Hi, kids! It’s me, Flat Stanley Brayden, and today I had an amazing time exploring Budapest on a special half-driving, half-walking tour with Julia, our guide. We saw castles, learned about Hungarian history, and even crossed the famous Danube River! Let’s dive in!
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| Old Key to open a cabinet in the room |
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| A little broom on the doorknob to tell the staff they can clean the room |
Heroes’ Square and City Park
We started at Heroes’ Square, a huge plaza with statues of Hungary’s greatest leaders. Julia explained that the tall column in the middle is topped with Archangel Gabriel, holding the crown of Hungary. Around the square are statues of the seven Magyar chieftains who founded Hungary. Isn’t that cool?
Right behind the square is City Park, where we walked by Vajdahunyad Castle, a fairy-tale castle made up of different Hungarian architectural styles. It felt like stepping into a storybook!
Andrássy Avenue and Opera House
Next, we drove along Andrássy Avenue, Budapest’s grand boulevard. It’s lined with fancy old buildings that were built over 100 years ago. Julia told us this street is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it’s so special!
We stopped to see the Hungarian State Opera House and went down to the metro station below it. The tiles and design are super old-fashioned, and Julia said this metro is one of the oldest in the world!
Liberty Bridge and Central Market Hall
We then stopped at the Central Market Hall, a giant indoor market filled with stalls selling paprika, sausage, and handmade crafts. The building is beautiful, with colorful tiles on the roof.
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| Pigs feet |
Nearby, Julia showed us the Liberty Bridge, which is bright green and was originally built for King Joseph. She explained that during World War II, the Nazis destroyed all the bridges in Budapest to stop the advancing Russian army. After the war, the bridges were rebuilt just like they were before, except for the Elizabeth Bridge, which was made more modern.
Buda Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion
Next, we crossed the Chain Bridge to the Buda side of the city, where we explored the Buda Castle District. The cobblestone streets and colorful medieval houses made it feel like I had traveled back in time!
We walked to Fisherman’s Bastion, a lookout point that offers amazing views of the Danube River and the city below. It felt like standing on a castle tower!
Shoes on the Danube Memorial
After returning to the Pest side of the city, we visited the Shoes on the Danube Memorial. Julia explained that the iron shoes represent Jewish men, women, and children who were forced to take off their shoes before being shot into the river during World War II. It was a very sad moment, but it reminded me how important it is to remember history so we can hope it never happens again.
The Hungarian Parliament Building is one of Budapest’s most iconic landmarks, and seeing it up close was breathtaking. Its neo-Gothic architecture is stunning, with intricate details and soaring spires.
St. Stephen’s Basilica and the Jewish Quarter
Later, we stopped at St. Stephen’s Basilica, Budapest’s largest Catholic church. Inside, we saw the mummified hand of St. Stephen, Hungary’s first king—Julia said it’s over 1,000 years old!
Finally, we visited the Jewish Quarter, where Julia showed us famous synagogues and talked about how the area was once a ghetto during World War II and the efforts that neighbors like Carl Lutz performed to save many people from being sent to concentration camps .
Back to the Hotel and Evening Fun
After the tour, we rested for a bit at the hotel before heading out for dinner in the Jewish Quarter at Mazel Tov. The food was delicious, and the atmosphere was lively! To end the night, we walked through the Vörösmarty Christmas Market, enjoying the festive lights and stalls.
What I Learned Today
- What is Heroes’ Square?
Heroes’ Square is a giant plaza in Budapest that celebrates Hungary’s history. It has statues of famous leaders and the seven Magyar chieftains who founded the country. - What is the Chain Bridge?
The Chain Bridge connects the Buda and Pest sides of Budapest. It was the first permanent bridge built over the Danube River in Hungary! - What is Fisherman’s Bastion?
Fisherman’s Bastion is a beautiful lookout point in the Buda Castle District. It’s named after the fishermen who once defended this part of the city.
I had so much fun exploring Budapest today, and I learned so many new things about Hungary’s history. What was your favorite part of today’s adventure? Let me know!
This blog post was created collaboratively with the assistance of ChatGPT, an AI language model by OpenAI, to help tell my story.
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