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The history of Budapest

The first settlement on the territory of the present city was established in the era of the Roman Empire. Aquincum, today called Óbuda was inhabited by Roman settlers. After the fall of the Empire the “Magyar” prince Árpád and his hordes occupied the Carpathian Basin.

On the Western bank of the Danube the settlement Buda started to flourish in the 13th century. After the Mongolian invasion the Castle district was built and populated during the reign of King Béla IV. The medieval town of Buda was established around the castle.

Pest, on the Eastern bank of the Danube became a town with the “certificate of privileges” in the 13th century.

Buda was first announced to the capital of Hungary in the 15th century, during the reign of King Matthias the “Rightful”. His Renaissance palace was the center of culture in the country. By that time Pest had already developed to an important trading town.

In 1541 the Turkish occupation of 150 years started. Turks brought Eastern flavor to the country, and they have built several baths and mosques in Hungary. Buda was re-conquered in 1686 by the Habsburgs.

As time passed by Buda and Pest became more and more dependent. In 1848 Pest-Buda became the capital of Hungary. In 1873 Pest, Buda and Óbuda were united to form the new city of Budapest.

The two World Wars, the world financial crisis and the Soviet occupation had left their footprints on the city. Hardly any building survived these times undamaged.

In 1950 Greater Budapest was born with the annexation of several neighboring towns to Budapest. Nowadays the cities population is over 1.7 million.