HUNGARY - Europe by Eurail 2015: Touring Europe by Train - page 300

HUNGARY
Hungary lies in the Carpathian Basin of Central Europe where the jewel of the
Danube still shines with facets of multiple architectural styles. Hungary was the 17th
member country to join the Eurail Community and the first Eastern European nation
to do so. Of the country's 10.1 million inhabitants, 1.8 million live in its capital city of
Budapest.
Present-day Hungarians descended from the Magyars, a nomadic, horse-riding
people who conquered the land in the ninth century. The Magyars spoke a language
unlike any other language of Europe, except Finnish, and even today other
Europeans have difficulty understanding it. English and/or German, however, are
spoken by many Hungarians in the tourism industry, particularly in hotels and res-
taurants.
Hungarian cuisine is hardy and flavorful. When dining on one of the many spe-
cialties made perhaps from cabbage, peppers, pork, and paprika, be sure to add a
little Bull's Blood (wine) from Eger. For a marvelous treat do not pass up the fine
pastries and baked goods of the region.
During World War II, the Hungarian government sided with the Axis powers. In
April 1945 the country fell to Russian troops. Encouraged by the Polish defiance
of the Soviet Union, Hungarians staged an uprising in 1956 that was quickly sup-
pressed by Soviet troops and tanks. Hungary was under the “Iron Curtain” until
1989. The last Soviet troops left the country in June 1991. The Hungarian People's
Republic became the Republic of Hungary with a newly elected democratic govern-
ment—a coalition of six parties.
Hungary has six UNESCO World Heritage sites including the scientifically signi-
ficant Baradla-Domica cave system of Aggtelek and Hortobágy's National Park, one
of Europe's largest protected grasslands.
For more information on Hungary, visit www.gotohungary.com , e-mail
[e-mail], or contact the Hungarian National Tourist Office in North
America:
New York: 450 Fashion Avenue, #2601, New York, NY 10123; (212)
695-1221; www.gotohungary.com ; E-mail: [e-mail]