I'm writing this post on a train to Szentendre enroute to the old fortress in Viségrad, a town just outside Buda. As the suburban buildings go by, I'm reminded about the contrasts to the city and in particular, the castle-turned-museum on Castle Hill.

Crossing the Chain Bridge onto Buda, the striking building might be more of a palace than a stereotypical castle, but beneath it lies a network of rooms dating back to when this site was a medieval fortress. The castle back then was more like the ones seen in story books with knights and dragons. Yet at some stage the castle was destroyed and in its place the current baroque building was built to reflect the french style that was popular at the time.

We took a tour down below and I was amazed that they could reconstruct much of it from rubble. Sadly they have needed to become very good at this, since the bombings of the World War left many of the sights around Budapest in ruin. Walking around town today, made me value the work they have put in to rebuild their city.