Buda Castle
Buda Castle crowns Castle Hill above the Danube in Budapest. King Béla IV built the first royal residence between 1247 and 1265; Sigismund made it one of Europe's largest Gothic palaces; Matthias Corvinus added Renaissance wings after 1476. After Ottoman occupation it was rebuilt baroque under Maria Theresa (1749–69), then expanded to its Neo-Renaissance form under Franz Joseph I (1875–1912).
Gutted in the 1944–45 Siege of Budapest and reconstructed by 1966, it now houses the Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest History Museum, and National Széchényi Library. Part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site (1987). Excavations found a tooth from King Matthias's pet leopard.
Visitor information
- Location
- Budapest
- Country
- Hungary
- Tier
- B (Great castles)
- Coordinates
- 47.4961, 19.0397
- Official site
- https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/400
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Buda Castle?
- Buda Castle is in Budapest, Hungary (approximately 47.4961, 19.0397).
- Can you visit Buda Castle?
- Yes — Buda Castle is open to visitors; see the official site at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/400 for hours and tickets.
- What tier is Buda Castle on the Castle Atlas?
- Buda Castle is rated B tier on the Castle Atlas — Great castles.
- What can you see at Buda Castle?
- Buda Castle crowns Castle Hill above the Danube in Budapest. King Béla IV built the first royal residence between 1247 and 1265; Sigismund made it one of Europe's largest Gothic palaces; Matthias Corvinus added Renaissance wings after 1476. After Ottoman occupation it was rebuilt baroque under Maria Theresa (1749–69), then expanded to its Neo-Renaissance form under Franz Joseph I (1875–1912).