.
Serbian Church:
In Szentendre it’s interesting to just wander around the streets. We arrived on a working day in the morning, so the city was empty, which was extremely pleasing. The last time we were here was on Saturday and it was impossible to get through. I advise everyone to go on weekdays.
The city is similar to the Old Town in Budapest, only much more toy-like:
The kids are skipping school or something:
We couldn’t pass by such wonderful walls! Dashulya is my youngest niece:
Locals:
Some very old church, either 12 or 13 centuries, I don’t remember exactly, but the fact is that it is very old. From this small square in front of the church there is a view of the city and the Danube:
Marzipan Museum. Marzipan (Italian: marzapane) is a type of confectionery product, a mixture of ground almonds and sugar syrup or powdered sugar. Marzipan is the national treasure of Hungary (Austria too, and maybe some other countries); a lot of sweets are made from marzipan. And in Szentendre there is such a museum. The museum is big, there is so much to see! There is even a full-length Michael Jackson, but, unfortunately, there are no more photographs. The museum has a shop and cafe.
VISEGRAD.
Vysehrad is the next city on our way, 50 km from Budapest.
The city was not even the capital of Hungary for long, in the 14th–16th centuries. served as the summer residence of the Hungarian kings.
Vysehrad stood on the border of Slavic lands and western territories.
After the Tatar invasion in 1259, the Hungarian kings built the Visegrad fortress on the top of the mountain, and in 1323, when the city was declared the capital, work began on the palace. True, the status of the capital beyond Visegrad did not last long: a few years later it was moved to Buda.
But Visegrad did not grow out of nowhere. Even in ancient times, at the foot of the mountain range there were fortifications built by the Romans.
The Visegrad fortress, the remains of which still stand on a hill above the river, withstood many sieges in the Middle Ages, but was destroyed by the Habsburgs in the 18th century as they brought the Hungarian lands under the rule of the Austrian crown.
To this day, only one tower of the fortress has been completely preserved - the Tower of Solomon. Its powerful walls reach eight meters in thickness. It is now one of the tallest and most impressive Romanesque fortifications remaining in Central Europe.
The tower has a dark history: it was here that the famous villain Vlad the Impaler, known as Count Dracula, languished in prison. According to historical chronicles, this Wallachian ruler, who, by the way, was not a count, but a prince, became notorious for his atrocities. In particular, he impaled, quartered, tortured and burned his noble vassals and ordinary people - “for the love of art,” without explaining the reasons. This is where the legends that he was a vampire came from. Since the prince was married to the cousin of the Hungarian king Matthias, the owner of the Visegrad fortress, his crimes were ignored for a long time. In the end, the prince's vassals wrote a denunciation to Matyas, accusing Tepes of preparing a coup d'etat. The king was forced to “hide” his evil brother-in-law along with his wife in Solomon’s Tower - closer to himself. There he died after 12 years of imprisonment.
Inside this building, wells and sculptures from ancient times have been preserved. Nowadays, military theatrical games are held in its courtyard, and the tower itself is open to the public, as are the ruins of the fortress itself. In addition to visiting historical buildings, tourists are invited to shoot with a real bow or crossbow in the courtyard of the fortress, and hold a hunting falcon on their hand - in a word, feel like a noble guest of a medieval castle.
At the foot of the mountain on which the Visegrad Fortress stands, almost on the very banks of the Danube, lie the ruins of one of the most famous monuments of the Renaissance (15th century). This is the marble palace of King Matthias Corvinus. Contemporaries wrote that the royal palace amazes with its wondrous beauty and has no equal in all of Europe:
This majestic red marble building was one of the most striking architectural works of the Renaissance - it was called the “second Alhambra” (the Alhambra is a huge castle that was built in Spain in the 13th century and was famous for its airy, openwork beauty). The palace, like the fortress, was destroyed in the 18th century. The former beauty and splendor of the Matthias Palace can still be judged now, although only part of it has been restored. Archaeologists and restorers tried to rebuild and bring to this day everything that was possible. So, they managed to reconstruct the front courtyard (which had to be dug out from under the rubble), several halls and the well of Hercules. On holidays and on performance days in the Visegrad Fortress, red wine is poured into the well, which guests are invited to taste. The ruins of the palace are open to the public. www.letun.ru
In this town, a wonderful thing happened to us - we found ourselves at a city festival. In the central square, goulash and fish soup were cooked in large cauldrons.
