Budapest: Gellert Hill - The Citadela
We first went up the Gellert Hill on the evening we got to Budapest. Being on the highest points in the capital, right on the bank of the Danube, Gellert Hill offers one of the best views of the city. During the evenings, it's incredible to view the lights of the city.
But we had to check out the Fortress on top of Gellert Hill so we went on a lovely afternoon. We climbed the Hill leaving from the Gellert Hotel side (and not the Elisabeth Bridge site with the waterfall, as we did the first day). We wanted to visit the Cave Church as well but that was opened only from 5 PM to the public so we went up the hill. High up on the Hill you can see the Liberation Monument- the statue of a woman. Also on top of the Hill there is the Fortress.
The Liberation Monument
Copyright by Adi Dima
The Cave Church is an incredible place to visit. It's a Catholic Church located right in the rock of Gellert Hill. You are only allowed to visit after the mass and for half an hour only . The entrance is free. We went right after the mass and stayed for a while to take some photos, film and enjoy some church music, which sounds divine in such a location.
The Cave Church -Entrance
Copyright by Adi Dima
The view from Gellert Hill probably rivals only the views from the Royal Palace...but from the Gellert Hill you can see the immensity of the Castle located right opposite to the hill-if you look to the left as you stand looking at the Danube.
The Royal Palace -View from Gellert Hill
Copyright by Adi Dima
We then took the other way down the Gellert Hill to take some photos of the waterfall in daylight. It's the way that leads to Elisabeth Bridge -where we first came to visit Gellert Hill on our first day in Budapest.
The Waterfall on Gellert Hill -seen from near Elisabeth Bridge
Copyright by Adi Dima
Elisabeth Bridge -view from Gellert Hill
Copyright by Adi Dima
Gellert Hill offered some of the most magical views of Budapest I've ever seen. It made us fall in love with the city. And it makes you want to go there again and again and again...it's the air, the views and people that attract crowds of tourists, from the low-budget youngsters -like us - to the huge crowds of Japanese with their fancy camera stuck on their neck-and by the way prepare yourself for taking 1000 or even more photos during a 4 days stay!!!! -to the wealthy looking to enjoy the spas. Budapest has it all!
