Specialty Travel Guide Hungary
The Eastern European country of Hungary is one that has long history. The country shows scars from the wars of the 20th Century, as well as occupations by other countries in less recent times.
One traveling staple in Budapest is the Great Synagogue, which is a miracle in itself. The synagogue was two streets away from the Gestapo headquarters in World War II, and it is a wonder why it was not destroyed by the Nazis. It is the most significant synagogue in Easter Europe, and is one of the largest in the world. One visit is enough to get a good look at the evolution of Budapest in the 20th Century. Visitors receive a skullcap, which must be worn throughout your stay. The vast interior of the synagogue is filled with row upon row of pews. Hanging over the altar is an elaborate dome covered in blue tiles. Next door to the synagogue is a museum with precious Jewish artifacts. The museum also contains a room dedicated to the Holocaust as well as a garden that was built over mass graves from the war.
From the blue banks of the Danube, you can walk to the old town district of Budapest. As you walk down the stone-paved streets, you can feel the history of the city pouring down on you. You can enter through the Vienna gate, built in 1936 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the liberation of Budapest. Old houses are around the square featuring samples of medieval and baroque art. The Erdõdy Palace was built on the ruins of old homes, much like the other buildings in the area, and was home to Beethoven for a short time, and as such, was turned into a musical history museum.
Matthias Church was built in the 13th Century following the Mongolian invasion of Budapest. The church's real name is the church of St. Mary, but is referred to as Matthias Church after the king who devoted much of his life to it. The church was damaged in both World Wars, and has been rebuilt. The intricate gargoyles watch over the church from the tiled roof as visitors come and go. The interior of the church is gorgeous, with beautiful Gothic and Renaissance-style decorations. The large stained glass windows that depict the lives of the Virgin Mary and St. Elizabeth were removed during Word War II, and have since been restored to their rightful places.
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