Wednesday 18 June 2014

The Var and central Buda



We crossed the bridge to get to the Var (Castle Hill) in Buda, a 1500m plateau with bastions, mansions and a huge palace which dominates the area, making this stretch of the river one of the grandest, loveliest urban waterfronts in Europe.





Looking across, we could see Parliament on the Pest side






Once we arrived at the Royal Palace, the bridge looked spectacular
 

 
 

 
one more view
 

 
 

 
We were intrigued by these figures in front of the palace
 
 
 


We left the Royal Palace and started wandering the streets, liking this fountain




 
Matyas Church
 

 
 

 
Fishermen's Bastion, an undulating white rampart of cloisters and stairways with seven tent-like turrets, designed by Schulek as a foil to the Matyas Church.
 

 
 
 

 
The views are fantastic
 

 
 


you can see Pest and Parliament on the left





The Royal Palace and Matyas Church were full of tourists, mainly groups, too many, so we moved on to the quieter streets where the architecture did not disappoint




 
It's very different from Pest, but very pleasing. One of the most notable differences is that the buildings are quite low - most of them are 2 or 3-storey
 

 
 

 
grand doorways abound
 

 
 


in different styles




 
The buildings are painted in different colours
 

 
 

 
and behind the mostly closed heavy doors, are courtyards to be found. This one was open so I ventured in
 

 
 


this garden was gorgeous




 
The building was being renovated and one of the workmen invited me inside one of the dwellings - the entrance is grand indeed, as is the stairway
 

 
 
 


After the cacophony of the tours and their guides, wandering around the quiet streets was bliss





and we really enjoyed looking at the various buildings






each house has its own particular detail





I was particularly intrigued by the first-floor windows of this building - they are bay windows, but only the glass






you can see what I mean here




 
I particularly liked this, the Mary Magdalene Tower
 
 
 



which is situated in this small square of ruins





We then walked to the edge of the hill which afforded great views of the Buda hills





some of the buildings are very ornate


 
 

We were able to walk in here and have a look at the courtyard


 
 

the floor, those white glass double doors, the vaulted ceiling....

 
 
 

the courtyard is surrounded by dwellings - I particularly liked the round tower






and thought this door was cute


 
 
 

Ornate, yet simple





most of the architecture in Buda of similar style, but each house very different









 









I loved the post boxes and their pedestals





nice bay window in the corner





an unusual balcony










Most houses in Buda had these windows on the roofs - are they windows, or just ventilation outlets? I do not know




 
 
 
 

2 comments:

  1. Me again:) Just remembered a website that you may be interested in seeing. www.ablakamultra.hu You do not need to speak Hungarian just click on "diavetites" (slide show) or "galeria" (gallery) in the top bar.

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    1. Thank you for the link, Polyak - I enjoyed looking at the photographs and thinking 'ah I know this, I've been there....'. And it's so cleverly done, the superimposing of the old on the new. Lovely.

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