IBD 2018 Budapest

Hungary

Hungary became a Christian kingdom in A.D. 1000 and for many centuries served as a bulwark against Ottoman Turkish expansion in Europe. The kingdom eventually became part of the polyglot Austro-Hungarian Empire, which collapsed during World War I. The country fell under communist rule following World War II. In 1956, a revolt and an announced withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact were met with a massive military intervention by Moscow. Under the leadership of Janos KADAR in 1968, Hungary began liberalizing its economy, introducing so-called "Goulash Communism." Hungary held its first multiparty elections in 1990 and initiated a free market economy. It joined NATO in 1999 and the EU in 2004.

Budapest

Budapest, the capital of Hungary, was created in 1873 by the merger of three cities: Buda, Óbuda and Pest. It is the administrative, cultural, scientific, economic, trade and transportation center with about 1.8 million inhabitants. The town spreads on the banks of the river Danube, and is administratively divided into 23 districts, 16 of which are located on the Pest side, 6 in Buda and 1 on Csepel Island in Danube. It is one of the most rapidly developing European capitals, where traditional meets contemporary, fancy meets alternative, and history meets future. The city is continuously changing, so don’t be surprised to bump into construction sites all over the place. Regardless, due to its Central-Eastern European charm and Western modernity, its exciting mixture of past and present, the city is well worth a visit.