Buda Castle Palace (Budavári Palota)

Located in Budapest’s picturesque Old Town, Buda Castle Palace was first inhabited by King Béla of Hungary during the 13th century. The king, who fled to the Adriatic Sea in 1241 following the Mongol invasion, returned to live in the palace, building a stronghold to protect the palace from further attack. Over a period of 700 years, the palace was home to many royal residents, including King Lajos the Great, King Matthias I and King Charles III. Today, the palace is home to a number of museums, including the Ludwig Museum, the Hungarian National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum.