The heathen Magyar tribes arrived in the Carpathian basin in 896 led by Árpád, whose direct descendants were to rule Hungary until 1301, when the line of the kings of the Árpád House died out. Adapting to the neighbouring countries, the Hungarians settled here and established a strong state. The court chose Esztergom (on highway 11) as its seat. The construction of the palace was begun in 972. Our first king, Stephen I, was born and crowned here. Esztergom is the centre of the Catholic Church in Hungary. Its basilica is the largest church in the country.
To the East, where the river Danube turns southwards, the fortress of Visegrád offers the best view over the Danube Bend. The structure and the operation of a medieval royal capital can be accurately traced here, from the remains of the Visegrád palace, the largest ensemble of building of the Renaissance in Hungary.
Szentendre has no royal history, but it lies between Visegrád and Budapest and is probably the most visited town in the country. Serb artisans, merchants and peasants who fled here from the Turks built seven churches in the town. It has always been a favourite place of painters and sculptors - the town has dozens of museums and galleries where their work is presented.
Back to the royals. A castle was built on the hills of Buda after the Mongol invasion in the 13th century. The court moved there in 1347 and the castle began to be transformed into a palace in the gothic style. During the rule of King Matthias it became a magnificent renaissance royal palace.
Over five centuries 37 kings and 39 queens were crowned in Székesfehérvár (to the South-West, by motorway M7). 15 rulers are buried in this town. The foundation walls of the basilica, built by Stephen I. can still be seen in the Garden of Ruins.
From Székesfehérvár, highway 8. will take you to Veszprém. Again, Stephen I established a castle here and founded a bishopric. His wife Gizella, and other queens who followed later, were crowned by the bishop of Veszprém - that's why the place is called "the town of queens". The Gizella chapel, with frescoes and carvings, is one of our finest early-gothic monuments.