Buda Castle has an imposing façade, overlooking the Danube.  Unlike other palaces, the damage over time left the place in poor condition and the rooms have not been restored.  Instead, today there are three (3) galleries that will take you behind the walls. You can also explore the grounds and courtyard at your own rhythm.

Hungarian National Gallery

This museum presents Hungarian art over time: from the Middle Ages to the present day. 

Budapest History Museum

As its name indicates, this museum presents 2000 years of information that happened in the area with the opportunity to see limiting existing relics of the palace.

National Szechenyi Library

It all started in 1802 when the Count Ferenc Szechenyi donated thousands of books.  The mission of the library is to store and make available all documents of the Hungarian cultural heritage. 

Castle Grounds

When you are at the Sandor palace or at the top of the funicular on the Saint George square, your will see a nice ornamental iron gate with columns and a huge bronze bird of prey (Turul) about to take off.  The gate is actually the access to the Castle grounds.  The balcony overlooking the Castle grounds leads to a set of stairs to take you to the courtyards.  

Statue of Prince Eugene of Savoy

You can’t miss the Statue of Prince Eugene of Savoy. To the Hungarians, Savoy played an important role in liberating Budapest from the Turks.

As you will walk towards the statue of Savoy, you will notice the nice flower beds and fountains.  If you wish to visit the Hungarian National Gallery, the Statue is right in front of the entrance.

Matthias fountain

This fountain is located against one of the Buda Castle wall.

This fountain represents a beautiful but sad legend, one of love. While hunting, King Mathias met Ilonka and he invited her to Buda. She went and realized that he was the king. So she returned home.

Heartbroken, she died a few weeks later.

It is a nice fountain that all fountain lover would like to add on their list of thing to see and do in Budapest.

Lion Gate

There is also a Lion Gate that leads to the central courtyard of the castle.  Most of us exit out of this gate and forget to turn around and admire the details. The lions on each side of the central passage, the sculptures and niches, and above the main access door, the crest. This triple arch gate has an engrave lettering difficult to read.

Crow Gate

On this look alike spider web iron gate, stands a crow holding a ring. 

I’m unsure if the story I read is accurate, but it states that the statues of crows holding a golden ring represent a Hungarian symbol.  In order to return Matthias Corvinus to Hungary, his mother sent a crow with a gold ring to find him.  The future king returned.   While his reign was not long, he was adored by the people. 

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