Open the left menu Visegrad. Szentendre, Vysehrad, Esztergom - picturesque cities of Hungary in the bend of the Danube Vysehrad, Hungary
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On our second day in Hungary, we planned a trip north of Budapest, to the cities of Visegrad (or, more familiar to our ears, Visegrad) and Szentendre. The trip turned out to be very interesting and eventful. Today I will talk about the first part of our journey.
The weather that day was, to put it mildly, not the sunniest, but there was no rain and the half-hour drive to Visegrad flew by completely unnoticed during the conversation.
In the city of Vysehrad, Hungary // allworld4us.livejournal.com
The first point of the program here was Marble Palace 15th century Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus.
Marble Palace in Visegrad, Hungary // allworld4us.livejournal.com
The name “Marble” does not mean that when you arrive in Visegrad, you will see something like the Parthenon. The palace was almost completely destroyed during the conquest of Hungary by the Turks and was subsequently buried underground for many years. Only in the 20th century the palace was found again, and excavations and subsequent reconstruction began.
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The former appearance of the palace, which was the subject of legends throughout Europe during the years of its construction, is being restored very slowly.
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So far there is no question of marble finishing, and carefully reconstructed copies have been installed instead of the once famous fountains.
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The glory of the palace as almost a wonder of the world was well deserved - apparently it was the first building in the Renaissance style outside of Italy.
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Although it did not remain a real royal palace for long, becoming after the capital was moved to Buda summer palace royal family, the best works of architecture and architecture in the country were concentrated here. There is a small museum in several rooms of the palace, where you can see how difficult and painstaking the work of archaeologists is, restoring the appearance of the palace and works of art, literally smashed to smithereens by the invaders.
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Despite the fact that many rooms of the palace have not yet been fully restored, even remaining without a roof, some rooms contain (albeit rather modest) reconstruction of the interiors.
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Everything doesn’t look very convincing yet, but by the time the work is completely completed, these things may already have acquired a decent antique look. :)
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Here, by the way, we once again saw sitting beds, the history of which is dedicated to the study of one. Here, having compared the height of the knight's armor and the length of the bed, we were once again convinced that it was seated, and not just designed for the small stature of the people of the Middle Ages.
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We found two large tiled stoves in the adjacent rooms of the palace to be one of the most impressive interior items. There were also interesting exhibits (for example, a royal bath with a device for heating water hidden in the wall), which may be more interesting to historians than tourists.
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The territory of the palace is also being reconstructed, but, as it seemed to us, at an even slower pace. Most likely, more than one year will pass until Matthias’s residence can be seen in a form close to the original.
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But the Marble Palace is not the only and not the main thing that attracts tourists to Visegrad. On the hill above the palace are the ruins of the much older Visegrad Castle, dating back to the 13th century.
Ruins of Visegrad Castle, Hungary // allworld4us.livejournal.com
It was built on the site of an even more ancient citadel, destroyed during the Mongol invasion.
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Now the castle houses a more or less standard collection of medieval entertainment, familiar to those who have visited old castles, for example, in the Czech Republic or Romania. All sorts of antique objects, siege weapons, photos in costumes and archery. There is also a wax museum, with an entrance fee, which we decided not to go to. :)
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But, perhaps, the main reason why you should climb the mountain is the panoramic views of the Danube that open from the observation decks and castle walls.
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The weather, unfortunately, did not contribute to the best visibility, but the sight of clouds flying over the ruins of ancient walls and disappearing into the haze of the Danube expanses still left a strong impression! We were immediately reminded of Tolkien's "The Cloudy Peak" - although we were not expecting a visit from the Nazgul. :)
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The castle itself is not very well preserved - despite attempts at restoration and reconstruction, it is still more of a ruin.
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A couple of rooms here are also reserved for a rather eclectic museum of antiquities, assembled according to the principle of “from the world one at a time” :)
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Other premises still remain under open air and serve as observation platforms.
