Budapest - Castle Palace Budvári Palota

The first castle was built in the 13th C on the south spur of Castle Hill. Its purpose was to provide protection from attacks by Mongols and Tartars. Unfortunately nothing remains of this building. Under King Karl Robert a smaller palace was erected. King Sigismund, who made Buda his residence, had a Gothic castle built, which was considerably extended, in Renaissance style, under Matthias Corvinus.

Must-see attractions nearby:

Matthias Church (Church of Our Lady, Coronation Church)

Fishermen's Bastion

Gellért Hotel and Thermal Baths

Museum of Fine Arts

Margaret Island

Hungarian National Museum

Castle Vajdahunyad

Although the Castle Palace (Vár-palota) survived during the time of Turkish occupation, it was nevertheless almost completely ruined during the Siege of 1686. Therefore, in the 18th C, a new castle was built, which in the time of the Empress Maria Theresa had more than 200 rooms. The Castle Palace, from now on the residence of the Palatine (the representative of the Habsburg overlords), was rebuilt by the architects Alajos Hauszmann and Miklós Ybl in Neo-Baroque style. A symmetrical layout was created which is focused on the central dome (62m (203ft) high) facing the Danube.