The Jetpacker

Heroes’ Square is the kind of monument that makes me wish I had done more with my life.  Who wouldn’t want to be immortalized as a statue in one of the world’s most extravagant squares?

Constructed in 1896, the Millenium Monument dominates the center of the square.  The men with the awe-inspiring moustaches and Viking-like physiques on top of the horses are the leaders of the seven tribes that founded Hungary a thousand years prior.  Towering over them is a 120-foot high column topped by the Archangel Gabriel.

The semi-circular colonnades that look like something out of the movie “Gladiator” each feature seven heroes of Hungarian history.  I don’t know who any of them are, but I’m sure they’re awesome and I’m envious.

Flanking the square are two of the largest museums in Hungary.  On one side, there’s the Museum of Fine Arts, which is renowned for its Middle Age and Egyptian collections, spanning over 100,000 pieces of work.  On the other side, the Palace of Art (also called the Exhibition Hall) is a contemporary art museum that showcases some modern Hungarian artists.

Heroes’ Square serves as the gateway to City Park, a 300-acre public park that could use a little more upkeep.  But there are plenty of things to see and do that keep you distracted from the plainness of the park.

There’s the nearly unpronounceable Vajdahunyad Castle, which is allegedly a replica of a castle in Transylvania.  The castle houses the Museum of Agriculture, which made me wonder why they couldn’t just apply some of the techniques displayed in the museum to liven up the park.  In the courtyard is a spooky statue of Anonymous, an early Hungarian record keeper.  Supposedly you receive good luck if you touch his pen.

City Park is also home to the palatial Szechenyi Baths, the largest medicinal bath in Europe.  You can read about our unique visit to the baths here.

Other sights include a couple of lakes (one of which was completely dry when we were there), the Municipal Grand Circus, Timewheel (the world’s largest hourglass), the Budapest Amusement Park, an unsafe looking trampoline pen, the Transportation Museum of Budapest and a famous-but-overrated restaurant called Gundel.