The rocky Gellért Hill, crowned with a fortress that never saw battle and the spectacular Liberty Monument proclaiming freedom throughout the city, is one of Budapest’s iconic landmarks. You can’t beat the views of the Royal Palace or the Danube and its fine bridges from the top of the hill.
Strenuous Climb for Splendid Views
You can climb the 235m-high Gellért Hill overlooking the Danube for tranquil walks, great playgrounds and a slide park, as well as to marvel at the panorama from the top. While it is touristy, you’ll also spot many locals here at the weekends spicing up their post-lunch walk, and even with all the traffic, the hill never gets too crowded. Atop, you’ll find a fortress and Hungary’s own Statue of Liberty.
A Symbol of Freedom
What makes the Citadel special is that while such fortresses were generally built for defense, Budapest’s was created with a different idea in mind. It was erected after the 1848–49 War of Independence – when Hungary wanted to break away from Habsburg rule – to discourage further insurrections. Big guns were aimed at the city from loopholes dotting the outside walls.
Today, however, Hungarians think of the Citadel not as a symbol of repression, but one of freedom. This sentiment is further reinforced by the Liberty Monument that tops the fortress: a proud lady watching over Budapest with the symbol of peace, a palm branch, in her hands. Inaugurated in 1947, the Liberty Monument originally honored the Soviet soldiers who died while liberating Hungary, but after the regime change, their statues were moved to Memento Park, and the monument today commemorates all who gave their lives for the freedom of Hungary.
