Royal Palace (Budavári palota) in Budapest

Dominating the southern skyline of the Castle District, the Royal Palace is a mock historic structure, including several original features from the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th Centuries. The first building appeared on this site in 1241 under the reign of King Béla IV. Then, in the 15th Century, a large Gothic palace was established by King Sigismund of Luxembourg. Considered one of the most beautiful palaces in Europe, the golden era of this building came under the rule of King Matthias, between 1451 and 1490. At the time it was a heart of cultural life in Budapest, attracting nobleman, scholars and artists who came to the city from all over Europe.

Unfortunately, the palace was completely destroyed in 1686 by the Christian army that liberated the city from the Turkish occupation. The renovation work commenced in the early 18th Century, but then the Palace was damaged again during the War of Independence of 1848-49. The successive reconstruction work, finished in 1904, actually doubled the size of the Palace from its original Gothic structure. However, it was not the final episode in its turbulent history.

The Palace also suffered during World War II, when it served as the command post for the Nazi forces, and then it was besieged by the Red Army who almost completely gutted the building. The present state of the palace, which includes several original Baroque and Gothic elements, is home to the Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest History Museum and the National Széchenyi Library.