Page 74 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Hungary

72  BUD APEST AREA B Y AREA GELLÉR T HILL AND T ABÁN  73

Street-by-Street: Gellért Hill 6 Rudas Baths
These famous Turkish baths, which CASTLE
The hill to the south of Castle Hill was long regarded as a date from the 16th century, have DISTRICT
notorious spot. In the 11th century Prince Vata, brother of a characteristic Ottoman cupola. CENTRAL
PEST
King István, incited a heathen rebellion here that resulted GELLÉRT
in the death of Bishop Gellért. During the Middle Ages, HILL AND Danube
TABÁN
witches were even reputed to celebrate their sabbath
here. Under the Turks, a small strong hold was first
built on the hill to protect Buda. In 1851, the Locator Map
Austrians placed their own bleak and intimidating See Street Finder map 3
Citadel at the summit. Not until the end of the
19th century did the popular image of Gellért Hill
begin to change, when it became a venue for
picnicking parties. In 1967, the area around the 7 Queen Elizabeth Monument The Reservoir
Citadel was made into an attractive park. Close to the entrance to Elizabeth Bridge In 1978, a new reservoir
stands this statue of Austrian Emperor The Observation Terraces on Gellért Hill reward those to supply the capital with
Franz Joseph’s wife, who was popular who climb up to them with a beautiful panorama over drinking water was built near
with the Hungarians. Elizabeth the southern part of Buda and the whole of Pest. the Uránia Obser va tory to
Bridge the northwest of Gellért Hill.
The surface of the reservoir is
covered over and provides a
point from which to observe
the Royal Palace (see pp58–9)
5 . Statue of to the north. A sculpture by
St Gellért H E G Y A L I A Ú T Márta Lesenyei decorates
Blessing the city with the structure.
his uplifted cross,
the martyred Bishop
Gellért is known as
the patron saint
of Budapest.

2 Cave Church
This church was established in 1926
in a holy grotto. Under the Commu­
nists, the Pauline order of monks
was forced to abandon the church, Sculpture by Márta Lesenyei
S on Gellért Hill’s reservoir
but it was reopened in 1989.
Z
E
N
4 Citadel T G E L L É R
Once a place to inspire terror, the Citadel T R Liberty
is currently closed due to a legal debate. Bridge
However, visitors can still walk up to the old
walls and enjoy the splendid view. A K P A R T

Key
Suggested route

1 . Gellért Hotel and
3 Liberation Monument Baths Complex
At the foot of the Liberation One of a number of bath complexes
Monument, towering above built at the beginning of the
the city, are two sculp- 20th century, this magnificent
tures, one representing 0 metres 500 spa hotel was erected here to
the battle with evil. 0 yards 500 exploit the natural hot springs.
For hotels and restaurants see pp264–269 and pp276–285

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