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Budapest2006-60 : Holiday in Budapest, Hungary (Jun/06) |
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We spent the afternoon of Saturday 3rd June
cycling at the peaceful Margit (Margaret)
Island which is nearly 3km long and about
500m wide. It is situated in the Danube River
and connected to Buda and Pest by the Margit
and Árpád Bridges, This park
was established over one hundred years ago.
After
several days of walking and shopping in the
large city of Budapest, I strongly suggest
to spend an afternoon in this peaceful park,
either on foot or probably better using a
bicycle. It is a large park (no vehicles allowed)
but with some sites too.
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Budapest2006-61 : Holiday in Budapest, Hungary (Jun/06) |
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The island used to be called Rabbit Island
(Nyulak szigete), and it received its current
name after Saint Margaret (1242–1270),
the daughter of Béla IV of Hungary,
who lived in a Dominican convent here during
the 13th century. The island was probably
first civilized by the Knights of St. John
in the XII century. The island was dominated
by nunneries, churches and cloisters until
the XVIII century, when it was chosen to be
the resort of palatines. It was declared a
public garden in 1908.
Among the present historical monuments of
the island are the XIII-century ruins of a
Franciscan church and the ruins of a Dominican
church and convent (photo below) from the
same century, as well as a Premonstratensian
church from the XII century (seen in the photo
here). Members of the Augustinian order also
lived on this island.
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Budapest2006-62 : Holiday in Budapest, Hungary (Jun/06) |
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The ruins of the Dominican church and convent
where Margit - daughter of King Bela IV -
used to live during the 13th century. These
can be still seen today on the island's east
bank.
Béla
IV vowed to bring his daughter up as a nun
here if Hungary survived the Mongol invasion,
and duly confined 9-year-old Princess Margit
when it did. She apparently made the best
of it, acquiring a reputation for curing lepers
and other saintly deeds, as well as for not
washing above her ankles. Beatification followed
her death in 1271, and a belated canonization
in 1943. The convent fell into ruin during
the Turkish occupation, when the island was
turned into a harem.
.
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Budapest2006-63 : Holiday in Budapest, Hungary (Jun/06) |
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The island hosts several large sculptures of
Hungarian artists and writers like this one
shown in the photo here.
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Budapest2006-64 : Holiday in Budapest, Hungary (Jun/06) |
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An octagonal Water Tower which reaches 57 m
in height. It was built in Art Nouveau style
in 1911. Today it used as a lookout tower and
as an exhibition hall as well as an open-air
theatre. This tower was declared as protected
by UNESCO.
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Budapest2006-65 : Holiday in Budapest, Hungary (Jun/06) |
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Extremely Large trees like this are found on
this island. Coming from an country (Malta)
without any large trees, such natural-art like
this tree would certainly deserve a photo in
my site. To see more about Maltese flora, check
my other website - www.maltawildplants.com
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Budapest2006-66 : Holiday in Budapest, Hungary (Jun/06) |
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This sculpture monument is known as the Centennial
Memorial, remembering the hundredth anniversary
of the city's unification. At the back there
is a large fountain which performs water displays
synchronised with music. It is a very conspicuous
attraction which lets anyone to stop for at
least a 10minute attention to the water display
and loud-speaker amplified music of classical
music such as of Strauss or Bizet.
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Budapest2006-67 : Holiday in Budapest, Hungary (Jun/06) |
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The musical fountain in full action, framed
behind the trees of the park.
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Budapest2006-68 : Holiday in Budapest, Hungary (Jun/06) |
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Some cute kids (I guess British from their 'Cheese'
accent) playing with the rented peddling carts
in the park. This park is an amusment and relaxation
for all ages so I recommend to reserve 3 hours
or so to visit Margit island.
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Budapest2006-69 : Holiday in Budapest, Hungary (Jun/06) |
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Building seen from Margit island situated at
Buda side, by the Danube bank.
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