Hungarian History In Tour of Budapest by Bonnie and Bill Neely

Hungary is just coming into her own after a long, rocky history in which she lost two-thirds of the Motherland. Her borders once stretched form the Baltic to the Caspian and Adriatic Seas.  Through many wars she lost much of her land, and this graphically shows what Hungary lost at the end of World War I.

In 1989, when the Berlin Wall came down and the Cold War ended, Hungary was freed from Communist control and capitalism came in a uniquely peaceful and successful way.
479ab800Hungary hopes to enter the European Union in the near future.  She recently accomplished the third free election for Parliament.   Although there are two parties, members of Hungary’s Parliament, the third largest in Europe, are elected for a single house and peacefully debate legal issues.  The Parliament Building beside the Danube River is one of Europe’s MOST EXQUISITE buildings and a MUST-SEE for every tourist visiting Budapest.  Tours are at various times each day. Check with your hotel to get a tour in your language.

468ab800The palatial building dominates the cityscape on the Peste side of Budapest, with its 96-meter-high dome and many steeples.  The masterpiece of  Imre Steindl, who won the 1884 international competition for the design of the building, it required nearly 20 years to build and was completed in 1902 just five weeks after his death. Hungarian Royal RegaliaWith 691 rooms, the majesty and beauty of this amazing building can hardly be surpassed in the world. Here you can see St. Stephen’s Crown, the sceptre, orb, and Renaissance Sword, the Hungarian Coronation Regalia.

47bbe8e0You must see to believe the arched, hand-painted and gold-leafed walls and ceilings and brilliant stained-glass windows, the statuary and hand-finished paneling, and frescoes. Plan this as your most important stop. The tour takes one hour and can be purchased in your hotel, or at tourinform offices (recognized by the ‘ i ‘ ), as part of a half-day city tour.

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