Visegrád

(German: Plintenburg, Slovak: Vyšehrad) is a small castle town in the Danube Bend region. It is north of Budapest on the right bank of the Danube. Visegrád is famous for the remains of the Early Renaissance summer palace of King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary and the medieval citadel.

Understand
The name Visegrád (Vyšehrad) is of Slavic origin, meaning acropolis, literary "the upper castle" (the castle with a privileged position) or "the upper settlement".

Visegrád was first mentioned in 1009 as a county town and the chief town of an archdeaconry. After the destructive Mongol invasion of Europe in 1242, the town was rebuilt in a slightly different location to the south. King Charles I of Hungary made Visegrád, his hometown, the royal seat of Hungary in 1325.

In 1335, Charles hosted at Visegrád a two-month congress with the Bohemian king, John of Luxembourg, and the Polish king, Casimir III. It was crucial in creating a peace between the three kingdoms and securing an alliance between Poland and Hungary against Habsburg Austria. Another congress followed in 1338.

Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Hungary and Croatia in personal union with Hungary, moved the royal seat to Buda between 1405 and 1408. King Matthias Corvinus (1443–1490), King of Hungary, used Visegrád as a country residence.

Visegrád lost importance after the partition of the Kingdom of Hungary following the Battle of Mohács in 1526.



By train
The closest train station is Nagymaros-Visegrád, which is located at the opposite site of the Danube river. From Budapest-Nyugati pályaudvar, you can travel by train to Nagymaros-Visegrád train station, then transfer to ferry towards Visegrád. The whole journey from Budapest to Visegrád takes about an hour and costs.

By bus
Direct buses from Budapest-Újpest-Városkapu are available hourly. The journey takes 75 minutes and costs.

By ferry
There are ferry services available between Visegrád and Nagymaros, and between Szentgyörgypuszta and Kisoroszi.

By boat
Boats are available between May–Sep daily except on Mondays from Visegrád to Nagymaros, Zebegény and Dömös. Further destinations available only from Friday to Sunday: Budapest, Szentendre, Leányfalu, Tahitótfalu, Vác.

Get around
There is no local public transport service. You can use the regional buses operated by Volánbusz.

Pilis Protected Area

 * Guided tours in nature protection area.
 * Take a walk to the most highest place in the Pilis Mountains is the 757 m high "Pilis Peak" and enjoy the superb view from Boldog Özséb (Blessed Eusebius) Lookout.
 * Take one of the cave tours: The rock-bed of the Pilis Hills stretching from Esztergom to Budapest is made up of limestone and dolomite. Because of the basic characteristics of limestone karst formation, the hills are exceptionally rich in caves. Therefore it is not surprising that most of the caves of the National Park can be found in the Pilis Hills.
 * Moonshine Canyon (Holdvilág-árok) The Holdvilág ditch is a popular tourist destination a water habitat, a memorial site, in the Visegrad Mountains Northwest from Pomáz, about 6 km away. In addition, however, is considered an ancient burial ground, place of worship. it has botanical value.
 * Miklós Bertényi Fűvészkert,
 * Pilisszentkereszt Cistercian Monastery ruin and gorge (Pilisszentkereszti Szurdok) ravine in forestry of Pilisi Park, in the near of Pilisszentkereszt on the blue marked tour,
 * Rám Abyss and trail gap,
 * Mogyoró Hill trails in Visegrad:
 * Mogyoróhegyi natural history trail and educational path in nature conservation area, without admission fee. This is a 1-km trail not so far from Budapest with 10 stations. This trail is ideal for familes or children groups. It has very rich flora und fauna also a water habitat and it has geological value.
 * Áprily-völgyi Rege-Termő nature trail. 1200 m long, Moderately difficult walk with eleven trail station points.
 * Take an other tour here on an 800-m-long trail called Kisvillámi Vadvirágos trail,-with 14 infostation points,-guided tours are available.
 * Take an other tour here on an 800-m-long trail called Kisvillámi Vadvirágos trail,-with 14 infostation points,-guided tours are available.

A bit far away: For a full list or details ask at Tourinform. Anyone can visit the forest area on foot, horse and human powered bicycle. Temporary closures are possible, especially in the winter -- check the website.
 * Mogyoró hill Wildlife Park - Mócsi farm (Phone: +36 (20) 9846045, +36 26 398227 Fax: +36 26 398227 Open M-F 09:00-15:00) Available with guided tours, by appointment. Without admission fee!) This is a Wildlife Park and a traditional eco-farm with bio-farming in forest park,
 * Vadálló stones at Prédikálószék Rock,
 * Zsitvay Lookout in Visegradon Nagy- Villám Hill,
 * Yurt camping in Visegrad,
 * Miklós deák Valley lakes.
 * Pusztamaróti historic memorial site for the battle of Mohács which was in 1526. (Phone: +36 26 598000 Fax: +36 26 398227, No admission fee! Located on Bajna-Bajót route, from Lábatlan on the red marked itinerary, or in direction of Bajót or Tardos on the blue marked itinerary.
 * Budaszentlőrinc Pálos monostory, (Phone: +36 26 598000, Fax: +36 26 398229 Email: budapest@pprt.com Open: all year long. Admission is free of charge.) A Paulaner Monastery close to the Budapest Forestry.
 * Árpád lookout tower on Budapest, Látó Hill (phone:+36 1 3910540, +36 26 598000, fax:+36 26 398229) An excursion place and a lock out tower on top of the Látó Hill.

Free camps in the Pilis forest. Two (of six) are near Visegrad (both open: only May-Sep, ask permit: Visegrád, Mátyás király Way 4. - Phone:+36 26 598080, mail: nemedy.zoltan@pprt.hu): Mócsay tanya (farm with piped water, max 120 people), Vöröskői Vándortábor (Red Rock Hiking Camp with piped water, max 120 people).

Hunting in 50,000 ha available to roe deer, big game, deer, wild boar, fox, mouflon, woodcock. Hungarian, English, German guides.

Connect
Visegrád's postal code is H-2025, and its telephone area code is 26.



Go next

 * Esztergom — one of the most visited cities in Hungary, west. Esztergom has much to see, including the largest cathedral in the country
 * Leányfalu – village southeast
 * Nagymaros – town west
 * Szentendre — town southeast known for its museums (most notably the Open-Air Ethnographic Museum), galleries, and artists
 * Szob – town northwest
 * Vác — town east
 * Verőce – village northeast