Budapest Through My Eyes Trivia Quiz

Answer: Suspension bridge

In a suspension bridge, the deck is supported or suspended by the cable wires which are generally raised on towers and then secured at the ends. The Chain Bridge in Budapest is named after István Széchenyi, a Hungarian politician who actively supported its construction.

The bridge was designed by an English engineer named William Tierney Clark and was opened to the public in 1849. Spanning the Danube river, it became the first permanent bridge to link the areas of Buda and Pest.

Answer: No

The basilica was named after Stephen, the first king of Hungary and his mummified right hand is still housed within the building. Designed in the neo-classical style, this Roman Catholic basilica is one of the tallest buildings in Budapest at a height of 315 feet.

The only other building at the same height is the Hungarian Parliament Building, symbolizing that both are equal pillars of the society.

Answer: Foundation of the Hungarian State

Heroes' Square was laid out in 1896. The year marked a thousand years since the foundation of the Hungarian state. Statues of various important figures from Hungary's history are found in the colonnades surrounding the square. At the time of construction, Hungary was still part of the Austro-Hungarian empire.

In fact, certain places in the colonnades were reserved for status of members of the Hapsburg dynasty which ruled the Austro-Hungarian empire. When the empire dissolved, statues of other iconic Hungarian figures were erected instead.

The central pillar of the square has a statue of Angel Gabriel atop it holding the double cross which is the symbol for Christianity along with a holy crown.

Answer: Thermal baths

The Széchenyi baths are the largest medicinal baths to be found in Europe. The baths are fed by two thermal springs and are open all year round. Over a hundred years old, the present day Neo-Baroque structure was completed in 1927. The bathing complex has three outdoor and 15 indoor pools.

Answer: Red Star

A solid, five-pointed red star is regarded as one of the main symbols of communism. Hungary became a socialist state after the Soviet military occupation at the end of World War II. This lasted until the 23rd of October, 1989. After the country reverted back to a republic state, the red star was removed from the dome of the Parliament Building in 1990.

The Hungarian Parliament Building is the largest building in the country and along with St. Stephen's Basilica, the tallest building in Budapest. It was designed by Imre Steindl, a Hungarian architect who won an international competition that was held to select the building's architect.

Answer: Shoes

Jews living in Budapest were routinely rounded up by the militiamen of the Arrow Cross Party, a national socialist party which was in power in Hungary from 15 October 1944 to 28 March 1945. During this seemingly short period, around 15,000 people were murdered by members of the party with most of the victims being Jews. Jews were ordered to march to the banks of the Danube, remove their shoes, strip naked and then face the river.

They were then shot so that the bodies fell into the river and were swept away.

The monument of the 'Shoes on the Danube River' was erected on the 16th of April, 2005. Designed and created by the filmmaker Can Togay and sculptor Gyula Pauer, there are around 60 pairs of shoes in different sizes and styles to show that the victims encompassed people of all ages and from all walks of life.

Answer: Largest synagogue in Europe

The Dohany Street Synagogue was constructed over a period of five years from 1854 to 1859. With a seating capacity of 3000 people, it is the largest synagogue in Europe. The building was designed in the Moorish Revival architectural style. During World War II, the street on which the synagogue stood constituted one of the borders of the Budapest Ghetto.

In the courtyard of the synagogue there stands a memorial to the Jews who lost their lives during the Holocaust. It is estimated that over 400,000 Hungarian Jews were killed by the Nazis; the exact number may never be known and could be much higher.

The memorial is in the form of a weeping willow with each leaf inscribed with the name of a victim.

Answer: No

The earliest building at this site can be traced back to the 14th century. Successive kings and other occupants kept adding on to the structure. Buda Castle is also known as the Royal Palace as it was the residence of the erstwhile rulers of Hungary for many centuries. The castle forms part of the Budapest World Heritage site as declared by UNESCO in 1987.

The official residence of the President of Hungary is the Sandor Palace which is located a short distance north of the Buda Castle complex. It was commissioned by and named after Count Vincent Sandor in the early 19th century. It was destroyed during World War II and restoration work began only in 1989 after the end of the communist regime. It has served as the Hungarian President's official residence since 2003.

Answer: Original Magyar tribes that first settled in this region

The Fisherman's Bastion was built in the period from 1895 to 1902. In earlier times, the fish market was located nearby and the structure was built in honour of the fishermen who protected this part of the city in the Middle Ages. The seven turrets represent the seven original Magyar tribes which first settled in the Carpathian basin area in 896.

Answer: Mosque

It is believed that the first church in this location was built in 1015 but completely destroyed by the Mongols in the 13th century. The present church building was constructed in the 14-15th century. The church is named after the Hungarian king Matthias whose weddings were held here. Buda was occupied by the Turks in the 15th century and the church was then converted into a mosque. Once the city was taken back from the Turks in 1686, work began to restore the church; however major restoration work was carried out only in the late 19th century.