TWO OF BUDAPEST'S SYMBOL'S AND HIGHLIGHTS

 Matthias Church

            Also called the Church of Our Lady or Coronation Church, Matthias Church is a beautiful turn of the century neo-Gothic structure. Symbol of the city’s Castle District, this is where kings were crowned. The raven, the sign of 15^th century kings, can be seen on the towers.

            The earliest remains of the church date back to the 13th century when King Béla IV. (1206-1270) commissioned the building of a church at Castle Hill after the 1241-42 Mongol invasion. The north tower was built at that time (1255-1269)

            King Matthias Corvinus expanded and embellished the building in Renaissance style and  added the 195-foot high southern  tower. The Matthias bell tower bears a raven holding a golden ring in its beak, the royal coat of arms.          

            Our guide told us, “King Matthias was known for his fairness and justice, and Hungary flourished under his rule. He was married twice in the church that bears his name. Built in the 13-15^th centuries, it is another symbol of Budapest.

In 1541 the Turks invaded Hungary and occupied the country for 150 years. The Turks turned the church into a mosque and white-washed the wall covered frescos. After Buda was retaken, the Jesuits were given the church and made some Baroque alterations. The church became a parish church in 1773. It was restored in the latter part of the 19^th century in neo-gothic style.

            The exterior and the frescos as well as the marvelous stained windows originate from that era and are the works of Hungary's greatest artists of the time.

             Today, inside  the church one wall retains  its Turkish geometric design, while frescos are evident elsewhere.  The structure has a beautiful mosaic roof. Because of the exceptional acoustics, concerts are often held in the church.

            A memorial plaque on the outside of the church commemorates all who lost their lives while the country was under Hitler and Stalin rule.

Fisherman’s Bastion

             Perched on the edge of the Castle District behind Matthias Church is a neo-Romanesque structure known as Fisherman’s Bastion. Built at the turn of the century in the location of the old fish market; it  provides  a panoramic view of the Danube River and Pest. The seven towers represent the seven tribes of Hungarians when they settled down by the Danube in the Carpathian basin in 896. The building has many turrets, terraces, parapets and stairways offering  exceptional views.It is an unforgettable landmark in Budapest.

            Fishermen's Bastion never was used for military defensive purposes; it was created only for decorative reasons.

          From the backside of the structure one can view part of a medieval wall that is between it and the Hilton Hotel.  When the medieval ruins were discovered during the construction of the hotel, the hotel’s design was altered to accommodate, not destroy, the ruins.

   Nearby is a statue of St. Stephen atop his horse.

DELFT, THE NETHERLANDS

                                  City  Highlights of  Delft

            The city of Delft, known for its distinctive pottery and close ties to the Dutch royal family, is located between Rotterdam and The Hague. The city’s atmosphere is relaxed and typically Dutch. Delft received its city franchise from the Dutch Earl, Willem  II, in 1246.

            In the characteristic town center are exceptional gabled buildings, intimate canals, bridges, narrow alleys and limited car access.  The center piece in the square is a statue of Hugo Grotius (1583-1645), an edacuator and lawyer who formulated the basis for many laws.

            In May 1536 a fire destroyed 2,300 homes. It is likely that the wooden spire of the Nieuwe Kerk (new church) was hit by lightning and flying sparks set the surrounding buildings on fire. The Netherlands has no native stone, so all stone is imported. When this was demanded after the explosion and  fire in 1654 only well-to-do people could afford to build with stone forcing many less fortunate people to leave the city. Somehow 80,000 pounds of gunpowder stored in the convent set off  the event  known as the Thunderclap. In 1660 a new gunpowder house was built about a mile outside the city center.

            It is not unusual to see leaning building in the Netherlands and Delft was no exception. The Oude

Kerk, (old church) founded as St. Bartholomew’s Church in 1246, is on the site of previous churches dating back two centuries. During its building, the foundations weren't strong enough to support the building, so the church began to lean. As building the church continued they tried to compensate its lean on each layer of the tower, so only the 4 turrets at the top are truly vertical. The tower was added between 1325–50, and dominated the townscape for a century and a half until it was surpassed in height by the Niwuwe Kerk tower. Its huge heavy bell, 1570, is rung only for funerals. The old monastery, Prinsenof, now a museum, is also where William of Orange was shot.

            The city’s association with the House of Orange dates to 1572 when William of Orange took up residence in the walled city, making it his headquarters in the fight against the Spanish. When William was shot in 1584 the family’s traditional burial ground was still under Spanish rule, so he was buried in Delft’s New Church, a custom the royal family continues today.

            Nieuwe Kerk, 1382, is the landmark Protestant  Church in Delft, and stands opposite  city hall (Stadhuis) on the square. Its church tower is the second highest in The Netherlands. The 16^th pillar represents the prophets, the four pillars represent the evangelists, and the 12^th pillar represents the apostles. The stain glass windows, added in 1936, were removed in 1938 and stored safely and replaced after the war. The church is remarkable for its fine 330-foot high tower and chime of  bells as well as a splendid mausoleum of Prince William of Orange, also known as William the Silent. All of the royal family is buried in this church.

Delft City Hall

            The Renaissance-style City Hall is the former seat of city government. Today it is where residents hold their civil wedding ceremonies. Changed over the centuries, it was restored in the 20th century to its original Renaissance splendor. The red shuttered building dates to 1618-1620, but the tower, covered in expensive Belgian limestone, is much older. The tower, called De Steen or The Stone, originally built around 1300, has decorative clock faces from 1536. Under the tower is an old city prison where William the Silent’s assassin was confined before sentencing.

            Except for one, the old city gates were demolished in the 19th century. The Eastern Gate (Oostpoort), 1400, is an example of Brick Gothic Northern European architecture. In 1510 the towers were enhanced with an additional octagonal floor and high spires. It currently serves as an art gallery and private residence.