Heroes' Square, Budapest

Budapest, Hungary

This was our first trip to Hungary when it was still under the communist rule. We just took a day trip from Vienna. Photo above is at the massive Heroes' Square one of the capital's main attractions.

Built in 1896 to celebrate the millennium of the Hungarian conquest of the Carparthian Basin, Heroes' Square is a vast and grandiose symbol of 19th-century Hungarian nationalism.

An imposing 36-metre high column which supports the winged figure of the Archangel Gabriel (György Zala 1896) is encircled on its pedestal by statues of the seven conquering Magyar tribal chiefs on horseback. Behind, are two semi-circular colonnades housing the statues of the most famous rulers in Hungarian history.

The stone tablet in front of the main column, which on ceremonial occasions is guarded by soldiers, commemorates those who died for national freedom and independence. The square is flanked on either side by the Szépmüvészeti Múzeum (Museum of Fine Arts) and the Múcsarnok (Palace of Art).