Budapest Opera

Hello, if you visit Budapest it is obligatory so visit the Opera, which is really in the middle of the town right on the Andrássy Street, between Deák Square and Oktogon Square (Address: VI. Andrássy út 22, Tel: 353 0170, Box office open: Mon-Sat 10am-5pm (or until the start of the programme on performance nights), M1 Metro Opera Station. As Budapest's principle venue for opera and ballet productions, Miklós Ybl's fine neo-Renaissance building has, over the years, played host to the likes of Ferenc Liszt and Gustav Mahler. The main season here runs from September to mid-June and includes over 50 major productions, many of which are familiar to opera lovers abroad. For tickets, it's advisable to book a couple of days in advance, though cheap seats are often available at the last minute.On the opera.hu website you should click on "Műsorkalendárium" to figure out what is the actual programme :) .

15, March Hungarian National Holiday

Each year 15, March is a National Holiday in Hungary. On this nice and colorful day Hungarian people remember to the outbreak of the 1848-9 Revolution. Since the end of the 17th century had been a Habsburg dominion, with a Habsburg on the royal Hungarian throne. Revolution broke out in many large European cities during the early months of 1848, creating conditions under which Hungary's aspirations for reform might be realized by lawful means. On the same day the March Youth, a small group of writers, poets and other intellectuals, took to the streets of Pest to read out their Twelve Points containing their main demands for the Hungarian nation. One of their leaders, the popular radical poet Sándor Petofi, recited a poem of his, "National Song". As bystanders joined them, they requisitioned a press to print the two pieces. Within hours there were tens of thousands processing through the streets. (Further exciting details in history books...)

Hungarian Military Museum in Buda Castle (unfortunately it is only available in Hungarian): www.hm-him.hu