This fortress was destroyed by the Mongols, Turks and Austrians, Count Dracula was imprisoned here, King Stephen's "Holy Crown" was stolen from here, and now it is one of the most visited castles in Hungary. Less than two thousand people live in Visegrad. By our standards, it is a small village. But in terms of architecture, atmosphere and way of life, it is still a city. There are only two attractions here - the ruins of the castle and the ruins of the royal palace. To this day, only one tower of the fortress has been completely preserved - named in honor of Solomon, the grandson of the Kyiv prince Yaroslav. According to legend, it was here that Count Dracula was imprisoned for 12 years. But first things first. Welcome to the castle on the mountain)
From the classic four Danube cities located near Budapest - Vac, Esztergom, Szentendre, Vysehrad - we chose the last two. All our friends who had been to Hungary recommended going to Szentendre, but we decided to go to Visegrad because there is a castle there. In the end, it was one of the most amazing days in Hungary, full at first of frustration and disappointment, and in the end of good impressions. You can get to Vysehrad from Budapest by bus (from the Ujpest bus station on the northern outskirts), and in the summer you can also take a water bus. There are only two attractions here - the ruins of the castle and the ruins of the royal palace. Let's start with the castle. It is located on a high mountain - at the height of the tourist season buses go there, but in winter you have to climb on foot. Moreover, it’s more interesting this way. Almost an hour through the wild forest - and we are there. 
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To begin with, according to tradition, the history of the place in two paragraphs. Vysehrad is located on the border of Slavic lands and, despite the fact that the territory has been controlled by Hungarians since the 13th century, the city has retained its original name. Life here has never been calm - constant wars, invasions, sieges and destruction. The fortress in Visegrad was built in the 13th century, after the Mongol invasion. As expected, the construction of the castle began on the site of the ruins of ancient Roman fortifications. Then the city suddenly became the capital of Hungary and they began to build a royal palace here. But the music did not play for long - the construction had only just been completed when the capital was returned to Buda and the palace became just the summer residence of the monarchs. We’ll take a walk to see it later, but for now we’ll go to the upper castle. 
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In the 15th century, the beloved king of all Hungarians, Matthias, breathed new life into Visegrad. The castle was rebuilt in the spirit of the Renaissance, and more and more often the guests were not monarchs, but artists, poets, philosophers and other creative intelligentsia. But the happiness did not last long. In the 16th century, the Turks came and almost razed the city to the ground. Both the royal palace and the castle suffered. And in the 18th century, Habsburg troops during the war for Hungary destroyed what, by some miracle, survived during previous invasions. Since then, the castle and palace have remained in ruins. Since the 19th century, they tried to reconstruct them several times, but then they decided to leave them as is. Only Solomon's Tower has been completely preserved to this day. According to legend, it was in it that Vlad the Impaler, better known as. But her turn will come. First, let's take a walk around the upper castle. 
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The castle only seems small - there are 350 halls inside. Some have been completely restored. But we won’t see this - it turned out that the entrance is closed in winter. For some reason, the girls at the Visegrad information center said that the castle is open until 16:00. It turned out that until this time the passage to the castle was open. But there’s no way inside, come in the spring. So all we can do is wander around the fortress. Epic fail #1. 
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You look at the walls and understand that this is, first of all, a defensive structure, and not royal housing. 
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The most interesting thing is that besides us, about six or seven other unlucky tourists gathered near the fortress, who did not think to look up the castle’s opening hours on the Internet) 
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Entrance tower from the exit side)) Turnstiles and a booth with souvenirs spoil the whole view. 
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The hexagonal watchtower is all that remains of the lower castle. Named after King Solomon of Hungary, also known as Shalamon. Grandson of Yaroslav the Wise, by the way. We'll go down there a little later. 
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In the meantime, let's enjoy the views of the surrounding area. Was it a waste of time to climb the mountain?) They say that from here you can see the best view of the Danube in all of Hungary. 
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A cozy observation deck on the ruins of the fortress wall. The flagpole spoils the whole view. 
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On the other side is the city of Nagymaros. For those who are not looking for easy ways, you can get there by train from Budapest, and then take a ferry to Visegrad. 
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The exit to the other side of the mountain was closed. We go down the same paths that we went up. Slippery, wet and unpleasant. I almost fall several times) 
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All around is mysticism and that’s all. 
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The small church of St. John the Baptist is the main dominant feature of Visegrad. Almost all the houses here are one-story. 
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Typical view of Vysehrad. This is the main street. 
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And here is all that remains of the royal palace. The Turks and Austrians were ruthless. As did the watchwoman who closed the gate in our face and said that her working day was over. It's already four o'clock. Another hello to the girls from the information center, who assured us that the palace ruins are open until 17:00. Epic fail #2. 
