Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Dominican Church
Margaret Island
Oneoftheisland's
mostimportantmonuments
istheruinofa13th-century
Dominicanconvent.Itwas
foundedbyBélaIV,whose
daughterMargitcameto
liveherein1251.Aplaque
inthechurchmarksthe
spotwheresheisburied.
Inhabited since Roman times, Margaret Island
(Margitsziget) is a tranquil, green oasis in the
middle of the Danube. It is named after Princess
Margit (Margaret), daughter of King Béla IV, who
spent most of her life in the island's former con-
vent in the 13th century. It was a popular hunting
ground for medieval kings, and monks were also
drawn to its peace and quiet. The island has
served as Budapest's playground since 1869 and
is still the perfect escape from the city.
Top 10 Attractions
1 DominicanChurch
2 JapaneseGarden
3 CentenaryMonument
4 FranciscanChurch
5 PalatinusStrand
6 WaterTower
7 StMichael'sChurch
8 BodorWell
9 DanubiusGrandHotel
Margitsziget
0 Horse-DrawnCarriageRides
Relaxing in a park on
Margaret Island
The easiest way to
get to Margaret
Island is by bus
No. 26 from Nyugati
Station. However,
the most enjoyable
way is by boat.
There are irregular
ferries from Vigadó
tér to Esztergom and
Visegrád throughout
the summer, which
stop at Margaret
Island. Check the
timetable at Vigadó
tér for more details.
@
Japanese Garden
Themostdelightfulof
theisland'slandscaped
gardensistheJapanesegar-
den
(right)
atthenorthern
end.Ithasawidevariety
oflowersaswellasrock
gardensandwaterfalls.
For lunch on the
island, head to
Palatinus Strand for
doughnuts and hot
dogs. For a more
formal meal, visit
the Danubius Grand
Hotel Margitsziget.
$
Franciscan Church
Theruinsofthe14th-
centuryFranciscanchurch
(below)
liesecludedinthe
island'scentre.Though
thereislittlelefttoadmire,
itstillhasainearched
windowandastaircase.
• Map B1
• Margaret Island
(Margitsziget):
Budapest XIII
£
Centenary
Monument
TheModernistCentenary
Monument
(above)
was
raisedin1973tocommem-
oratetheuniicationof
Buda,ÓbudaandPestto
formBudapestin1873.
18
Trafic is not allowed beyond the Danubius Grand Hotel and Thermal
Hotel Margitsziget, so hire a four-seater bicycle from a rental kiosk.
