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The Danube Bend |
The Danube Bend is an extremely scenic area with green valleys and hills rising up from the river, picturesque little towns with market squares and commanding fortresses with sweeping views. Many visitors choose to do a boat cruise on the Danube from Budapest stopping at the little towns along the way. Because of its close proximity to the capital, many people on a holiday in Hungary choose to use Budapest as their base and take day trips into the Danube Bend. Combined with good facilities and easy accessibility, it is one of the more popular destinations in Hungary.
Attractions
Esztergom
Esztergom combines history with a small-town riverside charm. One of Hungary's most historically important towns, it was the capital for over 250 years and the birthplace of their beloved first king and saint, Stephen, who was later crowned here in the 11th century. Today it remains the religious centre of the country with Hungary's largest church dominating the hill above the town next to the ruins of the medieval Royal Palace, now the Castle Museum. The colossal basilica was the first cathedral in the country and from where Roman Catholicism was introduced to the nation. It offers wonderful views from its enormous dome and contains a crypt and priceless treasury collection. Below is the pretty Watertown District with uneven cobbled streets winding up the hill towards Castle Hill and several interesting museums. Esztergom faces Slovakia across the Danube and there is an international ferry crossing here.Address: Esztergom along the Danube Bend; Website: www.esztergom.hu; Transport: About 25 trains depart to Esztergom daily from Budapest's Nyugati Railway Station (M3 metroline). The journey takes about 1,5 hours. The ticket costs HKD 512 (about €2). Buses depart from Árpád Bridge Bus Station. The journey to Esztergom by bus takes about 75 minutes
Szentendre
Szentendre, 'The Pearl of the Danube Bend', is a quaint old market town situated on the slopes of the Pilis range, with a charm and character of its own. Meandering cobbled lanes, little squares, red-tiled roofs, brightly painted houses, and awkwardly positioned Orthodox churches give it an artistically picturesque setting. Serbian refugees inhabited the town in medieval times and their style contributed to the charisma of the town's haphazard structure and Balkan flavour. Numerous Serbian churches add to the collection of historical buildings. In the 1900s the town became a favourite retreat for painters and sculptors and ever since it has been known for its art and artists, resulting in a wealth of museums and art collections scattered among the tourist souvenir and handicraft shops. Being close to Budapest, the town has become one of the hotspots of tourism, and summer weekends can get rather overcrowded.Address: The Danube Bend; Transport: Trains run every 10-30 minutes from Batthyány tér in Budapest to Szentendre. Tickets cost HUF 500 and the journey takes 45 minutes. Buses to Szentendre leave from Árpád híd bus station in Budapest ever 20 minutes to an hour. Tickets cost HUF 164. It is also possible to catch a boat from Vigadó tér in Budapest to Szentendre for HUF 900 return.
Vác
Known as the 'City of Churches', Vác is a pretty Baroque town on the east bank of the Danube Bend. The cultural and commercial centre of the left side of the river, Vác is a popular tourist destination in Hungary, especially as a day trip from Budapest. The stunning cathedral, found by the first Hungarian King, St Stephen , is the most popular attraction in Vác, though there are many other sites to visit. A more macabre attraction is the Memento Mori Crypt, which houses naturally mummified corpses and is listed as a World Heritage Site.
Visegrad
Superbly situated on the abrupt loop of the Danube beneath steep hills, Visegrad was once a Roman stronghold on the border of the Roman Empire and the second home after Buda to Hungary's royalty in the 14th and 15th centuries. The Citadel sits high on the hill above the town with commanding views over the river bend and the position was of strategic importance to the Romans. On the banks of the river are the ruins of the magnificent palace, one of the finest ever built in Hungary, which is now the open air King Matthias Museum. Today the small, sparsely populated town has a pleasantly lethargic atmosphere that belies its past glory and importance and it makes a peaceful excursion from the crowds of the big city.Transport: Boats run between Budapest and Visegrad from April to September. They depart from Vigadó tér in Pest between Erzsébet Bridge and Szabadság Bridge. The journey to Visegrad is 3.5 hours. There is no direct train service between Budapest and Visegrad. Take the train to Nagymaros from Nyugati Railway Station and from there catch a ferry across to Visegrad. The ferry dock is a few minutes walk from the train station.