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The view from here seems to be even better than from the foot of the walls. :)
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Near the house, which is visible on previous photo, a falconer was spotted. Most likely in tourist season, when there are more visitors in the castle, he also offers costume photo sessions, but this time he was busy with his own business, although he did not refuse to show us one of his pets.
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Having walked around the perimeter of the Upper Castle, we moved towards the exit.
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But before we continue our trip, we still have one more unfinished business in Visegrad! :)
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While still standing on the observation deck, we got a good look big tower, located below the castle, almost on the very bank of the Danube.
Solomon's Tower in Visegrad, Hungary // allworld4us.livejournal.com
By that time, we already knew that this was nothing more than Solomon’s Tower - very interesting in its history.
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That's where we headed!
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The Visegrad fortress (both upper and lower parts) was built by King Bela IV in 1245-1255. in the place where there were the remains of fortifications built by the Romans. Only one residential tower of the fortress has been completely preserved to this day - Solomon's Tower, one of the tallest and most impressive Romanesque fortifications preserved in Central Europe.
Tradition says that the tower got its name because King Solomon was imprisoned here. But this is not a biblical character, but the king of Hungary from the Arpad dynasty, the son of Andras (Endre) I and Anastasia, daughter of the Kyiv prince Yaroslav the Wise, who lived in 1063-1074.
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In 1325, King Charles I Robert made Visegrad his residence and the fortress was occupied by the royal court. According to archaeologists, it was then that Solomon's Tower was fortified. The last grandiose reconstruction was done at the end of the 15th century during the reign of King Matthias. At the beginning of Turkish hostilities, the tower was significantly damaged, the southern part was completely destroyed. After the expulsion of the Turks, the tower was empty; the stones of the fortress were dismantled for building material.
The Danube Bend is a place where the second largest river in Europe changes its direction several times, making a sharp bend in the valley of the Carpathian basin. This place is considered very popular among tourists, as there are a number of small towns here that are interesting for their architecture, history and culture. Among all these towns, the most frequently visited are the cities of Szentendre, Visegrad and Esztergom.
The Hungarian town of Szentendre is called the “southern gate” of the Danube bend. The most famous attractions of this city are the temples built in the 14th - 17th centuries in the Rococo style, the Museum of Serbian Orthodox Church Art, the Szabó Marzipan Museum and the 31-kilometer-long Szentendrei Island, which has several wonderful golf courses.
Visegrad is the city where it is located magnificent palace King Matthias with 350 rooms and luxurious red marble wells. In addition to the palace, in the city you can see the five-story tower of Chalamon, built in the 13th century, Shibrik Hill - the remains of a military camp of the Romans of the 4th century and a large excursion center on Mount Modyoro.
The “Western Gate” of the Danube bend - the city of Esztergom, attracts tourists with its ancient history, because it was he who was considered the capital of Hungary for almost 250 years at the beginning of the second millennium. In the city, you should definitely visit such places as the Basilica on the Fortress Hill - the symbol of the city with the largest altar image in the country, and the Fortress Museum.
Observation deck on the Danube Bend
The observation deck on the Danube Bend is located in Visegrad (Vysehrad).
Visegrad is the Slavic name for the fortress “Visegrad” - “ high city"has been preserved since Roman times. Visegrad is built on the top of a mountain. The observation deck is located at an altitude of 342 meters at the foot of which the Danube makes a 180-degree turn and presents an unforgettable picture that can be observed from observation deck citadels.
Visegrad is a fortified city. It received its name from the Slavs who inhabited these lands until the 9th century and means “city on high place". Located at the junction of Slavic territories and western lands, 48 km from Budapest.
Previously, there were Roman settlements here, and the fortress itself was built only in the 13th century and is surrounded by high impregnable walls. You can enter inside only through secret passages or along one narrow staircase.
What sights of Visegrad did you like? Next to the photo there are icons, by clicking on which you can rate a particular place.
