Imagine stepping back in time to 1699. A lone figure stands on Remetehegy. He is Prosperus, an Augustinian monk.
Remetehegy is more than just a location. It’s a piece of Budapest’s history. Its story involves hermits, merged districts and a city’s evolution.
Prosperus sought permission from the Zichy family. He wanted to build a hermitage. The authorities granted his request. He built his solitary dwelling here on Remetehegy. This act gave Remetehegy its name. “Remete” means hermit in Hungarian.
Let’s look at Remetehegy’s geography. It is a 351-meter-high peak. It resides within Budapest’s Óbuda district. Remetehegy is part of the Budai Mountains. It is a southern spur of the Hármashatár-hegy massif.
There’s another Remete-hegy in the Budai Mountains. This one is not to be confused with that one. That Remete-hegy is 424 meters high. It lies outside Budapest, near Remeteszőlős.
Remetehegy is bordered by several other hills. To the north is Tábor-hegy. To the northwest is Alsó-Kecske-hegy. To the southeast lies Mátyás-hegy. The southern side of Remetehegy faces Szép-völgy. Its eastern slopes descend towards Óbuda’s center.
Getting here is relatively easy. The number 65 bus serves Remetehegy. It departs from Kolosy Square. The bus’s final stop is near Fenyőgyöngye Vendéglő. Some buses continue to Szépvölgyi dűlő.
In 2012, Budapest restructured its districts. Remetehegy merged with Mátyáshegy and Táborhegy. They formed a single district called Óbuda hegyvidéke. Harsánylejtő became a separate district at that time.
In 2001, Remetehegy had a population of 2,279. Its boundaries include Fekete salak utca and Bécsi út. They also include the administrative border between the II and III districts.
So, as you stand on Remetehegy think of Prosperus. Think about the hermit. Consider the changes this area has witnessed. Remetehegy stands as a testament to Budapest’s rich and layered past.