Budapest

Could you imagine three cities in one city? Just where in the world is that? Yes, you heard it right, there is actually a city in the world that is comprised of three cities. In fact the city is considered as European Union's seventh largest. It's Budapest.

Budapest is the city capital of Hungary. Before it became Budapest today, it used to be composed of three major cities along the Danube River. The three cities were Buda that is located at the right bank of the river or at the west side, Obuda and Pest, which are both situated at the left side of the river or at the eastern portion. The three cities were merged in November 17,1893. In 2003, Budapest has an approximate total population of 1,719,343 from its highest of 2,016, 100 in 1990.

Buda in Hungary is called by other names from different tongues around that had occupied the city at one time or another. In German it is called Ofen; Budim in Croatia and Serbia; and Turkish and Slovak called it Budin. It was believed that the name was taken from Buda or Budda, the founder of the city.

Other origin of the name was thought to be referring to its local dialect counterpart, "water" which is in reference to its famous Danube River. Buda used to be the capital of Hungary way back in 1361 until such time that it was under Ottoman Empire for the next eighteen decades. During the ottoman Rule the capital of Hungary was transferred to Pozsony, which is commonly called today as Bratislava, which is the capital of Slovak at present time. When Buda was declared as free imperial city in 1703, again it became Hungary's capital in 1784. The world famous Citadella and the Buda Castle are both located in Buda.

Obuda, which literally means Old Buda among the Hungarians and Alt-Ofen in German, is what is known as the District III of Budapest, located at the northernmost tip. This island within the city was known to be the site of the Old Stone Age settlement. When the Roman occupied the area, they built in is known today as the Aquincum, now considered as the capital of the province of Pannoia. The famous Sziget Festival, which is a celebration of music and culture, is held annually here.

Pest is the third city that comprises Budapest. The name had its roots from the Slavic word that means furnace, which believed to have originated from the burning fires of the nearby caves. The city is in the on the other side of Danube River, occupying more almost two-thirds of Budapest. The city was considered as an independent city as far back in 1148. The Celtics and the Romans had occupied the area at one point and the other. The city was destroyed when the Mongol occupies the city in 1241 because it became an economic hub in 11th up to the 13th century. Famous landmark that are found here are He roes' Square, The Parliament and the Andrassy Avenue. The bridge that connects Pest and Buda was constructed in 1849.

Today, it boasts of having the most number of huge shopping malls in Europe, including the popular West End City Center. It is also hailed as one of the most important tourist destination in Central and Eastern Europe.