This tour will showcase not only the important sites—such as the eclectic Matthias Church with its colorful tiled roof and brightly colored interior, the Royal Palace complex and the Fisherman’s Bastion—but also the secret spots hidden in the side streets that should not be missed. The streets follow the shape of the hill, and have seen plenty of action since the mid-13th century when the first royal residence was built here. Your guide will discuss the periods of history which influenced this neighborhood, with a special emphasis on the Jewish population which once lived here, the Hungarian royalty and the Habsburg empire. You’ll learn about the heroes and villains of World War II who left their mark here, and the brutal siege of Budapest in which the neighborhood was demolished when the German and Russian armies met on these streets. Buda became an important European city in the 15th century, a melting pot of nations. You’ll hear about how the establishment of the royal court sparked the beginning of a long golden age even though no royals ever resided here. The palace and the neighborhood have been destroyed and rebuilt many times over during the course of their history, with each period, particularly the re-building after World War II (when there was such extensive damage), leaving a different mark on the current appearance of the place. These days the Hungarian president is lucky enough to be able to call this neighborhood home, along with a few hundred regular citizens living in the hundred year old buildings. Join this tour to learn all about this area which has witnessed so much history.