Buda Castle

The origins of Buda Castle date back to the 13th century when King Béla IV had a first castle built after the Mongol invasion, which subsequently served as a royal residence. Under King Louis I of Naples, a new palace was erected around 1306. King Sigismund significantly expanded the complex between 1387 and 1437 to counter the looming Turkish threat. During the reign of Matthias Corvinus (1458-1490), the Gothic palace was transformed into a magnificent Renaissance center. In 1541, the castle fell to the Turks and deteriorated during the 145-year occupation. A lightning strike in 1578 destroyed large parts. The recapture by Duke Charles V of Lorraine in 1686 led to its almost complete destruction. Between 1714 and 1770, a new Baroque palace was built under Charles III and Maria Theresa. After destruction during the Hungarian War of Independence (1848/49), the palace received its current Neo-Baroque form between 1890 and 1903 under architects Miklós Ybl and Alajos Hauszmann. In World War II, Buda Castle was again severely damaged, but was restored through extensive reconstruction work, completed in 1978. Since 1987, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Buda Castle is located in Budapest, in the Budapest district, in the Central Hungary region of Hungary. It stands at an elevation of approximately 155 m above sea level.

Today, Buda Castle can be visited and houses several museums, including the Hungarian National Gallery, the Budapest History Museum, and the Széchényi National Library. The complex is also used for representative events by the Hungarian government.

• Roman City Aquincum Amphitheater (Ancient Buildings), approx. 4.2 km away
• Roman City Aquincum (Ancient Buildings), approx. 4.6 km away
• Roman City Aquincum (Ancient Buildings), approx. 5.0 km away
• Roman City Aquincum (Ancient Buildings), approx. 7.6 km away