General information:
Budapest is the capital of Hungary and also its largest city; its area is 525 square kilometre, which is located in the heart of the Carpathian basin, along the river Danube. Budapest is the center of Hungarian politics, culture, trade, industry and transportation. In 2011, 1.7 million of resident were registered, with suburbs 2.5 million.
History in a sentence:
Budapest history stretches back to the Celts, since the city was originally a Celtic Settlement. In Roman times the city was called Aquincum and it was based in the province of Pannonia. Hungarians have only entered to the area in the 9th but the Mongols destroyed the first town they created in 1241 and 1242. In the 15th century the city has been restored and became the home of the Hungarian Renaissance humanism. Subsequently, the city came to under a 150 year of Turkish rule, and only after the release, during the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, 18-19th century, could develop again. In 1873 the 3 city part; Buda-Pest-Óbuda were joined and the name Budapest was born that is used up to this day. At this time most of the famous buildings were constructed and simultaneously the capital had grown into a metropolis as well.
Culture:
Museums & Galleries
In Budapest there are 837 different monuments that represent the majority of European artistic style. Outstanding the classicist and the uniquely Hungarian Art Nouveau style buildings. The capital can be proud of all 223 museums and galleries, which represent many memories of the Hungarian history, art and science also celebrates the universal and European culture and science. The largest facilities of them are the Hungarian National Museum (Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum), Hungarian National Gallery (Magyar Nemzeti Galléria), Museum of Fine Arts (Szépművészeti Múzeum) Budapest History Museum (Budapesti Történeti Múzeum), Memento Park and the Museum of Applied Arts (Iparművészeti Múzeum).
Theatres
Before the age of Enlightenment, 18th century, in Hungary there was no formal acting, so the theatrical performances were presented by amateurs and students. During the monarchy of Maria Theresa, the female ruler of the Hapsburg, the German speaking acts had started, which reflects the fact that majority of the Hungarian population was German. The first troupe was founded in 1790 in Buda that was mainly visited by students. The second Hungarian troupe had already recognized famous actors on the stage between 1807 and 1815. In 1837, the Pesti Hungarian Theater (Pesti Magyar Színház) was established, which was renamed to National Theater (Nemzeti Színház) in 1840. In Budapest there are 40 theaters, 7 concert halls and an Opera House. The largest theater facilities are the Budapest Operetta Theater (Budapest Operettszínház), József Attilla Theater (József Attilla Színház), Katona József Theater (Katona József Színház), Madách Theater (Madách Színház), Hungarian State Opera (Magyar Állami Operaház), National Theater (Nemzeti Színház), Pesti Vigadó, Radnóti Theater (Radnóti Színház) and Vígszínhász.
Spas
The thermal waters of the capital have been utilized by the Romans at the area of Aquincum. Furthermore, the spa culture flourished mostly during the 15th century under the Turkish occupation. Turks continuously built baths mostly at the Western side of Budapest at the Gellert Hill. Since 1934 Budapest owns the well-deserved “Spa Town” title thus among the world capitals the city has the most thermal and mineral water wells. There are 118 drilled wells and natural springs, which provides 70 million liters of water a day. The mineral content of the water are varies as well as its temperature (between 21-78 degrees Celsius). Today, 15 spas wait for all the visitors who want to heal or just wishing for relaxation. The most popular and largest spa facilities are the Szechenyi Spa (Széchényi Gyógyfürdő), Gellert Spa (Gellért Győgyfürdő), Rudas Spa (Rudas Gyógyfürdő), Royal Spa (Királyi Gyógyfürdő), Danar Spa (Danár Gyógyfürdő), Saint Lukacs Spa (Szent Lukács Gógyfürdő) and the Dagaly Spa (Dagály Gyógyfürdő). In addition, some luxury hotels in Budapest have their own private spas such as Ramada Plaza, Margaret Island Hotel and Spa and in downtown the Corinthian Hotel.
Cuisine
The Hungarian cuisine is prominent element of the Hungarian culture; creative with foods, unique flavor and character boast. The traditional relish is a result of more than a thousand years of historical development, based on good natural endowment as well as old animal husbandry, crop and food production manufactory. The reason of the habit to prepare the food with pork and fat can be traced back to the Turkish times. During the 150 years long Ottoman occupation Turks took the entire domesticated animal except pigs, because they were not allowed to consume them due to their Muslim faith. The recipes represent the traditional folk wisdom that made of the simplest raw materials with a wide diversity of prepared food. The raw materials of traditional Hungarian dishes are meat, fresh vegetables, fruits, fresh bread, dairy products, and honey. The Hungarian relish is characterize by light soups, fruit soups, tender vegetables, hot pastas, thousands of version of sauces, fried -, steamed-, boiled beef, pork, lamp, poultry, fish, game meat. The most well-known dish are the stew (pörkölt), goulash (gulyás), fish soup (halászlé), stuffed cabbage (töltött káposzta), paprika chicken (paprikás csirke), paprika potatoes (paprikás krumpli), disznótoros, beam soup (bableves), cottage cheese pasta (túrós csusza).