Visegrad Fortress and Solomon's Tower
The Visegrád fortress and palace were destroyed in the 18th century by Habsburg troops in the war for Hungary. To date, only one tower of the fortress has been preserved - Solomon's Tower. According to legend, it was in this tower that Vlad Tepes was imprisoned at one time.
The Visegrad Fortress is considered the main attraction of Visegrad, a very small city in Hungary.
The fortress was built above the bend of the Danube on the top of the Sibrik hill, and from its walls there is a beautiful view of the surrounding landscapes.
After devastating wars, the fortress was almost completely destroyed; its restoration began in the 19th century.
Tourists on excursions are told about its ancient citadel buildings and Solomon's Tower, in which Count Dracula himself was imprisoned.
To this day, only one residential tower of the fortress has been completely preserved - the Tower of Solomon. Its powerful walls reach eight meters in thickness. It is considered a tall and imposing fortification of the Romanesque style that survived in Central Europe.
Matej Csak took possession of the fortress at the beginning of the 14th century, and later it was occupied by the royal court and King Charles I Robert made Visegrad his residence.
When the Turkish war came, the southern part was destroyed, and after the yoke was expelled, Solomon's Tower was empty, the stones were dismantled for building material.
The most popular attractions in Visegrad with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose best places for visiting famous places Visegrad on our website.
Visegrad from A to Z: map, hotels, attractions, restaurants, entertainment. Shopping, shops. Photos, videos and reviews about Visegrad.
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Old Hungarian capital, “second Alhambra”, “earthly paradise” - all these epithets refer to ancient city with a Slavic name, lying in the bend of the great Danube - Visegrad. It was here, in the Visegrad Palace in 1993, that an agreement was signed between the presidents of Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary on interaction and cooperation in new economic and political circumstances. The union of these four states was called the “Visegrad Four”.
How to get there
You can get to Visegrád from Budapest by car on road number 11 or use public transport. In the summer, you can also arrive along the Danube, which, without a doubt, will bring a lot of pleasant impressions. At the tourist offices of Budapest you can easily book a tour with a Russian-speaking guide.
Visegrád, now a small Hungarian town and once the capital of the state, is located in the very center of the country, not far from its current capital Budapest, or rather about 40 kilometers to the north.
Search for air tickets to Budapest (the nearest airport to Visegrád)
History paragraph
The first people appeared in these places back in the Stone Age; later this territory was inhabited by Germanic and Celtic tribes. There is evidence that fortifications in this area were erected by the ancient Romans, although the name itself (also known since Roman times) is clearly of Slavic origin, which indicates the presence of the Slavs here.
In the 13th century, after a devastating Tatar raid, the national hero of Hungary, King Bela IV, restored the ancient fortress destroyed by the Mongols. Construction was long and painful, and lasted for two whole centuries. In the 14th century, the Hungarian royal dynasty of the Arpads was interrupted, and Károly Robert of Anjou ascended the throne, whose accession was opposed by the residents of the then capital, Buda. The new monarch had no choice but to leave for Visegrad, and at the same time move the capital there.
Having turned into the capital, the city began to actively develop - a large Royal Palace for receiving foreign ambassadors and delegations. Many important historical decisions were made in this palace, both for the history of Hungary and for the whole of Europe.
The heir of Károly Robert of Anjou, his son Lajos the Great, returned the capital status to Buda in 1350, and Visegrad has since become a summer royal residence.
Popular hotels in Visegrad
Entertainment and attractions in Visegrad
A bright period in the history of the city occurred during the reign of King Matthias: the magnificent Marble Palace in the Renaissance style made of red marble was erected here, which rightfully received the title of “second Alhambra”.
One day, one of the cardinals, who visited Hungary on behalf of the Pope, stayed in this palace. And he was so impressed by this place that he called it “heaven on earth.” Unfortunately, neither the admiration of contemporaries, nor loud and beautiful epithets could save the palace from the destruction that befell it during the Turkish invasion, and later during the Habsburg war for Hungary.
