Buda (German: Ofen, Croatian: Budim, Slovak/Czech: Budín, Serbian: Будим or Budim, Turkish: Budin) 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.

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. Its most notable landmarks are the Buda Castle and the Citadella.

History

Buda was the capital of Hungary from 1361 until its capture by the Ottoman Empire in 1541. Pressburg/Pozsony (the current Slovak capital Bratislava) 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.

Demographic history

According to 1715 data, the population of Buda numbered 1,539 houses, of which 769 were South Slavic (mostly Serbian), 701 German, and 68 Hungarian. According to 1720 data, the population numbered about 30,000 people in 1,468 houses, of which 851 houses were German, 559 South Slavic (mostly Serbian), 68 Hungarian, and 5 Slovak.

Twin cities

• Capestrano, Italy

Notes

See also

• Budapest
• Pest
• Óbuda

External links

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