The ancient church of St. Matthias and views of Budapest from the height of the majestic bastion... #TheLongestTrip // From the beginning #1

So majestic and royal Budapest... The city I dreamed of for decades. I once found a beautiful picture in a travel magazine. I placed this picture in a prominent place and looked often at this beautiful image of a wonderful ancient city, that stands on both sides of the Danube River. I dreamed while drinking my morning coffee: someday I will walk there! Dreams Come True!

The year of our #TheLongestTrip is over... We keep on traveling. We finally got our residency permit in Turkey, and with a little more time, I'm going back to the beginning of my trip to talk consecutively about all the beautiful places in each of the six countries I visited!
My column starts today
#TheLongestTrip // From the beginning

So, we arrived in Budapest on March 1, 2022, fleeing the war... We spent two weeks there and walked every day in this city, which is the capital of Hungary, with a rich history and unique beauty.

Walking through the streets, I was struck by the majestic buildings of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. These buildings were built in the 19th and early 20th centuries, when Hungary was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. They reflect the luxury and grandeur of the era with intricate facades, tall columns and exquisite decor. I was in awe of these architectural masterpieces and couldn't help but feel transported back in time.

Walking through the streets of Budapest, I felt cozy and calm, as if in my native city of Lviv. The houses are similar, only bigger and grander! The Austro-Hungarian style is a synthesis of various architectural styles that combines elements of Gothic, Baroque, Renaissance and Secession. This style was particularly popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which included Lviv and Budapest.
Both cities were important cultural and trade centers, which contributed to the development of architecture. In Lviv and Budapest you can see many buildings in the style of Austro-Hungarian architecture,
This style affected many buildings of both cities, such as town halls, palaces, museums, theaters, churches and others...

A special highlight of the city are the incredible bridges connecting the city across the Danube River. The most famous of these bridges is the Chain Bridge, which was built in 1849 and was the first permanent bridge to connect Buda and Pest, the two sides of the city. I was struck by the beautiful design of the bridge, with lions guarding the entrance and massive iron chains holding the road.
Lions are symbols that are of great importance to Lviv and Budapest. In Lviv, lions meet you at every step, which is why the city is called the Lion City.

In Budapest, lions also have a special meaning. The most famous lion sculpture is the one that stands on Lanchid (Chain Bridge) and is one of the most famous landmarks of the city. The lion is made of bronze and stands on a stone pedestal.

We devoted one day to a walk to a unique place that I saw across the Danube from afar. We googled and found out: this castle is called Fisherman's Bastion. The morning started with a cool wind, but the weather could not dampen our enthusiasm. I couldn't wait until we got to the famous bastion. It is one of the most famous tourist attractions of Budapest, which is located on the right bank of the Danube. We got there by subway and here is a photo with a view of the House of Parliament.

The castle impresses with its architecture, reminiscent of a royal palace. We began to explore it, marveling at the decorative stone walls. We climbed the stairs to the Fisherman's Bastion and found ourselves in the middle in a place from which we could see the majestic construction of the bastion from both sides.

There was one entrance to the stairs on each side, both decorated in the style of Austro-Hungarian architecture. We paid attention to a wonderful arch through which a sculpture of a rider on a horse was beautifully visible. Beautiful columns were also visible on our way, which decorated every corner of the bastion, which created the impression of massiveness and elegance.

Semi-circular windows and spire roofs also add to the beauty of the bastion. You could see how they complement the image of this majestic structure, giving it variety and sophistication.
While climbing the stairs to the Fisherman's Bastion, you could view every element of this magnificent structure, which created an unforgettable impression and left you enthralled. The beauty of this place transported you to the past and gave you the opportunity to enjoy the uniqueness of the style.

Our walk continued to a very beautiful arch, in front of which we took pictures. It was a photo that we will be happy to remember for a long time. We stopped at the statue of a rider on a horse, which is located at the highest point of the bastion. It gave the impression of strength and power, reflecting the history of Budapest and its power.

Monument of a rider on a horse - St. István, who was the first Hungarian king and defender of Christianity. Saint Stephen is a symbol of Hungarian national identity and the patron saint of Hungary. It is depicted on many important buildings and monuments of the country. It is worth noting that his image is widely used in Hungarian symbolism and is a popular decorative element on buildings and sculptures in Budapest.

We happily watched the views of the Danube River and the city on both sides. Bridges were visible, beautiful buildings with terracotta roofs, churches with spire roofs, and the royal House of Parliament on the other side of the river. We walked along the bastion, looking at the picturesque views of Budapest. Our walk was remembered forever thanks to the incredible views of Budapest and the beautiful architecture.
Darinka looked at the city through binoculars and was in awe of what she saw!

The Fisherman's Bastion in Budapest is not only a famous photo spot and a great place to stroll, but also contains some historical landmarks, including the St. Matthias Church. This ancient stately building is located on a mountain, and has a huge imposing facade that stands out strongly against the background of the open sky. It attracts attention with its architecture, because it looks incredibly beautiful. Its white stone walls and towers emphasize the feeling of the beauty of the architectural style, as well as strength and security.

The capital of Hungary is full of architectural masterpieces. St. Matthias Church in the magnificent Gothic style is the pearl of Budapest!

The church was built in the 14th century in the late Gothic style, but after the capture of the city by the Turks, it was transformed into a mosque. The church acquired its original appearance after reconstruction at the end of the 19th century. It is famous for its colored stained glass windows, wall paintings, white stone bell tower and underground crypt.

Our entire day was filled with excursions and adventures, but Fisherman's Bastion was one of the highlights of our trip. This is a place you should definitely visit when you are in Budapest!

Our journey continues ... Thanks to everyone who reads about our adventures and supports me with their comments 💕