Buda Castle, Royal palace complex on Castle Hill, Budapest, Hungary.
Buda Castle is a palace complex at the southern end of Castle Hill in Budapest that combines Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque building elements. The compound spreads across several interconnected courtyards and wings overlooking the Danube.
Construction began in 1265 under King Béla IV as a fortress following the Mongol invasions. Later rulers such as Louis I and Matthias Corvinus expanded the structure through the 18th century with grand halls and chapels.
The grounds today reflect centuries of rebuilding and house important state museums along with the national library. Visitors experience a meeting of government buildings with public exhibition spaces throughout the sprawling wings.
The funicular built in 1870 connects the Chain Bridge directly with the palace grounds and shortens the steep climb considerably. Alternatively, walkways and staircases lead up to the plateau from several sides.
Beneath the complex runs an extensive network of caves and tunnels that served as bomb shelters during World War II. Parts of these underground passages are now open for guided tours and still show the old refuge spaces.
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