Budapest is a feast of materials and colors (színei). Water, stone, iron and colored surfaces are at every city corner. Follow us in this first chapter of a picture series dedicated to the capital of Hungary. These long red carpets on white marble stairs are behind the main entrance to the Hungarian Parliament, the Országház.
The historical M1 line (1896, originally named Franz Joseph Underground Electric Railway) is UNESCO World Heritage Site and was second only to London underground. It runs just a few meters below ground. Its green iron, colorful tiles and yellow wagons are worth a run.
The Danube is rather brown, not blue. Look for blue in each of the thermal baths you can find in Budapest. For mosaic enthusiasts, Gellért baths is a great choice. Emperor Franz Joseph himself ordered the construction of Gellèrt baths to be “equal in beauty to the palaces of the kings”.
Matthias Church in Buda is were two Kings of Hungary were crowned: Franz Joseph I and Charles IV. The church is a triumph of colors on walls, ceilings and floor.
Freedom Bridge, across the Danube, was built as part of the Millennium World Exhibition at the end of the 19th century, at times when Mr. Eiffel planned his tower for Paris. The last (silver) rivet was inserted by the Emperor Franz Joseph himself, and the bridge was originally named after him.
