Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
into the designs of new, modern struc-
tures. Niches can be seen in Országház u.
nos. 9 and 20, while no. 28 has enormous
wooden doors.
Walk down Országház utca until it ends in
Kapisztrán tér, site of the:
(
Mary Magdalene Tower
Once part of a large 13th-century church,
the tower is the only section that survived
World War II.
Now take Úri utca back in the direction of the
Royal Palace. In a corner of the courtyard of Úri
u. 49, a vast former cloister, stands the small:
)
Telephone Museum
The museum's prime attraction is the
actual telephone exchange (7A1-type
rotary system) that was in use in the city
from 1928 to 1985.
Continue down Úri u. and make a right onto
Szentháromság u., and walk to no. 13 where
you'll see:
q
Rózsa Galéria
No doubt you've noticed the presence in
the Castle District of a large number of
art galleries. Hungarian naive and primi-
tive art is on display at this gallery. Works
of art can be had for, on average, 100,000
Ft ($100/£257).
Head back to Úri u. and find no. 9, the entrance
to the:
w
Medieval Tunnel Network
The network weaves its way through the
almost 15km (9 miles) of rock beneath
the Castle District. The only part of this
network that you can actually see is home
to the Buda Wax Works, an unimpressive,
tacky exhibit on the “legends” of early
Hungarian history.
Úri utca ends back in Dísz tér. Take tiny Móra
Ferenc utca (to the right) to Tóth Árpád sétány,
the promenade that runs the length of the west-
ern rampart of the Castle District. This is a
shady road with numerous benches. At its north-
ern end, appropriately housed in the former bar-
racks at Tóth Árpád sétány 40, is the:
e
Museum of Military History
This museum is dedicated to the history of
Hungary's military endeavors, including
World War I and World War II. For those
looking for the exhibits on the 1956 Rev-
olution, many of these exhibits have been
transferred to the Terror House museum.
The walking tour ends back near Szentháromság
tér, where you can catch the Várbusz down to
Moszkva tér. Alternatively, from Dísz tér you can
get bus no. 16 to Deák tér.
WINDING DOWN
The
Ruszwurm Cukrászda,
Szen-
tháromság u. 7, has been here
since 1827. This little coffeehouse
and pastry shop is the only one of its kind in
the Castle District. Its pastries are among the
city's best. Just down the street, at Úri u. 13,
is
Budavár Sörözó,
a good spot for a snack,
espresso, or beer. It has just two tiny tables
inside and three or four outside on the side-
walk.
MAIN SHOPPING STREETS
The hub of the tourist-packed capital is the first
pedestrian shopping street in Budapest, Váci utca. It runs from the stately Vörösmarty
tér in the center of Pest, across Kossuth Lajos utca, all the way to Vámház krt. High-
end locals and travelers alike throng Váci utca as well as the boutique- and shop-filled
roads bisecting pedestrian streets and courtyards. Váci utca was formerly known
throughout the country as
the
street for good bookshops. Sadly, only one remains. The
street is now largely occupied by Euro-fashion clothing boutiques (where high prices
prevail) and an overwhelming number of folklore/souvenir shops, as well as cafes and
bars (many of which are overpriced tourist traps).
Another popular shopping area for travelers is the
Castle District
in Buda, with its
abundance of overpriced folk-art boutiques and art galleries. A healthy selection of
