X
Danube-Bend Tour (8 hours)
One of the Danube's most beautiful regions is the area between Budapest and Esztergom. The river bends here in the shape of a horseshoe over a 7 miles run. The whole landscape is dominated by the Danube and it's scenic banks, the hills of the Pilis region, a protected National Park with huge forests. It's a popular place for holidays and hunting. Driving through small settlements along the river you can see typical countryside houses aside with elegant villas and weekend houses. It's truly a very peaceful region, you can enjoy the scenic sights and relax meanwhile. There are three places of special interest which give you an opportunity to learn about our history.
We start our tour with driving about 60 miles all the way to Esztergom the first capital of Hungary. This town is located on the border of Hungary and Slovakia. We visit Esztergom Basilica, the biggest church of Hungary, completed 1856 in neoclasssical style. Theres is however a much older part within the church the 'Bakócz Chapel' a wonderful work from Renessaince times which has been dismantled and placed from the previous site to it's present place. It's a breathtaking experience to enter the Basilica, to see all the wonderful works of excellent painters and sculptors.
In recent years it has become a place of pilgrimage, Cardinal Mindszenthy's mortal reimains were brought home after the fall of communism and now he is burried in the crypt.
We take a walk to see the gorgeous statue depicting the scene when our first king Stephen was crowned in the year 1000 in Esztergom. The site is also an excellent place for a scenic view over the river.
We continue our tour to Visegrád located right in the middle of the Bend and drive up to the top of the hill to visit a mediaeval castle. This is the peak of attractions to see the view from here while we take a walk through the castle.
There is however also an option to take a walk to the outlook place if you don't fancy too much excercise. Then we go to an oustanding restaurant which has been organised as if we were in Renessaince times. The ambience, the stain-glass windows, even the dishes are authentic. The waiter's are dressed in the style of those times. We'll have a wonderful lunch there. A welcome drink, the famous Hungarian brandy 'Pálinka'. An excellent venison ragout soup with gnoccis, crispy leg of the turkey baked in oven, pork and potatoes with stewed red cabbage. The dessert is a Hungarian specialty - chestnut puree with berries and whipped cream.There is a nice option with fish and vegetables for vegetarian.
They serve red and white wines, both of them very good, a Bull' Blood and a Risling + mineral water. There is no limit, nor in food, neither in the drinks.
We'll have a good coffee and drive to the lovely town of Szentendre (named after it's patron saint St. Andrew) it's often referred to as 'the town of art and artist' In fact the old town has attracted famous artists to move there. Well known colonies of painters have lived and worked here. The greatest have permanent galleries, it's a place where you could stay several days to see all exhibitions. Also very important! It has maintained it's character, excellent contemporary artists still live here. You can see and buy if you wish their work displayed in contemporary art galleries.
The town has colourful baroque buildings. It's nice to take a walk to the (not too steep!) Church Hill to see the St. Andrew's Church built in the 13th Ctr. and the view to the Danube, the red tiles on the roofs of the old buildings. There are two museums I certainly would recommend to visit, one is the Ceramic Collection of Margit Kovács, a world famous artist from Hungary. Her ceramic figures depict scenes on Hungarian Folklore traditions, on family life, biblical scenes and topics from mythology. You have to see her art, I'm sure you won't regret it, she was one of our greatest artists!
The other museum is a curiosity - the Marcipan Museum - where you can see works of art which principally would all be edible, since they are all made of delicious marcipan. Important personalities of Hungarian History and Culture are depicted, scenes from fairy-tales, but you can also see a life size Michael Jackson figure. It's certainly interesting and unique. Next to the Museum there's the coffee-house and marcipan shop of Mr. Szabó the artist.
Szentendre is also an outstanding place for shopping, there is a very big selection of reliable, good quality handicrafts as the beautiful embroidaries, we are famous for, pottery, porcelain from Herend or Hollóháza. You'll see wonderful woodcarvings and leatherworks and crystal as well.
As an option we can stop on the way back to Budapest at a Diamond factory where you can see an exhibition on the history of jewelry making and a show-room. It's a tax and duty free zone, prices are reasonable. This is really just an option for those who have interest for it!
The proposed programme can be covered in a full day tour. You have to let me know about your interests, on a private tour we are flexible and can focus always on what you prefer to do the most. If you wish to make any changes e.g. a snack instead the lunch or you would like to skip something and spend more time elsewhere we will adjust the programme to that.
Esztergom, Cathedral |
Visegrád, Castle |
Szentendre, Main Street |
|