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Events in Budapest
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Sightseeing in Budapest
The building of the Matthias church (aka Church of Our Lady) was started in 1255 in Gothic style. The north tower still preserves some parts of the original church. Under the reign of King Matthias it was enlarged and renewed.
The king had both of his weddings here. His coat of arms with the black raven is still visible on the south tower. That’s why the commonly used name of the church is Matthias Church. During six centuries it used to be the coronation church. The first king crowned here in 1308 was Charles Robert and the last one Charles IV. of Habsburg in 1916. During the Turkish occupation it was converted to a mosque, and after the reconquest of Buda it was reconstructed in baroque style but it still preserves some of its oriental atmosphere.
It’s well worth walking the length of Andrássy Avenue from the downtown end up to Heroes’ Square. All along this most distinguished avenue are stylishly designed Eclectic mansions and apartments dating from the 19th and early 20th century. At the top, the imposing buildings and monuments in Heroes’ Square were raised partly by public subscription when, in 1896, the entire country celebrated the thousandth anniversary of the Hungarian Conquest.
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Useful information
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