The same sad fate befell ancient citadel, the only part of which remains completely intact is Solomon's Tower. The restoration of the palace began in the 19th century, although it had to be somewhat rebuilt, and the ancient citadel was restored in 2008, according to the design of the 15th century architects.
The fortress, which has one peculiarity, also attracts tourists. According to legend, it was here, in Solomon’s Tower, that the notorious Wallachian prince Vlad the Impaler, better known to the general public under the name Count Dracula, was imprisoned. Easy-to-language popular rumor “rewarded” Prince Tepes with the name of a vampire for the unprecedented cruelties that he allowed himself both towards the common people and the nobles who were his subjects.
Apparently, Vlad Tepes really suffered from serious mental disorders and a tendency toward sadism. Such cruelty led to the fact that soon Matthias was written a denunciation of Tepes. But the king was in no hurry to punish the cruel prince, since he was related to him - his cousin was Dracula’s wife. Then the king's vassals resorted to cunning and wrote a denunciation that the prince was attempting a coup d'etat, and he was forced to summon the future Count Dracula closer to him, to Visegrad. Here, in the Tower of Solomon, the odious Vlad the Impaler met his death. So, both the Romanian Bran (the possession of Vlad the Impaler) and the Hungarian Visegrad can be called “the castles of Count Dracula.”
Excellently preserved in Visegrad Old city, virtually unchanged since the Middle Ages. Here you can wander through the narrow streets, admiring the small houses huddled together and the majestic temples, and, when tired, taste the famous Hungarian goulash or have something refreshing.
In the vicinity of Visegrad there are various medical thermal springs, which are widely popular due to their unique properties.
Vysehrad - small town in Hungary. The history of this fortified city is rich in events, full of drama.
Vysehrad is located on the right bank of the Danube, north of Budapest. The main attraction of Visegrad is the famous Visegrad Fortress, the former possession of the King of Hungary, Matthew Corvinus. On the territory of the fortified city there are several castles and a citadel.
The city of Vysehrad is located on the border of the western territories and the lands of the Slavic peoples. It is for this reason that the life of the population of Visegrad has never been calm: constant invasions of enemies, sieges heroically endured by the inhabitants, the famous prisoners of the Salamon Tower, and, of course, the theft of the Hungarian crown, which received enormous resonance - this is, by no means complete, a list of stories of Visegrad fortresses
Like many other castles in Hungary, the Visegrad fortress was built after the Tatar invasion. But the first foundation of the castle city was laid back in ancient times: the Romans who lived on these lands built fortifications to protect themselves from enemies.
This unique fortress in Hungary embodies the best traditions of southern German design in its architecture. These days, the Visegrad Fortress is a five-story museum that is open to visitors. The most popular place for tourists to visit is the citadel, an element of the Visegrad fortress.
In addition to the citadel, the system of buildings of the fortress includes an upper castle, a lower castle, and a royal palace. The citadel building is located on the top of Castle Hill. All the buildings of the fortress are made in an irregular geometric shape. As soon as visitors enter the territory of the Visegrad Fortress, the first thing they notice is the magnificent appearance buildings and design of garden areas.
Almost all parts of the Visegrad fortress system are made in the Gothic style: everywhere there are beautiful carved doors and frames decorating the apples of the stained glass windows. Among the external design of the castle, ornaments in the form of simple geometric shapes predominate. The roof of the fortress attracts special attention: the tower structures, like needles, stick into the sky.
As for the interior of the Visegrad Fortress, here, too, everything is presented in the Gothic style: the furniture of the Gothic era is heavy and simple in its design. The main furniture is bulky chests of drawers and armchairs, regular shaped tables (rectangular or round), massive beds. Many carpets, located almost everywhere, hide the tiled floor.
