A month ago I had one of those experiences that get under your skin, that you remember for the feeling of peace, of being tucked away, and of silent gratitude that you were right there, right then. I visited the Vajdahunyad Castle in Budapest with my girlfriend Mia, I can tell you right now: if you like fairytale architecture, walks through gorgeous nature and history coming alive before you, this is the place for you.
This is a view from afar. Before we crossed the bridge, we found a nice climb from which you can see a mini fair, a castle, and nature. We stopped there for a few minutes to enjoy the view, it doesn't look beautiful, but believe me, once you go there, you can't resist it.
The castle is located in the City Park "Városliget", right next to the famous Széchenyi Thermal Baths and just a few steps from Heroes' Square. The ambiance alone is enough to disarm you, ponds, ducks, long paths under the treetops that look like they fell out of a Disney movie... We couldn't stop taking photos, but we couldn't stop talking about how much we felt like we had entered another dimension.
Now, what makes this castle special is not only its fairytale exterior, but also its... unusual history.
Vajdahunyad Castle was built in 1896, on the occasion of the thousandth anniversary of the arrival of the Hungarians in the Pannonian Plain. Although today it looks like it has been there for centuries, it was originally a wooden structure. It was conceived as a temporary exhibition building, but it caused so much enthusiasm that the authorities decided to build it permanently, in stone and brick, ten years later.
And here's the fun part: the castle is not a copy of a single castle, but a composition of several historical styles and buildings from all over Hungary. It is a mixture of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles, which makes it a visual time machine. Its most recognizable part is the Gothic segment reminiscent of Corvin Castle in Romania, home of the famous Hungarian duke Hunyadi János, father of King Matthias Corvinus. Hence the name Vajdahunyad.
Walking into the castle courtyard is like stepping into a fairy tale. The silence, the sound of the water gurgling, the chirping of birds, the occasional tourist with a map and a man painting with spray cans... everything exudes a certain unobtrusive charm. Mia and I walked along the walls, observing the carved details, the pointed arched windows, and placing imaginary stories in every corner. She asked me: “Imagine living here?” And actually, it wasn’t hard to imagine.
In the center is also a statue of an anonymous 13th-century writer, who recorded the history of the Hungarian kings. His figure with a hood and a quill in his hand seems almost mystical. It is believed that touching his pen brings inspiration to writers. Of course, we both touched it, it won’t harm us.
What was perhaps even more beautiful for me than the castle itself was the surroundings. The trees were green, lush, everything smelled of spring and tranquility. The lake that turns into a skating rink in winter, water lilies, bridges, and even a swan that nonchalantly floated past us, everything looked like a picture. We sat on the bench, held hands, and were silent for a while. Absolute peace.
If you are planning a trip to Budapest, don't miss Vajdahunyad. It's not the most famous attraction in town, but it's probably the most magical. And it doesn't matter if you're a couple in love, a solo traveler, a history enthusiast or someone who just likes to get lost in beautiful places, you'll find something for you here.
We left with a smile, and the feeling that we entered a fairy tale. And that at least for a moment that fairy tale was real.