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We look at what remains of the palace from behind the fence and move on to Solomon's Tower. Mentally we are already prepared that the gate is closed, and the path to it is blocked by a moat with crocodiles. 
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Vysehrad turned out to be a very nice town. It is immediately clear that nobility close to the king lived here. You can walk around the entire center in an hour. And the castle will be visible from everywhere. 
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Well, now we have reached Solomon's Tower. Surprisingly, the passage to it was open. A hexagonal watchtower guards the approaches to the castle from the coast. In the Middle Ages it was often used as a prison for eminent prisoners. In 1401, after a conspiracy, King Sigismund of Luxembourg was thrown into the local dungeon. He spent four months in captivity, but remembered this time for a long time. Having become Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, he ordered the improvement of the tower and dungeon. Life is unpredictable, suddenly things get tough again) 
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Ruins of fortress walls along the Danube. 
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The most famous prisoner of Solomon's Tower was the legendary ruler of Wallachia, Vlad the Impaler, better known as Dracula. King Matthias was informed that the count was weaving intrigues against him and dreamed of taking the Hungarian throne. No one stood on ceremony. Dracula spent 12 long years in captivity. But historians claim that he did not languish in prison at all. In Visegrad he lived with his wife - either the sister or the niece of the king. And even in exile, the count led a fairly active lifestyle, periodically entertaining himself with bloody executions. 
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Well, and finally - a panorama of the Danube. Click to open in a new window in horse size.
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Stay with us, add yourself as a friend - there is a lot of interesting things ahead. In the next post - the incredibly cute town of Szentendre.
Updated 01/07/2019
The main problem of the cozy town of Vysehrad (Hungary), located 50 kilometers from Budapest, is that it has a more famous namesake - a castle in the very center of historical Prague. Because of this, confusion often arises, so I will talk about the city, indicating not only its name, but also the country of location. Why is it worth visiting the Hungarian Vysehrad, how to get there and where else to stop along the way you will find out by reading this article.
In general, it is more correct to call the city not Visegrad, but Visegrad. Accordingly, the fortress (the main attraction of the city) is called Visegrad. But you must admit, the word sounds very unusual to the Russian ear.
History of Visegrad and the fortress
Vysehrad (Hungary) is located in picturesque place in a bend of the Danube. The geography of the area is extremely convenient for the construction of fortifications, and the first fortress here appeared under the ancient Romans in the 11th century. In subsequent centuries, the fortress standing on a high hill was destroyed and rebuilt during various conflicts.
For a short time Visegrad had the status of the capital of Hungary, and after the capital was moved to Buda, the Visegrád Palace was turned into the summer residence of the Hungarian kings. The new capital of Hungary appeared under King Charles I Robert. The monarch, who had been proving his right to the crown for many years, decided to rule from the fortified Visegrad, in the inaccessibility of which he sacredly believed. That's how it happened. Under Charles I Robert, a meeting of the kings of Hungary, Poland and Bohemia (modern Czech Republic) took place in Visegrad.
This is interesting! It is noteworthy that 650 years later, in the same city, the leaders of Hungary, Poland and Czechoslovakia signed a declaration of their desire to integrate into European structures. This association is called the “Visegrad Four” (not a troika, since Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia).
Visegrad under Matthias
The residence in the Hungarian Visegrad was adored by one of the most famous rulers of the country Matthias I Corvinus, who is called, not without exaggeration, the first Renaissance ruler of Eastern Europe. In the middle of the 15th century, the palace (not to be confused with a fortress on a hill) turned into a real paradise for architects, artists and poets, and its walls witnessed unprecedented feasts and celebrations.
In subsequent centuries, the city was destroyed twice:
- 16th century - destroyed by the Ottomans.
- XVIII century - during the war for Hungary.
Only a small part of the once powerful fortifications has survived unchanged to this day. We are talking about the Tower of Solomon, although it is more correct to call it the Tower of Shalamon. This the tower was used as a prison for a long time and eminent prisoners who were captured during hostilities or suspected of treason were usually imprisoned in it.
According to legend, it was in this tower that the ruler of Wallachia, Vlad the Impaler, spent some time, who became prototype of Count Dracula in the famous novel by Bram Stoker. This happened in the second half of the 15th century, and after his release from captivity, Vlad the Impaler even fought under the banner of King Matthias as one of his military leaders. Perhaps they will tell you that the prototype of Dracula in the tower not only served his sentence, but also died, but in fact these are ideas for tourists. Vlad Tepes was killed on the territory of modern Romania shortly after he occupied Bucharest and reigned in it.