Despite the fact that the territory on which the fortress city is located was occupied by the Hungarians, the original, Slavic name of this place was preserved: “high city”. The first written mentions of the Visegrad fortress date back to the beginning of the 11th century.
The reign of Karoly Robert of Anjou: construction of the royal residence.
Károly Robert of Anjou took the throne after King András II, the last of the Arpad dynasty, died. During the reign of Károly Robert, it was decided that Visegrad would become the capital of Hungary (instead of Buda). It was after this event, in 1320, that significant changes began for the fortified city. The city began to actively develop: construction began on the royal residence - a majestic palace, which subsequently received such eminent guests as the King of Poland, Casimir III, Duke of Bavaria, Heinrich Wittelsbach and many others. However, along with the death of Károly Robert, the development of the Visegrad fortress also stopped: King Lajos the Great (son of Károly Robert) again returned to Buda and left the Visegrad fortress.
The reign of Matthias Corvinus: a fortress in the Renaissance style.
King Matthias (Matthew) Corwin is the ruler who breathed “new life” into the Visegrad fortress. It was under his leadership that the style of the fortress city was changed: both in the architecture of the fortress and in the interior, the skills of the masters of the Renaissance style were manifested. Increasingly, the king's guests in the Visegrad fortress were great artists: artists, poets, philosophers - the best minds of the Renaissance.
Period of shock: Turkish invasion.
Despite the fact that, initially, the fortress was primarily of a defensive nature, all fortification systems collapsed under the onslaught of the Turkish invaders. The Turkish invasion, which occurred in the 16th century, brought devastation and poverty to the fortified city. Repeatedly attacked by troops Ottoman Empire, the townspeople left their homes, fleeing. The king's palace was completely destroyed, and the fortress was practically destroyed.
Renaissance period
For many years, the Visegrad fortress was in ruins. Its revival, which continues to this day, began in the 19th century. Art connoisseurs call the Visegrad Fortress a paradise on earth: 350 luxurious halls, with an almost completely restored interior, allow visitors to enjoy the beauty and feel the solemn atmosphere that reigned in the monastery of the kings.
Stories about the splendor of the palace very quickly spread beyond the borders of Hungary. Visitors, coming to the Visegrad Fortress, take with them not only memorable souvenirs, but also a lot of positive emotions from what they saw. The wine cellars of the Visegrad Fortress are one of the places most frequently visited by tourists. In the courtyard of the fortress there is a chapel and a system of fountains. According to one of the local legends, during feasts, instead of water, fountains were filled with wine.
In the picturesque valley of the Danube Bend, shrouded in a thin veil of fog, on the high rocky hill of Sibrik, there is one of the most ancient fortresses in Hungary Visegrád.
Already in the Roman era, there was a fortress on this site, the first written mention of which dates back to the beginning of the 11th century. An interesting fact is that it retained its Slavic name (“high city”) even after the Hungarians settled in these areas. At the beginning of the 13th century, warlike Horde tribes invaded the territory of Hungary and completely destroyed the then capital of the state, Buda. After this, King Bela IV ordered the restoration of the fortress in Visegrad. A complex system of fortifications and a very favorable location provided reliable protection against surprise attacks by the enemy. After the death of King András II, the last representative of the Arpad dynasty, the Hungarian throne was taken by Károly Robert of Anjou, also known as Charles Robert. His rise to power did not go very smoothly: the candidacy of Károly Robert was supported by the Pope, but the residents of Buda gave their preference to the Czech candidate, King Vladislav. After the papal protégé took the high post of head of state, in 1323 he decided to move the capital from the obstinate (and dangerous!) Buda to Visegrad. This fact led to the active development of both the city itself and the royal residence. In 1320, construction work began on the construction of a large ceremonial palace, in which the king received eminent guests: Heinrich Wittelsbach, Duke of Bavaria, King Casimir III of Poland, Elector of Saxony. The Visegrad Fortress housed the royal regalia for a long time. After the death of Károly Robert, his son King Lajos the Great decided to settle in Buda, and the Visegrad Palace was empty. 
