Buda (German: Ofen) is the western part of the Hungarian capital Budapest on the west bank of the Danube. The name Buda takes its name from the name of Bleda the Hun ruler, whose name is also Buda in Hungarian.^[1][2][3] The Roman name for Buda was Aquincum ("aqua" means "water" in Latin.)

Buda comprises about one-third of Budapest's complete territory and is mostly wooded and hilly. It is usually associated with a higher standard of living, although this depends on the area.^{[according to whom?]} Notable landmarks include the Buda Castle and the Citadella.

[edit] History

Buda was the capital of Hungary from 1361 until its capture by the Ottoman Empire in 1541. Pressburg/Pozsony (today Bratislava, Slovakia) became the new capital of Hungary in 1536. In 1686 Buda was captured by Austria, but because of its devastation from warfare, numerous Germans were brought in to help resettle the city. Buda was declared a free royal town in 1703, and became the Hungarian capital again in 1784. Buda was united with the towns Óbuda and Pest in 1873 to form Budapest.

Buda during the Middle Ages. From the Chronicles of Hartmann Schedel

[edit] Demographics

While Pest was mostly Hungarian in the 15th century, Buda had a German majority.^[4] Germans — also clinging to their language — partly crowded out, partly assimilated the Hungarians and Serbians they have found here.^[4] With the rural population moving in the capital city, in the 19th century slowly Hungarians became the majority in Buda too.

[edit] Twin cities

• Capestrano, Italy

[edit] Notes

[edit] See also

• Budapest
• Pest
• Óbuda

[edit] External links

• Wikitravel: Budapest/Buda
• Drawings of Castle Buda over the centuries