“Who was this St. Stephen?” a child’s voice piped up, breaking the silence as we stand before the Szent István emlékoszlop Monument. Good question. The Szent István emlékoszlop Monument isn’t just a towering structure. It represents the heart of Hungary’s Christian heritage. King St. Stephen, or Szent István as he’s known here, wasn’t just a king. He was the founder of the Hungarian state, crowned on Christmas Day in the year 1000. He brought Christianity to the Magyar people, uniting them under a single faith. This transition wasn’t always peaceful. Some resisted his religious reforms, facing severe consequences. Despite these struggles, his 40-year reign brought relative peace and prosperity, ultimately leading to his beatification shortly after his death in 1038. Hungary doesn’t forget its first king. Every August 20th, St. Stephen’s Day is a nationwide celebration with festivities and fireworks, commemorating the founding of the Hungarian state. The Szent István emlékoszlop Monument is just one of the many tributes to him. Budapest boasts landmarks like the St. Stephen’s Basilica, a colossal structure housing his mummified right hand, a sacred relic. You can even find his image on the 10,000-forint banknote. Even his horse is memorialized in a statue near the entrance of the Cave Church on Gellért Hill.
Zsíros-hegy
From Zsíros-hegy’s peak a breathtaking panorama unfolds. Zsíros-hegy a mountain in the Buda Hills stands proudly. Its 424-meter height offers