Gellert Hill - Gellert Hegy - Citadella, Budapest

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St. Gellert was a bishop that was killed by the pagans during the great pagan rebellion in 1046. He was put in a barrel and rolled down into the deep from the top of the hill. His statue no looks out from the hill from where he lost his life.

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Although a popular tourist destination, the citadella is not really a popular building with the hungarians. Built by the Habsburg Monarchy during the war of independence, it became a symbol for supression. When it was finished the war was already over and the Citadella never took part in any fight. In 1the 1890s, when it was handed over to the city, parts of it were blown up during the ceremony. Later, during WWII, it was used by the occupying nazis.
Today, the area around the Citadella is perhaps the most touristy one in Budapest. There are souvenir shops all the way down to the car park, selling the usual stuff you would expect everywhere in the world. The Citadella itself is a war museum, parts of it are also used a a disco.

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On top of the hill you will find the Independence Monument. This one was erected here in 1947 to commemorate the soviet soldiers who died in the liberation of Hungary during WWII. After Hungary left Soviet Influence in the early 1990s, the monument was redicated and the names of the Soviet Soldiers removed in 1992. Statues depiciting Soviet soldiers were moved into the statue park, where Lenin statues and similar soviet icons also found a new home. From the monument, you’ll have an excellent view on Budapest.

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Gellert Hill is located south of Castle Hill and has a couple of monuments worth a visit. First beginning with the Gellert Monument, located halfway on the stairs up to the hill. The monument was revealed in 1904. St. Gellert was a bishop who played a large role in christianising Hungary. He was killed in 1046 when he was thrown down from the hill in a spike barrel into the Danube. Together with St. Stephen, he is seen as one of the patron saints of Hungary. The most interesting monument ins the Independence monument which is visible from almost every part of the City. Further to the north, you will find the Citadella (see separate tips for both). The way down from Gellert Hill towards castle hill leads you to a small park with some sculptures. One of them shows the marriage of Buda and Pest. Find details about that among the “Off The Beaten Path” tips.

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On top of Gellert hill , 235 meters high , you will find a beautiful monument called the liberty monument.

The monument is 14 meters high and was built in 1947 to remember the Soviet liberation of the country from the German Nazi forces during the second world war.

The monument was designed by Zsigmond Kisfaludi Strobl , a hungarian sculpture.

The monument can be seen from many places in the city but the problem is that when you climb the Gellert hill and stand close to the monument he is so big that you can even see him or capture a good picture.

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Gellert hill (Gellerthegyin Hungarian) is a nice hill with a great view to the Danube.
The hill is 235 meters high and you can climb by foot or with a taxi/bus.

The view from here is very beautiful and on your way you can see the Cave chappel , Gellert hotel and bath ,Gellert statue and of course the famous liberty statue.

I recommend climbing by foot - very nice walk.

The hill is named after St. Gellert (Gerard) that was thrown to his death from this hill.

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The english says: easy like sunday morning. That`s by the way true and quite funny. But I say: easy like shooting photos by day from the Citadel. By night it`s certainly more difficult )see my nightlife tips), but by day I beliveve that nobody manages to take bad photos from here: You must only set your camera to automatic, stay there and push the button. That`s it:)
In february 2008 came Liz and Chris and after making the climbing called among us "the Citadel experiment" (I made them climb the hill *** and they both seemed quite exhausted when they finally arrived to the top). Nevertheless I think that they were pleased with the views from there, even if-as you can see on these photos, there is absolutely no comparison between the summer views and the winter views. In summer everything is much-much greener and nicer.

*** Believe me, I offered them another choice-going up with the bus number 27- but they opted for the harder way:)

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Liberation Monument that overlooks the city and declares once and for all that communism is failed and gone forever!

Be sure to have your bearings, cause at the base of the white bridge is the beginning of the huge steps you must climb to have the pleasure of taking fantastic shots of the city from above.

by the way, the liberation statue is huge! too big to get good pictures in fact.

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Gellert hill is located on the Buda side of the hill and offers spectacular views over the city.
The fortress in the Citadella was built by the Hapsburgs in 1851. The fortress is now a military museum and the area is also the site of the Liberty Statue which can be seen overlooking the city. The monument was erected in 1947 by the Soviet army to commerorate their victory during WWII and depicts a woman holding an olive branch.

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On top of the hill is the Citadel, that is where you'll find the Freedom Monument. This is a striking statue of a woman holding a palm branch aloft. From the Citadel there are amazing views of Buda, Pest & the Danube.