| |
A further 20 km north and
the traveler comes to Esztergom, former royal
town.
Each year this more than 1000-year-old settlement
(founded 973) - the first capital of the country,
site for the baptism into the Christian Church
of Hungarian first king, where the pagan rebel
Koppány was cruelly executed and his
quartered remains hung on the city walls, seat
of kings and archbishops for centuries - attracts
around 1 million visitors.
|
The view from here is superb, encompassing
the incomparable Danube Bend.
Not far away is the imposing citadel and the
huge keep which takes its name, Solomon's Tower.
It is a fact however that during the Middle
Ages the royal crown was kept under lock and
key here.
Today the tower is a museum with a display of
archaeological treasures. |
The towering Royal Palace originally raised
in Gothic style and later, during the reign
of King Matthias, rebuilt in Renaissance style
has a fountain. |
This too is a museum, one of the main features
of which is a reconstruction of the masterpiece
red marble Hercules fountain.
Exhibitions have been set up in some of the
halls of the restored palace, period replica
furniture can be seen in the one-time prince's
suite.
|
The palace gardens have been replanted with
flora identified from excavated fountains.
Each summer a knight's tournament, strong man
competition and medieval crafts fair are organized
in Visegrád. |
|
