On Christmas Eve 1944, the Soviet Red Army encircled German-occupied Budapest, and the 52-day siege of the Hungarian capital began. Tens of thousands sought shelter in Buda Castle, including German and Hungarian soldiers, the wounded, and civilians. During these hellish weeks — completely unfathomable to us today — they all experienced the common terror of death, but also an instinctive desire for survival in the underground spaces of the Royal Palace and the unique cave and cellar system of the historic residential quarter. They suffered immensely from the cold, lack of water and food, darkness, overcrowding, and diseases, while trying to salvage their lives, possessions, and the treasures of the Royal Palace. During our tour, we will recount the horrors of the siege of Buda based on diaries and memoirs as we walk through an underground labyrinth, visiting the cellar of an old dwelling house and an authentic Second World War bomb shelter. By the end of the tour, you will understand why the siege of Budapest has often been compared to that of Stalingrad, which was one of the most brutal and devastating encirclement battles in world history.
DEPARTURE: De la Motte/Beer House – 1014 Budapest, Dísz tér 15. (Dísz Square 15)
ARRIVAL: Szentháromság tér (Szentháromság square)
DURATION: 90 minutes
More details
• this is both an outdoor and indoor programme
• it is recommended for ages 14 and upwards
• the programme starts promptly at the time indicated, we cannot wait for latecomers
• the tour is held in all weather conditions (even in the case of rain)
• as the walk winds on cobbled streets, in dark but illuminated areas of the De la Motte/Beer House and the Buda Castle Cave, with steep stairs, narrow corridors, and solid, sometimes wet surfaces, the tour is not suitable for those with mobility challenges
• comfortable walking shoes are recommended
• the temperature in the cellar and in the Buda Castle Cave is approximately 12°C (54°F) all year round, so we recommend dressing in layers.
