hidden europe 63

Budapest transport

by hidden europe

Picture above: Castle Hill funicular in Budapest (photo © Michael Paschos / dreamstime.com)

Summary

The steep topography around the Hungarian capital, especially on the west bank of the Danube, meant that great ingenuity was needed in developing public transport. Examples are the famous funicular up to Buda Castle and a cog railway, both dating back to the 1870s and still well used today.

Budapest’s status as an early adopter of innovative design and technology is exemplified in the story of the Széchenyi Chain Bridge (see previous article). From the western end of the chain bridge, it is just a three-minute ride on the funicular railway up to the terraces around the Royal Palace in Buda. The railway opened in 1870, making Buda the second place in the world to deploy a funicular railway for regular public transport. The first funicular opened in Lyon in 1862.

Buda’s steep topography acted as a great stimulus to ingenious solutions when it came to public transport.

This is just an excerpt. The full text of this article is not yet available to members with online access to hidden europe. Of course you can read the full article in the print edition of hidden europe 63.
Related article

An Essex backwater: Discovering Harwich

The old town of Harwich, a port in the county of Essex on England's North Sea coast, is tucked away on the end of a peninsula. Maritime connections have shaped the development of Harwich. It's a place for sea breezes, rock oysters and watching the ferries come and go.

Related article

Editorial hidden europe 67

In hidden europe 67, we go mountain hiking in Croatia's Kvarner region, ponder the relationship between mining and cultural heritage, take to the rails in Germany with a wonderful slow travel deal and discover a former Catholic seminary in the Braes of Glenlivet. We also visit both Hoek van Holland and Harwich and make tracks for an unsung delta on the Adriatic.