Page 76 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Budapest

74  BUD APEST AREA B Y AREA

Street-by-Street: The Royal Palace

The Royal Palace has borne many incarnations during
its long life. Even now it is not known exactly where
King Béla IV began building his castle, though it is S
thought to be nearer the site of Mátyás Church Z Í N
(see pp86–7). The Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund H
of Luxembourg built a Gothic palace on the present Á
Z

site, from which today’s castle began to evolve. In the U
18th century, the Habsburgs built their monumental
palace here. The current form dates from the S
rebuilding of the 19th-century palace after its Z T

destruc tion in February 1945. During this G
work, remains of the 15th-century Gothic Y Ö
palace were uncovered. Hungarian archeologists R G
decided to reveal the recovered defensive walls Y U
and royal chambers in the reconstruction.
An ornamental gateway,
dating from 1903, leads
from the Habsburg Steps to
the Royal Palace. Near by, a
bronze sculpture of the
mythical turul bird guards
the palace. This statue
marks the millen nium
anniversary of the Magyar
conquest in 896.

3 . Mátyás Fountain
In the northwest courtyard of the Royal Palace
stands the Mátyás Fountain. It was designed by
Alajos Stróbl in 1904 and depicts King Mátyás
Corvinus and his beloved Ilonka.

Lion Gate, leading to a
rear courtyard of the Royal
Palace, gets its name from
the four lions that watch
over it. These sculptures
were designed by János
Fadrusz in 1901.

1255 First written c.1400 Sigismund of 1541 After capturing 1719 The building of 1881 Miklós Ybl
document, a letter Luxembourg builds Buda, the Turks use a small palace begins (see p123) begins
by King Béla IV, an ambit ious Gothic the Royal Palace to on the ruins of the programme to re ­
refers to building pal ace on this site stable horses and old palace, to a design build and expand
a fortified castle store gunpowder by Hölbling and the Royal Palace
Fortunato de Prati
1200 1400 1600 1800
Turul
c.1356 Louis I builds 1686 The assault by 1849 Royal bird
a royal castle on the Christian soldiers leaves the Palace is
southern slopes of palace completely razed to destroyed again,
Castle Hill the ground during an un ­
successful attack
1458 A Renaissance palace evolves 1749 Maria Theresa builds a vast by Hungarian
under King Mátyás palace comprising 203 chambers insurgents

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