The Danube Bend: the back story

About The Danube Bend: the back story

By the ULTIMATE Budapest Editorial Team

North of Budapest, the Danube swings round a great bend between wooded hills, and along its banks lie three of Hungary’s most historic towns: Szentendre, Visegrád and Esztergom.

Szentendre

Szentendre was rebuilt in the late 17th century by Serbian refugees fleeing the Ottoman wars, and its baroque streets, Orthodox churches and colourful houses still show that heritage. Today it is a town of artists, galleries and museums, with the Hungarian Open Air Museum, the Skanzen, on its edge.

Visegrád

At Visegrád, the medieval kings of Hungary built a royal palace by the river and a citadel high above the bend. King Matthias, the great Renaissance king, made the palace one of the most splendid of its age. The citadel’s walls command one of the finest views in the country.

Three towns on the river tell a thousand years of Hungarian history.

Esztergom

Esztergom was Hungary’s first royal capital and, according to tradition, the birthplace of Saint Stephen, the first king. Its vast basilica, the largest church in Hungary, rises above the Danube, facing Slovakia across the river.

Our advice: the suburban HÉV train runs from Budapest to Szentendre, and trains go from Nyugati to Esztergom. In summer, boats sail up the Danube to all three towns. Allow a full day for Szentendre and Visegrád, or for Esztergom on its own.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with The Danube Bend: the back story before you go.