History, events and new green spaces: a capital city reinventing itself

Budapest is a city that is constantly renewing itself without losing its strong historical identity. Following six years of work, the Citadel on Gellért Hill – along with the Statue of Liberty and the Rondella panoramic terrace – reopened to the public last April as part of a project that goes beyond the simple restoration of one of the capital’s most iconic monuments. The complex has been transformed into a new green space covering over 6,000 square metres, featuring a new exhibition area dedicated to the history of Hungary, the main attraction of which is the interactive exhibition ‘The Bastion of Liberty’, which traces thirteen centuries of national history through multimedia installations. The redevelopment of the Citadel is part of a wider trend in Budapest, which in recent years has seen a proliferation of green spaces: from the promenades on Margaret Island and along the façade of the Fishermen’s Bastion to the paths through the Garden of Philosophers and up the hills of Buda, where visitors can explore the majestic castle of the same name (which houses the Hungarian National Gallery, featuring masterpieces that chronicle centuries of Hungarian art), the capital offers a natural side that is less well-known to tourists. Budapest is also a capital where culture is in the air everywhere, from the Museum of Fine Arts with works by El Greco, Goya and Rembrandt to the historic cafés that once served as literary salons, with traditional pastries and charming décor, right through to hidden libraries such as the Szabó Ervin, where you can lose yourself amongst antique volumes and cosy armchairs. Finally, the late-summer events calendar offers at least two good reasons to visit the city: until 10 September, the Margaret Island Open-Air Theatre is staging opera, ballet, jazz and concerts, whilst from 9 to 12 September, against the backdrop of Buda Castle, the Budapest Wine Festival takes centre stage – four days dedicated to wines from Hungary’s main regions, featuring tastings and gastronomic events.

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