Explore the incredible Castle Hill District in Budapest

Can you imagine traveling around the old town and discovering its secrets, its history, and its beauty? Well, that’s what awaits you if you look forward to visiting Hungary’s capital, Budapest, a city that will surprise you with its contrasts, its culture, and its charm. 

Having said that, if you are a fan of fairy tales, fantasy, history or architecture, I am sure you will want to visit the Castle Hill in Budapest, where you will delight in these wonderful structures that house numerous and exciting mysteries, including the Buddha Castle Labyrinth, an underground maze that is full of intriguing stories. Will you dare to go in?

The Castle Hill: The Crown Jewel

Whether you're a fan of fairy tales, fantasy stories, or even an architecture lover, this is a unique place, which you can't miss. This castle, also named Buda Castle, is an amazing castle that centuries ago housed Hungarian kings. If you want to know how royalty lived at that time or what it's like to be inside a real castle, this is your place. 

The exact place where this structure from a fairy tale is located is on the banks of the Danube River, on the highest hill you can see. This place, in addition to the castle, is a site full of places famous for their historical and even tourist value due to the spectacular and unique views, where you can appreciate continuous contrasts between modernity and the Middle Ages. 

Regarding the Castle Hill in Budapest, due to its strategic position at the top of a large hill, it is not an easy task to get to this stunning castle. There are two ways to climb: one for people in shape and another for ordinary people. For the first, there is a road you can take through Clark Adams Square, and for those who prefer a comfortable walk, there's the funicular from Clark Adams Square. 

Although its strategic position may present difficulties to reach, it is worth it due to the beautiful views it boasts. The visual spectacle begins not only on the balcony of the castle but from the very entrance to it. It is amazing to see it from below and to feel the effects of the past that still resonate in its outer appearance. 

If you are planning to go to a place with so much history, it is important to consider all the information possible about this place to better enjoy your visit. You will want to know all parts of the castle; therefore, here you will find relevant information about the Castle and its history. 

First, we have the Gothic palace, which was built in the 13th century during the reign of Louis the Great, King William, and King Matthias, creating a magnificent residence for the European royalty. 

The Castle Hill contrasts with the Gothic style of the palace, as the most prestigious architects of the time decided to adopt the 18th-century Baroque style, retaining the larger floor. The current facade of the building, in 18th-century Baroque style, is the result of this decision. 

The important decision by the architects of that time to maintain the larger floor allowed it to create a unique appearance with its wide paths, beautiful gardens, and numerous statues, offering stunning panoramic views of the Danube and much of Pest. 

During the Turkish occupation of Budapest, the castle was expanded and remodeled, giving it even more aesthetic touches that persist to this day. The architects Miklós Ybl and Alajos Hauszmann gave the building secessionist elements. 

Of course, it could not be a real castle if it did not have historical scenes portrayed. On the castle facade, there are several of these, such as the Corvino Gate, easy to recognize if you are walking from Dísz tér through Szent Gyorgy utca or Szíház utca, watched by a crow holding a golden ring on its beak. 

The main meeting point of the castle's senior officials to make meetings and clear their mind was baptized as the Court of the Lions. Today, it is surrounded by the museums that the castle houses. 

In the northwestern courtyard of the Royal Palace, you will find the Fountain of King Matthias, dedicated to the great Renaissance King Matthias Corvinus. It is an ornamented statue that presents a hunting scene with a statue in which the king is portrayed surrounded by a numerous sequence of helpers and servants. 

The Castle Hill is an architectural masterpiece that reflects the passage of time and shows various architectural styles that this castle witnessed, from Gothic to Baroque and Renaissance. 

The Castle Hill in Budapest is a unique place if you only look at its interior, exterior, and history, for all the things this palace went through, so many kingdoms and empires at its best and worst, all those golden ages, wars and dead centuries. This is undoubtedly a unique piece in the world, along with others that I will talk about in their respective paragraph. 

Having said that, when visiting Castle Hill and taking the guided route, you will be told a lot about this palace, from its history to its architecture, but in one part of the tour you will be introduced to two sites that contain even more history and more art than you can see at first glance. 

In addition to being home to kings and monarchs of the region in past times, today Castle Hill is home to the Museum of History of Budapest and the National Gallery of Hungary, two historical sites that can give much more context to how it would be to live in this magical place. For all this and for other reasons that will be mentioned later, this place has been named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. 

So far it sounds like Castle Hill and its interior were the only interesting sites in the area, but, as mentioned at the beginning, outside the castle there are places as peculiar and important as the Fishermen’s Bastion, the Church of Matthias, and the Labyrinth. Sites that will undoubtedly make your stay in the capital even deeper. 

