Was Budapest originally two cities

Asks marmalade

A. The history of Budapest and Hungary itself is a massive subject - as it was naturally a place of hot springs and fertile land it attracted many nearby Europeans (including Romans, Celts, Huns, Mongols, Slovaks, Turks, Austrians, Germans and Russians) over the centuries who in turn plundered and razed the area.

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Originally Buda and Pest were two separate places. As part of the Austrian Habsburg Empire, Hungary blossomed economically and by 1783 Buda was an affluent German-speaking town (known as Ofen) while Pest was a growing industrial town nearby that had burst its city walls. By the 1800's Pest had become Hungary's most important commercial centre and Buda was a garrison town with close links to the Monarch.

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Hungary declared its independence from Austria in 1849, and a battle ensued where Austria took back control of the country. In 1867 a compromise was reached and the Dual Monarchy of Austria the Empire and Hungary the Kingdom was created.

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It was as a result of this - two parliaments and two capitals - that Buda, Pest and �buda united to form Budapest in 1873. This time was known as the Age of Dualism and in effect was one of unprecedented economic, cultural and intellectual rebirth. Most of the buildings and boulevards that you can see today in Budapest were built during this time including the fantastic Parliament buildings.

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Q. What is Budapest like to visit today

A. It is a truly beautiful city, bisected by the River Danube. You can still tell that it was once split in half, as the two parts of the city remain completely different in appearance. Buda is mostly residential, hilly and scenic, while Pest is still the commercial centre.

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Q. Can you recommend some of the sights

A. Take more than a weekend here if you can to soak up this city, it really has a lot to offer the tourist. Some of the best places to visit include the following:

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The Castle District: located on Castle Hill this area is a major attraction for tourists as it contains many of the city's museums and monuments. Its walled area is split in two combining the old town - also known as Watertown (full of winding streets, brightly painted houses and loads of churches) with the Royal Palace.

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Royal Palace: has been reportedly razed to the ground and rebuilt eight times over the centuries. Today it is home to the National Gallery (which contains Hungarian art since the Middle Ages), the Museum of Contemporary Art Ludwig Collection (which houses works by Hockney, Lichtenstein and Picasso), the National Library and the Budapest History Museum.

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Fisherman's Bastion: located in the old town this is a major landmark in Budapest and dates back to 1905 when it was built as a viewing platform and named after the fisherman's guild that was responsible for protecting the section of the city wall where it is located, during the Middle Ages. It has seven turrets that represent the seven Magyar tribes of Hungary and a statue of St Stephen, patron saint of Hungary.

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Kir�ly Bath: as Budapest is built on warm thermal springs, spas or baths are a very popular attraction in the city. Kir�ly Bath is one of the best with four pools and an absolutely amazing glass dome, dating back to 1570, over the main one. The baths are open on alternate days for men and women.

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Ferenciek tere is the centre of Pest and a great place to visit as its approach is flanked from the Erzs�bet Bridge twin Clothild palaces.

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V�ci utca is the best place to shop in the city and is teeming with boutiques and cafes.

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City Park (known locally as V�rosliget) is one of the main places to visit in the city as it is packed with things to see. These include Heroes Square, the City Zoo, the Museum of Fine Arts (the best gallery in the city and features work by D�rer, El Greco, Vel�zquez and Bronzino), Sz�chenyi Bath, Jak Chapel, the Grand Circus and the Palace of Art.

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St Stephen's Basilica, the dome of this huge church is often featured on postcards from Budapest and is difficult to miss. It offers fantastic views of the city so is well worth visiting.

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Parliament (Orsz�gh�z), the parliament building surpasses St Stephen's Basilica in splendour and size, with a massive dome measuring 96m high. You can visit the building via a guided tour if parliament is not sitting at the time.

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Central Market Hall: A glorious piece of late 19th-century architecture, you'll find traders selling meat, fish, flowers and vegetables from stalls drenched with garlands of garlic and rich, red spikes of paprika.

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Gundel & Gerbaud: Gundel (near the City Park on �llatkerti �t is the most famous restaurant in Hungary, and the home of goulash and other traditional dishes, it is well worth a visit if you can get in. Gerbaud (on V�r�smarty t�r 7-9) is the city's most famous coffee house that has kept its traditional 19th Century interior, it also sells fantastic cakes.

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Funicular: Budapest's funicular (sikl�) crawls up the side of Castle Hill providing you with a fantastic panorama of Pest. Until it was hit by a shell in the Soviet bombardment of 1945, the sikl� had functioned continually since it first climbed up the hill in 1870. Originally it was built to provide cheap transport for clerks working in the Castle District and in those days was powered by a steam engine. It was restored and electrified in 1986.

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Q. When is the best time to visit Budapest

A. The weather is generally mild and temperate all year round, so you'll do well to visit at any time of year. But if you can visit during a festival you’ll have a better, if a little bit more crowded, time. The Budapest Summer Opera & Ballet Festival (July-August) takes place in the famous Opera House and tickets are very affordable but hard to get hold of. The Budapest Spring Festival (March or April) and the Autumn Music Weeks (late September to late October) are great times to visit. On St Stephen's Day (August 20) the area around the Royal Palace becomes one big folk and crafts fair, with fireworks from Gell�rt Hill in the evening.

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Q. Do I need a visa to visit Hungary

A. Not if you are a citizen of the US, Canada or Europe (exluding Turkey and Albania) - you can stay in Hungary for up to 90 days without a visa, all you need is your passport.

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By Karen Anderson