Ah, Budapest. I only write about it, but what can I do when there is so much, and yet I feel like I have written few blogs about it. There are places I haven't had time to visit, but I will visit them when I go again. This is the last post about Budapest. YAY...
This is a farewell post for Budapest for now. For the end, we visit Heroes' Square. One of the most beautiful squares in Europe, surrounded by a beautiful park, museum, amusement park, Vajdahunyad Castle, which I wrote about, and much more. It is truly beautiful to walk around and see, not only monuments, but also people, nature, and smell the clean air. Everything around you is green and that is how it should be, to clean the polluted air.
At the end of the 19th century, while Hungary was still part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the great millennium of the Hungarian settlement in the Pannonian Plain (896) was approaching. For that anniversary in 1896, the Hungarians wanted something monumental, something that would speak eternally of their roots, struggle and pride.
Thus was born the idea of the Heroes’ Square, and at the same time the idea of creating the Fisherman’s Bastion was born. The main architect, Albert Schickedanz, together with the sculptor György Zala, created a place that is not only visually stunning, but also deeply symbolic.
In the center of the square stands the 36-meter-high Millennium Monument, topped by the Archangel Gabriel, holding the crown of Saint Stephen, the first king of Hungary, and a cross.
Below the angels, in a semicircular arrangement, there are statues of the seven leaders of the Hungarian tribes, led by the legendary Arpad, who, according to tradition, brought the Hungarians to this area. You can almost hear their horses panting in bronze.
And on the side, semicircular colonnades depict important figures of Hungarian history, kings, warriors, state reformers, each with their own symbols, sword, crown or book.
Heroes' Square has not always been the way we know it today. During the communist era, some statues were removed, and monuments of "unsuitable" rulers were replaced with more ideologically suitable ones. Only after the fall of communism, in the early 90s, the square regained its full historical glory.
Tourists, students, demonstrators, artists gather here. Ceremonies are held there, as well as minutes of silence. The square can be both proud and quiet, both festive and gloomy, depending on the moment and the people who carry it inside.
The left colonnade of the Heroes' Square, there stand the kings who created a kingdom from the nomadic people.
Saint Stephen is holding a crown which, according to legend, was handed to him by the angel himself. He is a pillar of Christian Hungary, the father of the state, a symbol of vision.
Ladislaus I, an almost mythical knight, looks straight ahead, as if protecting everything that his predecessors created.
Koloman the Wise says quietly: "Knowledge is greater than fear." He was a king who challenged superstition, a rarity for his time.
Andraš II recalls the first document by which the nobles limited the royal power. Sound familiar? Magna Carta is younger.
Bela IV, the restorer, stood over the ashes after the Mongol invasion and built on. He teaches you, and when you lose everything, you're not done.
Charles Robert and Lajos I the Great bring stability and power. Their age is the golden age of the crown, trade and European recognition.
If the left colonnade is royal, the right colonnade is rebel. Here stand those who stood up against oppression, who loved the people more than the government.
Janos Hunjadi is here as the sword of the people, a warrior against the Ottomans, a defender of Europe.
Matthias Corvinus, king of nations and books. With him, Hungary had its renaissance not only of art, but also of soul.
Bochkai, Betlen, Thököly, Rákóczi, each of them led the fight not for power, but for freedom. Their struggles were often unsuccessful, but never in vain.
Lajos Kosut closes the streak. His figure symbolizes the revolution of 1848, but also the idea that freedom is not given, it is demanded.
On one side of the square is the magnificent Museum of Fine Arts, and on the other is the Palace of Arts. Behind the square is the City Park, where the fairytale castle Vajdahunyad is located. The whole scene looks like a carefully composed picture of history, art and nature in perfect harmony.
Because Heroes' Square is not just a place to take pictures, nor just another historical monument. It is a mirror of a people who survived conquests, empires, wars, communism and transition, and still preserved their dignity. On quiet evenings, when the lights fall on the bronze figures, you can almost hear the stone talking. A story about dignity, courage and persistence to survive and remain yourself.
I hope you enjoyed reading and looking at the photos. I enjoyed making this blog, I hope you did too. Until next time, "Regards!"
