The
Gellért Hill and the Citadel
The Gellért
hill received its
name after St. Gellért who came to Hungary as
a missionary bishop upon the invitation of King St.
Stephen I. around 1000 a.d.
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His
task was helping the Hungarians convert
to Christianity. Some pagan leaders who did not want
to convert captured St. Gellért and rolled him down
from the hill in a barrel. The St. Gellért
monument
and its fountain
representing his martyrdom can be found on the Northeastern slope of
the hill facing the Elisabeth bridge.
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The
fortress of the Citadel
was built by the Habsburgs in 1851 to demonstrate their control over
the Hungarians.
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The
top of the Gellért Hill is a strategical
point from where they had an overview of both Buda and Pest. Though it
was equipped with 60 cannons, it was used as threat rather than a
working fortification. After the reconciliation with the Habsburgs the
Hungarians wanted to demolish the buildings, but after all
it did not happen. In the mid 20th century it was converted to
a tourist center.
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From
the panorama terraces one can have a stunning
view of the city. By a
short walk one can reach the Liberation
Monument.
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The
statue was erected in 1947 after the second world war. The main
figure is a woman, holding an olive branch, the symbol of peace in her
hands. On both sides symbolic figures can be seen: the young man's
victory over the dragon represents the defeat of fascism.
The
Citadel
can be reached by bus 27 from
Móricz Zsigmond
körtér.
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