Budapest: Free views at Fisherman’s Bastion
Friday, August 1st, 2008Built in 1905, the Fisherman’s Bastion is a wide, turreted monument in the neo-Romanesque style of architecture. You can reach it by crossing over from the ‘Pest side of Budapest (where most budget hotels are) and walking up the impressive Castle Hill. It’s pretty easy to spot the Bastion, which used to mark the site of a medieval fishing market. Its giant, white set of cloistered buildings are strung together in what appears to be one long castle-like lighthouse.
While it costs 350 HUF (about $2.30) to reach the top tower of the Bastion and snap photos from the viewing platform, you can explore the rest of the mammoth monument for free—and the views are pretty much the same.
The whole thing looks like a medieval wonderland. Hungarians refer to the Bastion in their native tongue as, “Halaszbastya”. It was originally intended for basic decorative purposes, but was constructed in such a way as to encourage exploration by tourists and locals alike. Highlights of the view include St. Stephen’s Basilica, the Chain Bridge, Margeret Island, Parliament, and an unencumbered view of the Danube and all of ‘Pest across the way.
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