Snapshots

Snapshot: the imposing Heroes Square in Budapest

The grand Heroes Square in Budapest

If there’s one takeaway from my brief vacation in Budapest, it’s that the Hungarians never forget their roots. Most of the major attractions in the city point to that. The Fisherman’s Bastion on Castle Hill for instance, sports seven towers as tribute to the seven tribes descended upon the Carpathian Basin in the 9th century.

Similarly another of Budapest’s landmark attraction- the Heroes Square, is another nod to the  Seven Chieftains of the Magyars who came to the Hungarian lands, as well as other significant Hungarian heroes. The expansive square plays a key role in the country’s contemporary history and is host to numerous political events.

The Millennium Monument at Heroes Square.

The centerpiece of the Heroes’ Square is a soaring Millennium Memorial, a pillar erected to commemorate a thousand years of the Hungarian victory of the Carpathian Basin. This conquest led to the formation of the Hungarian state in 1896, the year the memorial began to take shape. At the top of the pillar is Archangel Gabriel, holding up the holy crown in one hand and the double cross of Christianity in the other. At the foot of the monument are seven statues of the seven Hungarian chieftains who came to the Hungarian lands.

Heroes Square in Budapest

Heroes Square in Budapest

Flanking the monument’s either side are a colonnade shaped in a semi-circle.  Resting on top of the two semi circles are symbols of War and Peace, Work and Wellfare, Knowledge and Glory. Between the columns is a statue of a famous figure who made his mark on Hungarian history. If you take a closer look, beneath the foot of each statue is a carving of a scene that depicts the key milestone of each historic figure above.

Did you know: When the monument began construction, Hungary was then still a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. There were five spots on the left side of the colonnade reserved for the ruling Habsburg dynasty members. They were eventually replaced with the country’s freedom fighters after World War II, when the monument was rebuilt.

One of the most famous event that took place at the square was back in 1989, where a 250,000-strong crowd gathered to witness the reburial of former Hungarian Prime Minister Imre Nagy, who was executed in 1958.

Heroes Square in Budapest
The sculptures in Heroes Square were crafted by sculptor Zala György.

Tip: After you’re done admiring the square, you can head to its neighboring attractions. The Heroes’ Square is flanked by Museum of Fine Arts on the left and Kunsthalle (Hall of Art) on the right, and all three attractions are easily reached via the train system. Just hop off at the Millennium Underground.

Here are the top things to do when you’re in Budapest.

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