Visegrád - the town
Location: Pest County, Hungary
Population: 1,711
How to get there: Trains leave from Budapest’s Nyugati Pályaudvar railway station every hour and the ride takes approximately 50 minutes. Hungary’s Volán coach service also offers service at least once each hour between Budapest’s Árpád Híd bus terminal and Visegrád. Buses depart every 20 minutes during peak hours.
Attractions: Visegrád’s Royal Palace is an impressive attraction and
offers a picturesque view of the Danube Bend region. Keep in mind, however, that the hike up to the Citadel can take around 45 minutes. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:00 to 17:00.
The Visegrad Group was named after Visegrád, a historic fortified town situated in northern Hungary, along the banks of the River Danube. Visegrád once served as the summer residence of Hungary’s Renaissance king, Matthias Corvinus and the remains of his castle serve as one of the most prominent attractions in Pest County. The first castle in what today is Visegrád was constructed in 1009, under the rule of Saint Stephen, King of Hungary. But Visegrád, as a fortified town, experienced its golden era under the reigns of King Sigismund and King Matthias, between 1323 and 1408. During this time, Visegrád served as the primary residence of Hungary’s kings.
Visegrád was also the site of one of the most important meetings between regional rulers in 1335, between Charles Robert of Hungary, Jan Lucemburský of Bohemia and Poland’s Kazimierz III. The three kings decided to form an alliance against restrictive trade practices instituted in Vienna. More recently, Visegrád also hosted a meeting in 1991, between regional leaders from Poland, the former Czechoslovakia and Hungary.