The Citadel is a fortress built by the Habsburg ruler on Gellért Hill. In 1987, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, alongside Buda Castle and the panoramic view of both banks of the Danube. The word “citadel” refers to a fortress built at the highest point of a city, surrounded by walls for protection.
History
The Citadel was constructed by Haynau, whose name is linked to the 1848-49 Hungarian Revolution. Interestingly, unlike most fortifications that are built to protect the city beneath them, it was designed to intimidate the citizens of Pest. The best evidence of this is the cannon emplacements facing the city, which, fortunately, were only used for ceremonial firing.
During the Turkish occupation, the Citadel site was used for a palisade fortress, later becoming the location of a university observatory. In 1849, siege cannons were placed near the observatory, but due to Austrian counterattacks, the building was severely damaged and looted. After the siege, it was decided that a more defensible and strategically suitable facility was needed to suppress Hungarian revolutionaries, leading to the construction of the 220-metre-long, 60-metre-wide Citadel, surrounded by a 4-metre-thick stone wall and equipped with 60 modern cannons. However, the rest of the Citadel was never completed.
During World War II, the Citadel was used for defensive purposes, and the fortifications were damaged in the siege of Budapest, which can still be seen today. In the 1960s, it became a tourist attraction with a restaurant and hotel opening, and the promenade around the Citadel was also built. The construction work was completed in 1965, and it has been considered a monument ever since. Today, it is visited daily by many tourists and locals, attracted by the panoramic views from the surrounding area. At the base of the city-facing wall stands the Liberty Statue, created by Zsigmond Kisfaludi Strobl in 1947.
Present Day
Since 2014, the Citadel has been an entirely abandoned, restricted area. According to some sources, it will soon be revitalised to renew the dilapidated area and return it to the public. A museum recalling Hungary’s struggles for freedom and one of the most beautiful public parks in Budapest will be established here.
1118 Budapest, Gellért Hill (Hungary)
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9.3
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2-3 hour visit according to guests
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Opening Hours:
Always available
1118 Budapest, Gellért Hill (Hungary)
Facilities:
- General: Pet-friendly
- Nearby ATM: 2.3 km
- Wheelchair accessible
On-site services:
- Dining: Buffet
- Bicycle storage
- Coatroom
- Safe deposit box
Parking:
- Paid parking nearby
- Distance from the service: 400 m
- Parking type: Public space
- Number of parking spots: 36
- Price: 525 HUF/hour
Accessibility:
- Distance from train station: 3.4 km
- Distance from bus stop: 400 m
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