If you thought the castle had nothing else to offer, you are wrong, as you can also find festivals and events that are very popular in the area. The three main festivals you can enjoy are the Medieval and Renaissance Festival at the Royal Palace of Buddha, the Festival of Popular Arts in the Budapest Castle District, and the Budapest Wine Festival. 

This will allow you to get to know even more about the culture of this site and ultimately empathize with the locals in the area, of course, as long as you have a good level of Hungarian, although you will not have much trouble if you have a good English level.

Fishermen’s Bastion: A photographically architectural site

You may be tired of so much architectural and historical talk and just want to relax; maybe Fishermen’s Bastion is a place to consider if you want to clear your mind. This curious site is located on the hill of Castle Hill in Budapest. 

Although its name may sound like a defensive zone against an army, it is quite the opposite; it was designed as a panoramic terrace to highlight the beauty of the Church of Matthias, which will be discussed later. 

Fishermen’s Bastion is one of Budapest’s most emblematic places and one of the city’s symbols due to its elegant and special design, being an ideal place for photographing, although it is clear that this site was not originally designed for that. 

The origins of Fishermen’s Bastion go back to 1895 when it began to be built to celebrate the thousandth anniversary of the Hungarian state. It was completed in 1902 and was designed to symbolize, with its seven towers, the seven Hungarian tribes that founded the country in the year 895. 

In addition to the beautiful interior views of the structure, this site has stunning panoramic views of Budapest, including the Danube River and the urban landscape, making it one of the most visited tourist destinations in Budapest over the years. 

A tip is to visit this beautiful tourist site between December and February, just when the city is covered with snow or a slight fog, giving it a unique style. It offers a unique and photographically stunning experience, with the bastion towers covered with snow and the panoramic views of the Danube River. 

However, it is only advice. The Fishermen's Bastion is an interesting and easy-to-visit site at any time of the year. The bastion is open all year round, and most of its towers are open to visitors.

Matthias Church: another station on the architectural train

Another place you should visit to complete your list of top tourist places in the capital is the Matthias Church, a beautiful church with architectural styles in which the echoes of the times and the hundreds of events that this brilliant building witnessed still resonate. 

The Church of Matthias, also known as the Church of Our Lady of Buddha, is a Catholic church located near by the Castle Hill in Budapest. The original architectural style of the church was Romanesque, but it was reconstructed in Gothic style in the 14th century, although it is more a combination of Gothic, Baroque and Neogothic styles. 

As mentioned earlier, this church has witnessed many important events in Hungary’s history. Some of these are the coronation of King Charles IV in 1916, in addition to countless royal weddings along with state funerals. 

If the exterior seems astonishing to us, when entering the monumental church the interior is impressive, with high ceilings, colorful glass windows, and detailed decoration, in addition to a large collection of sacred art and a royal crypt. 

To be more precise about the location of this church, it is located on the hill of the Buda Castle in Budapest, Hungary, on the current Navas 19th Street. Undoubtedly, the church is a prominent example of Hungarian religious architecture and is one of the city's most popular tourist attractions due to its historical importance and impressive architecture.

The Buda Castle Labyrinth: Lost to be found

Last but not least, the Labyrinth, is a very curious challenge that will test your space intelligence and orientation, a place very unusual but that can make you have an amazing time. Don't worry, if you get lost, there are agents out there who can help you get out, or you can apply the trick of never taking your hand off the wall and moving forward. 

The Buda's Labyrinth, also known as the Buda Castle Labyrinth, is a system of caves and underground alleys located on the hill of the Buda Castle. Over the years, the maze has had various uses, from a prehistoric shelter to a wine cellar, torture chamber, prison, and military hospital. 

Leaving behind its dark past, today, the maze is a tourist attraction that offers guided tours through its alleys, where visitors can see statues, fountains, pillars, and paintings on the walls of the caves, all being a delight for the senses. 

The maze also houses exhibitions, such as the wax figure display that was first installed in 1980. Although there have been contradictory reports as to whether the maze is currently open to the public, it remains a historical and cultural attraction of interest in Budapest. 

If you are interested in traveling to Budapest, you must consider this fantastic dream district, with its magical castles and tons of history. After all, the Buda Castle and its surroundings make up one of the most fascinating and imposing historical and architectural complexes in Europe. 

From the majestic Gothic-Renaissance palace crowning the hill to architectural jewels such as the Fishermen’s Bastion and the Church of Matthias, there are centuries of history and beauty to discover.

Whether you are interested in the lives of kings and queens who lived in the castle or simply enjoying the spectacular views of the city, it is worth taking the time to thoroughly explore this iconic corner of Budapest, the Castle Hill in Budapest, which well deserves its World Heritage title. 

If you're looking for a place to stay on your trip to Budapest, discover our offer of hotels in Budapest and find the hotel that best suits your preferences.