Wander around the surviving tower today anyone can, but, alas, it is not possible to see the luxurious interiors of the Visegrad Palace in its original form. Although it has been partially reconstructed.
How to get to Visegrad from Budapest
Most often, it is recommended to combine a visit to the city of Vysehrad (Hungary) with a visit to the nearby towns of Esztergom and Szentendre. There is a special excursion Danube Bend, when you order it you will be introduced to three interesting cities in nine hours. With other excursions from Budapest to Hungary and more.
I will definitely devote a separate article to the route of Visegrad and Szentendre, and today I will tell you about my visit only to the first city, which took me about five hours.
There are several ways to get to Visegrad from Budapest:
- Bus.
- Train and ferry.
- Automobile.
- Ship.
To Visegrad on asphalt
The easiest way to get from Budapest to Vysehrad is by bus, which departs from the Újpest Városkapu bus station (XIII. district, Váci út 201). From there, a bus runs every hour and without transfer to Visegrad. Travel time: 1 hour 15 minutes, fare: 745 forints.
To Visegrad by water
Another way to get to the Hungarian Visegrad is more expensive, but much more romantic. We're talking about a boat.
You can visit Vysehrad as part of the following river trips.
- Budapest - Szentendre - Visegrad - Esztergom.
- Cruise to Visegrad.
- Budapest - Vysehrad - Esztergom.
The departure point of the boats, their schedule and fares can be found on the carrier’s official website: mahartpassnave.hu/en.
To Visegrad by rail
If you have time, but don’t have a car, I recommend following in my footsteps and choosing the train over the bus. The whole trick is that the railway station is located on the other side of the Danube and after arriving at it you need to get to the town by ferry and this is very cool.
I purchased a train ticket from a machine at the Nyugati station. In the destination line, you can enter Visegrád, or you can also enter Nagymaros, since the train to Visegrád actually arrives in Nagymaros. If you plan to return to Budapest by train, then take round-trip tickets. I took the bus back and bought a one-way ticket.
The process of buying a ticket from a machine is simple and intuitive, but for the first time it may raise questions. Therefore, watch the video I made about purchasing train tickets.
Trains stopping in Visegrád depart from Budapest (from Keleti and Nyugati stations) every half hour almost throughout the day. Cost of travel in a 2nd class carriage per adult is 1,120 forints, travel time 40-60 minutes. The station where you need to get off is called Nagymaros-Visegrád.
There's not much to do on this side of the river, so head straight for the Danube. Ten minutes on foot and you are already standing at the ferry crossing.
Ferry to Visegrad
Advice! Pay attention to the arrival and departure times of the train and ferry to Visegrad in advance so as not to waste time, since the ferry runs once an hour. I will also add that the ship usually departs with a delay of several minutes.
For the current ferry schedule between Nagyváros and Visegrad, see the link: visegrad.hu/schedule-of-ferry.
The crossing takes about 15 minutes. Spend all this time admiring the picturesque views of the Danube and the hills on the opposite bank. Already from the river you can see the ruins of the Visegrad fortress. Yes, yes, that's where you have to go.
Advice! Take care of comfortable shoes and clothes, as you will have to walk a lot and mostly uphill.
Once in Visegrad, decide on the route to “conquer” the city. A map of attractions installed next to the ferry crossing will help you with this.
My walking route around Visegrad
I will tell you about my route, but I will note that it does not pretend to be logical. It was decided to make the tower of Shalamon (Solomon) the first point of the program. The journey to the tower along the banks of the Danube will take about 20 minutes.
About halfway along the path you will come across a small chapel of St. Mary's, built in the first half of the 18th century.
It’s just a stone’s throw from the brick arch installed at the entrance to Vysehrad (Hungary). The arch stands here for a reason and was once part of the defensive fortifications.
If you, like me, decide to walk to the arch, then to continue the route to the tower you need to go back a little and turn onto Salamontorony utca. If you see a beautiful three-story mansion, it means you are on the right track. By the way, judging by the ad, the house is for sale.
A couple of minutes along the cobbled street and here it is the Shalamon Tower - the site of the prison of Vlad the Impaler himself.
Already from this low height there are beautiful views of the Danube, but wait - the most interesting is yet to come.
Entrance to the tower is paid - 700 forints per adult. The photo below contains all the information about opening hours and entrance ticket prices.
I won’t tell you what you can see inside, otherwise it won’t be interesting :). There is a small cafe near the entrance to the tower. Delicious ice cream is sold here. On the level above there is a platform for knightly tournaments, built according to medieval canons.
