If you have been in Budapest for Erasmus for more than a few days, you have probably noticed that this city is full of legends. One of my favourites is the story behind the statue of the Prince of Buda and the Princess of Pest, because it is basically a love story that explains the relationship between the two sides of the city.
The statue is located on Gellért Hill, not far from the Citadella, and from there you also get one of the nicest views over the Danube and the whole city.
The legend
According to the legend, the Prince of Buda and the Princess of Pest lived on opposite sides of the Danube. They fell in love with each other, but there was a problem: the river separated them.
The Prince lived on the Buda side, surrounded by the hills, while the Princess lived in Pest, on the other side of the river. At the time, there were no bridges connecting the two parts of the city, so meeting each other was not exactly easy.
Their love became a symbol of the connection between Buda and Pest. Eventually, the two sides were united, just like the two lovers, and Budapest was born.
Obviously, this is a legend rather than the real historical story of how Budapest was created. The city was officially formed in 1873 by the unification of Buda, Óbuda and Pest. But I think the romantic version is much more fun to remember.
Why I like this place
As an Erasmus student, I have to admit that sometimes I discover places in Budapest almost by accident. This was one of them.
What I really like about the statue is that it is not just something you stop to look at for five minutes. The location makes it special. Standing on Gellért Hill, you can see the Danube, the bridges, the Parliament and the buildings of Pest all at once.
It is also a nice reminder that Budapest is basically two different worlds connected by the river. Buda feels quieter and hillier, while Pest is busier, flatter and full of bars, restaurants and nightlife.
And, of course, the idea of two people from opposite sides of the river falling in love feels quite appropriate for a city where you can meet people from all over the world.
A little bit of history
The story of Buda and Pest is actually quite interesting. For centuries, they developed as separate settlements on the two banks of the Danube. Buda became an important royal and political centre, especially because of its castle, while Pest developed as a commercial and urban centre.
Today, when we walk across the Chain Bridge or take the tram along the river, it is easy to forget that these were once separate cities.
That is probably why the legend works so well: the river that once divided them is now one of the things that makes Budapest so beautiful.
Our Erasmus tip
If you want to visit the statue, I would definitely go around sunset. You can walk up Gellért Hill, stop for some pictures and then enjoy the view as the city starts lighting up.
And bring a friend with you. Or, if you are feeling particularly romantic, bring someone you met during Erasmus — you never know, maybe Budapest has another love story waiting to happen.
For me, this is one of those places that makes you appreciate Budapest not only as a beautiful city, but also as a city with stories everywhere. And after living here for a while, I think that is one of the best things about being on Erasmus: you start looking at ordinary places and wondering what happened there before you arrived.
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