The next period of prosperity for the city occurred during the reign of King Matthias (Matthew) Corvinus. Under him, the royal palace was rebuilt in the Renaissance style. Matthias was a passionate admirer of art and science, so at that time prominent poets, artists, and philosophers of the Renaissance were frequent guests of the Visegrad residence.
However, the powerful fortification system could not protect Visegrad from the Turkish invasion that occurred in the 16th century. After repeated attacks by the troops of the Ottoman Empire, the palace was completely destroyed, a significant part of the fortress was damaged, and the surviving townspeople soon left Visegrad. The revival of the palace began only in the 19th century and continues to this day. To get to it, you need to rise from lower city up Fő utca. Once this magnificent building, whose fame spread far beyond the borders of Hungary, had 350 luxurious rooms. Contemporaries called the Visegrad Palace a paradise on earth. Now part of the palace has been restored, and it allows you to imagine the former splendor of the royal residence. On several levels of the palace you can see tombstones from the Roman era to the Middle Ages, a wine cellar, a chapel and the famous fountains that once adorned the entrance to the residence. According to one legend, during royal feasts, red wine flowed from them instead of water.
The most famous guest of the Visegrad Fortress
The approaches to the tower are guarded by the hexagonal watchtower of Shalamon. In the Middle Ages, the tower was used as a prison for the most eminent prisoners. In 1401, as a result of a conspiracy among the nobility, King Sigismund of Luxembourg himself was imprisoned in it. Despite the fact that he spent only 4 months there, the tower left an indelible mark in the heart of Sigismund: after becoming Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, he ordered to take care of its improvement.
However, the most famous prisoner of Chalamon was not Sigismund of Luxembourg, but the legendary ruler of Wallachia, Vlad the Impaler, better known as Count Dracula. The boundless cruelty of Dracula, who impaled his political opponents and generally had a special passion for executions, gave rise to many chilling legends about him. However, this odious person became Shalamon’s guest for completely different reasons. King Matthias was informed that Dracula was plotting against him and wanted to take the Hungarian throne. Matthias captured Dracula and imprisoned him in the tower of the Visegrad fortress, where he spent 12 long years of his life. There is a legend according to which the daughter of King Matthias fell in love with the count. And she fell in love so much that she ordered to dig it up underground passage, leading to the tower, and helped Dracula escape. However, according to historians, King Matthias had no children, and Dracula was married to his niece (according to other sources, his sister). Moreover, in Visegrad he was kept with his wife, moved freely around the fortress and generally led a fairly active lifestyle, periodically entertaining himself with bloody executions (at least, that’s what numerous legends say). 
On the ground floor of the Chalamon Tower there is the King Matthias Museum. Here you can see the remains of the sculptural decoration that in the old days adorned the royal palace, and visit an exhibition dedicated to the times of the Turkish invasion of Hungary. Compositions of wax sculptures, reproducing various moments of medieval life in Visegrad, allow you to get a closer look at the life of that time.
At the beginning of July, Visegrad goes back several centuries back to the Middle Ages for exactly three days. At this time, the International Knight Tournament, a grandiose theatrical performance, is taking place here. Knights, dressed in armor and mounted on their powerful horses, show their skill with weapons, archers compete in accuracy, artisans display their goods in the market square, and restaurant owners invite the public to try dishes prepared according to medieval recipes. The program of this grandiose event also includes a troubadour competition, halberd fights, a demonstration of hunting falcons and much more.
Address: Fő u. 23, 2025 Visegrád, Hungary
Telephone: +36 26 597 010
How to get there from Budapest: on intercity bus from Árpád híd station. By train from Nyugati station to Nagymaros-Visegrad station. The journey takes about an hour.
Working hours: daily, except Monday, from 09:00 to 17:00.
Castle website:
