Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
dates from 1109) - as well as records pertaining to some of Hungary's most prominent famil-
ies, such as the Eszterházys and Széchenyis. The building is not open for general admission,
but guided tours are given on Mondays and Thursdays at 10am, 11am and 2pm.
Kapisztrán tér
The next square along is
Kapisztrán tér
, centred on the
Mary Magdalene Tower
(Magdolna-torony), whose accompanying church was wrecked in World War II. In medieval
times this was where Hungarian residents worshipped (Germans used the Mátyás Church),
so its reconstruction is occasionally mooted by nationalist politicians. Today the tower boasts
a peal of ornamental bells that jingle through a medley composed by the jazz pianist György
Szabados, including Hungarian folk tunes, Chopin
Études
and the theme from
Bridge over
the River Kwai
.
Beyond the tower is a statue of
Friar John Capistranus
, who exhorted the Hungarians to
victory at the siege of Belgrade in 1456, a triumph which the pope hailed by ordering church
bells to be rung at noon throughout Europe. The statue, showing Capistranus bestriding a
dead Turk, is aptly sited outside the Military History Museum.
Tóth Árpád sétány
Running along the western edge of the Vár is
Tóth Árpád sétány
, a promenade lined with
cannons and chestnut trees, looking across to the Buda Hills. Just to the east of its northern
end, past a giant
flagpole
striped in Hungarian colours, you'll find the symbolic
grave of
Abdurrahman
, the last Turkish Pasha of Buda, who died on the walls in 1686 - a “valiant
foe”, according to the inscription.
