Only few capitals in the world can pride itself on such a fantastic geological situation as Budapest. From the top of the hill situated in the centre the whole city can be observed. A broad staircase, which was partly damaged in World War II, drives up to the peak of the 250 metres tall hill from the river Danube. The reconstruction of the steps is planned to be performed together with the renovation of Elisabeth Bridge (Erzsébet-híd), anyway, it offers a pleasant trip for visitors up to the top. Right after the start tourists can find the statue of Bishop Gellért who – according to the legend – was thrown to the Danube by the pagans. At the top of the hill you can find the former fortress of Buda, the famous Citadel. It was set up by the government of Vienna in 1851 which wanted to take control over Hungarian rebels. Here used to stand the observatory of the University of Budapest between 1814 and 1849.
The 35 metres tall Freedom’s Statue was erected in the southeastern corner of the Citadel in 1946-47. It is a perfect place for the memorial as it can be seen from almost every part of the city. At the top of the memorial the allegoric figure of freedom, a woman raises the palm branch of victory. Under the memorial a passage goes round, from where Budapest looks like a vital, ever-moving, buzzing map, like two sites of an enormous illustrated book.
Transportation: Bus No. 16, 86, 106 – Clark Ádám Square; Tram No. 17, 41 – Chain Bridge (Lánchíd); Bus No. 16, 105, Tram No. 2 – Roosevelt Square
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