Fisherman's Bastion (The Halászbástya) is a terrace in
neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque style situated on the Buda bank of the Danube, on
the Castle hill in Budapest, around Matthias Church. It was designed and built
between 1895 and 1902 on the plans of Frigyes Schulek. Construction of the
bastion destabilized the foundations of the neighboring 13th century Dominican
Church which had to be pulled down. Between 1947–48, the son of Frigyes
Schulek, János Schulek, conducted the other restoration project after its near
destruction during World War II.
Its seven towers represent the seven Magyar tribes that
settled in the Carpathian Basin in 895. From the towers and the terrace a
panoramic view exists of Danube, Margaret Island, Pest to the east and the
Gellért Hill.
The Buda side castle wall was protected by the
fishermen's guild and this is the reason why it was called fishermen's Bastion.
Other people say, it got the name from the part of the city, which lies beneath
the tower. The guild of fishermen was responsible for defending this stretch of
the city walls in the Middle Ages. It is a viewing terrace, with many stairs
and walking paths.
A bronze statue of Stephen I of Hungary mounted on a
horse, erected in 1906, can be seen between the Bastion and the Matthias
Church. The pedestal was made by Alajos Stróbl, based on the plans of Frigyes
Schulek, in Neo-Romanesque style, with episodes illustrating the King's life.
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