The next point on the route is the Visegrad Fortress, which is also called Visegrad Castle (in English) and Fellegvár (in Hungarian). The Hungarians also call the fortress Citadel. The road, or rather the path, leads up, up and up again, and these authentic signs will help you avoid getting lost.
Look at the photo of the trail and you will understand why I advised wearing comfortable shoes.
I can’t say exactly how long the climb will take. I was in no hurry, studied the area, and took a lot of photographs. Therefore, at the fortress I found myself approximately 40 minutes after the start of the ascent. By the way, I came across some ruins. It looks like the ruins of an ancient Roman military camp.
By the way! Not a single navigator (in pedestrian mode) can lay out a route from the tower to the fortress in a straight line, although numerous trails and paths are clearly visible on the maps.
Walk through the fortress, view of the bend
Entrance to the territory is paid. A ticket for an adult with admission to all exhibitions costs 1,800 forints. Discounts are available for students and pensioners. You can get to the fortress every day from 09.00 to 17.00.
There are a lot of interesting things located on the territory of the Visegrad Citadel, but that’s all later, and first of all we go to admire the views that open from the top of the hill.
Have you had enough of the scenery? It's time to go explore the fortress. It will take about an hour. The restored halls contain exhibitions of weapons, armor, clothing and hunting trophies.
In separate rooms, entire scenes from medieval life are played out using wax figures. For example, the following photos depict that very significant meeting of the three kings, which I wrote about at the very beginning. 
There is also something to see in the courtyard of the fortress, and you can also take photos in historical costumes.
You can go down to the city along a wide asphalt road, along which people come here by car and bring excursion groups by bus, or you can go back through the forest along inconspicuous paths. I chose the latter option and did not regret it (my full route will be shown on the map located just below).
Way of the Cross of Jesus Christ
In fact, it is more correct to take this path not to go down the hill, but to go up it. Because, starting from the foot and along the entire path, there are stone pillars with scenes of the Way of the Cross of Jesus Christ carved on them. Here Pontius Pilate pronounces judgment on Christ.
Here he is carrying his cross to Calvary.
This depicts one of the falls of Christ, of which there were three in total.
Christ is crucified on the cross.
After Jesus died, his disciples took his body down from the cross.
And they buried him in a stone tomb.
I encountered the pillars in reverse order, so it would make sense if you followed my route, but in reverse.
Also from the hill I noticed the Church of John the Baptist (Keresztelo Szent János templom). The baroque temple was built in the second half of the 17th century.
Be sure to visit the temple; the inside is no less interesting than the outside.
Royal Palace in Visegrad
Next, my path followed Fő utca, which leads to the Royal Palace. Now it is officially called the King Matthias Museum. Archaeological excavations in this place began in the 30s of the XX century. Part of the building was reconstructed and opened to visitors.
In winter (from November 1 to April 30), the museum is open from 10.00 to 16.00 all week except Mondays.
In summer (from May 1 to October 31) - from 09.00 to 17.00 (closed on Mondays).
- Entrance fee for an adult is 1,300 forints;
- children under 6 years old – free;
- visitors from 6 to 26 years old – 650 forints;
- On Hungarian national holidays (March 15, August 20 and October 23), admission is free for all visitors.
Vysehrad (Hungary) and city attractions on the map
On the map, markers mark the main attractions of Visegrad, as well as the ferry station and bus stops. In Google maps mode (roads), the paths along which you can go up to the fortress and down the hill are not visible. In the upper right corner of the map, switch to OpenStreetMap or Google (satellite) mode and you will see them.
This concludes the walk through the Hungarian Vysehrad. I spent almost half a day on it, although you can get acquainted with the city in 2-3 hours. If you want to return to Budapest by train, your route is to the ferry terminal. I went by bus. The stops are located on the road along which we walked to the Shalamon tower.
Advice! At each stop there is a schedule of passing buses. Study it so you don't have to wait too long.
Route to explore Visegrad
- Ferry crossing - a walk along the banks of the Danube to the stone arch.
- From the arch to Shalamon's tower.
- From the tower to the Visegrad fortress through the forest.
- From the fortress also through the forest, but on the other side of the hill (Way of the Cross of Christ).
- Royal Palace.
- Bus stop - Budapest.
Second option: Royal Palace, Temple of John the Baptist, ascent to the fortress (Way of the Cross of Christ), acquaintance with the fortress, descent from the other side of the hill to the Shalamon tower.
Still have questions? Write them in the comments, I will be happy to answer them all.
Always yours, Daniil Privonov.
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