Gellert Hill sits on the Buda side of Budapest and overlooks the Danube River. It was named after St. Gerard, who was put to death there. Legend has it that he was placed inside a barrel and rolled from the top of the hill into the river.
At the top of the hill is the Citadel (see 2008 posts), at the foot of the hill is the Gellert baths and hotel, and the Gellert cave is located within the hill. Inside the cave is a church. We visited during the cave during a service, so we were not able to roam too freely.
At the top of Gellert Hill is the Liberty Statue, erected in 1947 to commemorate the liberation of Hungary from the Nazis by the Russians. Originally engraved on the statue was, "Erected by the grateful Hungarian Nation in memory of the liberating Russian heroes". Obviously the sentiment changed, culminating in the 1956 Hungarian revolution that was squashed, eventually, by Moscow tanks. After 1991, the engraving was changed to read: "To the memory of all of those who sacrificed their lives for the independence, freedom, and success of Hungary". This seems much more relevant and worthy an engraving for this particular "liberty" statue.
At the top of the hill is the Citadel (see 2008 posts), at the foot of the hill is the Gellert baths and hotel, and the Gellert cave is located within the hill. Inside the cave is a church. We visited during the cave during a service, so we were not able to roam too freely.
At the top of Gellert Hill is the Liberty Statue, erected in 1947 to commemorate the liberation of Hungary from the Nazis by the Russians. Originally engraved on the statue was, "Erected by the grateful Hungarian Nation in memory of the liberating Russian heroes". Obviously the sentiment changed, culminating in the 1956 Hungarian revolution that was squashed, eventually, by Moscow tanks. After 1991, the engraving was changed to read: "To the memory of all of those who sacrificed their lives for the independence, freedom, and success of Hungary". This seems much more relevant and worthy an engraving for this particular "liberty" statue.
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