There was probably a church on the site of the Matthias Church for a thousand years. Today it is referred to as the Matthias Church, because the building won its brilliant splendor under King Matthias.
During the Second World War, in 1945, the retreating German army, together with the other Danube bridges in Budapest, blew up the Freedom Bridge. Shortly afterwards, the Soviets began to remove the damaged parts and, as a temporary solution, added a so-called pontoon bridge to the remaining part. Restoration of the Freedom Bridge began in 1946.
The most powerful church in Budapest is the St. Stephen's Basilica, and it is even the second tallest building in the city after the Parliament. During the great flood in Pest, hundreds of people found refuge in the place where the Basilica stands today because it stood out a bit from the Pest Plai
The Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden is more than 150 years old. Its first giraffe was received from King Franz Joseph I of Hungary, with the encouragement of his wife, Queen Elizabeth! Most of its ornate buildings, including the main entrance decorated with animal sculptures and covered with Zsolnay tiles, were erected about a hundred years ago.
The largest music fountain in Hungary is located on Margaret Island. It is open from May to October every year. The children's music block can be heard from 11:00 to 12:00.
The Hungarian poet, Ferenc Kölcsey, wrote the lyrics of the national anthem. It is a prayer asking God to help the Hungarian people to have a happier life. It is a soft, slow and sad melody.
