Fisherman's Bastion
The Fisherman's Bastion is one of the most famous monuments in Budapest, located near Buda Castle. It has a weak relationship with fishermen and does not perform a defensive function, like a real bastion, but it is one of the most important attractions in the country.
History of Fisherman's Bastion
On the site of the bastion there used to be a city trading square; it was surrounded by a fortress wall along the perimeter. On the square, among other things, they also traded fish; the fishermen promised to preserve part of the fortress wall, along which there were trading rows. In honor of these same fishermen, the bastion was named fishing.
Not far from the Fisherman's Bastion lived the rulers of the city of Buda, and today there is a historical complex, part of which is the Matthias Catholic Church. The bastion was built specifically for the church in order to support its architectural style, fit into the panorama of the city, and become a worthy backdrop for a historical monument of the 13th century.
The bastion is 140 meters long, 8 meters wide, and consists of 7 towers. The central one is the largest in size. The towers are symbols of the united tribes that later became the Hungarian state. During the Second World War, the Fisherman's Bastion was badly damaged and was carefully reconstructed. It is noteworthy that it was restored by Janos Szulek, the son of the architect who created this structure. Also, reconstruction work was carried out here in the 80s; some parts of the bastion walls were damaged over time.
Sights of Fisherman's Bastion
On the bastion square there is a monument to the first Hungarian king - St. Stephen. The ruler is sitting on a horse. The sculptural composition is placed on a majestic pedestal decorated with scenes from the life of the saint.
St. Matthias Church is another notable landmark near the bastion. The first church on this site was founded at the beginning of the 11th century, but it was badly damaged during the Tatar-Mongol invasion. A little later, a new temple was built on the same site; in the 16th century, the Turks turned it into a Muslim mosque. At the end of the 19th century, the church received its current appearance and was reconstructed in the neo-Gothic style. The church received the name of St. Matthias in the 15th century, during the reign of this great Hungarian king. During his time, the bell tower was completed here, and he himself got married here twice, when the church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Not far from the Fisherman's Bastion is the Buda Castle - another masterpiece of Gothic architecture, today it is the historical and cultural center of Budapest. The Fisherman's Bastion is rightly considered one of the most popular places in the city; it offers a beautiful view of the Danube and its opposite bank.
