Matthias Church, officially known as the Church of Our Lady, is one of Budapest’s most famous landmarks located in the heart of the Castle District. Originally built in the 13th century, the church played a significant role in Hungarian history over the centuries – it was here that Emperor Franz Joseph I was crowned, among others. It is named after King Matthias, who married Princess Beatrice d’Aragona of Naples here in 1474.
The church’s current neo-Gothic form was designed by Frigyes Schulek in the late 19th century. Its colorful Zsolnay tiles and richly decorated interior make it unique.
Next to the church is the Fishermen’s Bastion, an ornamental terrace offering a stunning panorama of the Danube and Pest. Built in the late 19th century, also based on Frigyes Schulek’s designs, it is in neo-Romanesque style. It is named after the fishermen’s guild that protected this part of the city wall during the Middle Ages. The seven towers of the bastion represent the seven Hungarian tribal leaders who led the conquest of the Carpathian Basin.
The Castle District remains a vibrant cultural hub. In the summer, it hosts numerous festivals, such as the Budavári Wine Festival and the Pálinka Festival, where visitors can sample some of the finest wines in Hungary – including the world-famous Tokaji Aszú – and traditional Hungarian pálinka, a truly unique Hungarian spirit enjoyed worldwide. If you are in the mood, you can also find these specialties at our bar.
For a more comfortable way to reach the Castle Hill, we recommend the Budapest Funicular, which is not only a convenient means of transport but also an exciting experience. The funicular was opened in 1870 and was originally used to transport clerks quickly from the foot of the Chain Bridge to the Castle. Its track is just 95 meters long but covers a vertical difference of nearly 50 meters.
The Budavári Funicular is guarded by a bronze statue of the Turul bird, the totem animal of the ancient pagan Hungarians, symbolizing national destiny and royal power for the Christian Árpád dynasty. According to the legend, the Turul bird appeared in a dream to Emese, the mother of Prince Álmos. In the dream, the bird landed on Emese and from her body sprang a river that flowed eastward, flooding the world. This was interpreted as a sign that from Emese’s child would descend a great lineage – the Hungarians. Thus, the Turul is connected to the conception of Álmos, the mythical ancestor of the Hungarian people.