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The land where the Magyars settled 11 centures ago
holds new experiences for visitors. Budapest is a 19th-century jewel pulsing with energy.
Points of Interest
Area: 35,919 square miles (the size of Indiana). Population: 9,936,000,
(Budapest, 1,909,000, Debrecen, 212,000). Language: Magyar.
Highlights
Budapest,
the capital, straddles the Danube-called the Duna here-and is the heart of social and
cultural life. Among the principal sights are the Chain Bridge, one of eight spans
connecting the bluffs of Buda and flat Pest; the historic Castle District, topped by the
Royal Castle (which houses the National Gallery and the Budapest Historical Museum); the
Fishermen's Bastion overlook; and the impressive Parliament Building. Margaret island is
the site of two spas and outdoor concerts each summer.
The Danube Bend, where the river turns south, is one of Hungary's most
picturesque regions. Just 50 minutes upriver from Budapest, its natural beauty and
historic towns make it an ideal spot for a holiday.
Szentendre, a small town on the Danube near Budapest, offers art galleries,
theater and folklore festivals.
Lake Balaton, which stretches for 50 miles, is middle Europe's largest and most
picturesque lake, a resort center and major wine-growing region.
Sopron, a historic mountain town near the Austrian border, features stately
palaces.
Debrecen is the largest city on the Great Plain. Attractions include thermal
baths and the Great Church, where Hungary's declaration of independence from Austria was
signed in 1849.
Szeged, another Great Plain city, is noted for its fine art and literature,
museums and monuments such as the 12th-century Demetrius Tower.
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