Visits are currently being organized.
Registration link for the visits will be here at the end of spring.
August 20th national holiday events
August 20th is one of Hungary’s most important national holidays, commemorating King Stephen, the founder of the state. This day celebrates the birth of the Hungarian state and its thousand-year-old Christian traditions. Events, parades and cultural programs take place throughout the country, culminating in one of Europe’s largest fireworks displays lighting up Budapest over the Danube, which attracts many foreign visitors every year.
House of Terror
Budapest’s House of Terror (Terror Háza) Museum, which opened in 2002, covers deeply disturbing periods of Hungary’s recent history in the 20th century, but it is also a celebration of freedom.
Hungary had been an ally of the Axis powers in World War II but had attempted to negotiate with the USA and the UK, and then with the USSR. As a result, in March 1944, Nazi German forces occupied the country, and a fascist government was established. From this point around half a million Jews and almost 30,000 Roma people were deported to Auschwitz. Following the defeat of Germany and its Allies in 1945, Hungary became a Soviet satellite state with a one-party communist government, and despite an attempted but crushed uprising in 1956, remained so until the collapse of Soviet influence following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
These events, and the oppression and fears associated with them, are remembered in the House of Terror, which also serves as a memorial to the many victims of these regimes.
Széchenyi Thermal Bath
The Széchenyi Thermal Bath is one of the most famous attractions in Budapest and one of the largest thermal baths in Europe. Located in the City Park, the impressive neo-baroque building and outdoor pools offer natural, warm thermal water all year round. The bath is an iconic place for relaxation, healing and the unique Hungarian spa culture.
St. Stephen’s Basilica
St. Stephen’s Basilica is one of the most important sacred spaces in Budapest, named after King St. Stephen, the founder of the Hungarian state and church. The church is not only an imposing architectural work, but also a living place of faith: one of the most important relics of Hungarian Christianity, the right hand of St. Stephen (Szent Jobb), is kept here. The basilica’s space invites silence, contemplation and thanksgiving; its dome is a symbol of „upward vision”, raising the visitor’s gaze and thoughts to God. It carries an important message, namely that the history of Hungary grew out of the Christian faith and still draws strength from it today.
During this tour, we will discover some of the most important religious landmarks in central Budapest while gaining an overview of the key moments in Hungarian church history. Our walk begins on Gellért Hill, at the memorial site of Hungary’s first martyr, where we will talk about the country’s conversion to Christianity. From there, we continue to St Stephen’s Basilica, Hungary’s most significant Catholic church, which houses the relic of the nation’s founder. We will also stop at the Lutheran church on Deák Square and discuss the religious conflicts of the Reformation period and the centuries that followed. As the tour takes place on a Saturday, the Dohány Street Synagogue — the second largest synagogue in the world — and its adjacent cemetery can only be viewed from the outside. Here, we will touch upon the religious landscape of the 20th century. The total walking distance is approximately 3 km, covered either entirely on foot or partly by public transport, depending on the group’s preference. The programme can be adapted flexibly to suit the interests of the participants.
The Hungarian Parliament Building
The Hungarian Parliament Building stands on the banks of the Danube and is not only an iconic building in Budapest, but also a symbol of Hungarian statehood and historical continuity. The Hungarian Parliament Building hides a number of special features that make the building not only spectacular, but also a place of deep symbolism. It was built according to the plans of Imre Steindl and was completed at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries using more than 40 million bricks, half a million precious stones and a lot of gilding. The central element of the building is the domed hall, where the Holy Crown, the orb and the scepter are kept – this is a rare privilege, as few parliaments can house such significant Christian relics. It is particularly interesting that the Parliament Building has 365 towers and decorative elements, referring to the number of days. The neo-Gothic building, reflecting the Danube, provides a particularly impressive sight, both during the day and at night. The river has connected peoples and cultures for centuries, so while walking, thoughts about peace, togetherness, and man’s responsibility towards the created world can easily arise.