Alfred Hillebrandt

Buda Castle, originally the palace of Hungarian kings in Budapest, has a history stretching back to its first completion in 1265. The current Baroque structure was built between 1749 and 1769, but it suffered significant damage during World War II's Siege of Budapest. Post-war reconstruction simplified its Baroque style during the communist era. Today, the complex serves as a cultural hub, housing the Hungarian National Gallery, the Budapest Historical Museum, and the National Széchényi Library. Located on Castle Hill, the palace and its surrounding Castle Quarter, known for its historical architecture, are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The castle's history is marked by continuous development and destruction. Medieval royal residences were built and expanded upon by various Hungarian kings, including Béla IV, Louis I, Sigismund, and Matthias Corvinus. Sigismund's reign saw it become one of the largest Gothic palaces of its time, while Matthias Corvinus introduced Renaissance elements, transforming Buda into an early center of the style north of the Alps. The palace complex suffered extensively during the Ottoman occupation, being used for various purposes and eventually destroyed during the Great Siege of 1686 by allied Christian forces. Subsequent rebuilding efforts led to the Baroque palace that, despite wartime damage, forms the basis of the present-day complex.

The historical site of Buda Castle began as a royal residence constructed by King Béla IV between 1247 and 1265. Subsequent centuries saw significant architectural development. Stephen, Duke of Slavonia, added to the palace in the 14th century, with his keep known as Stephen's Tower. King Louis I's Gothic palace was built around a courtyard adjacent to this tower. A major expansion occurred under King Sigismund, who transformed Buda Castle into his primary residence and likely the largest Gothic palace of the late Middle Ages. Construction on this phase, including the prominent "Fresh Palace" with its large Roman Hall, took place in the early 15th century. The palace's fortifications were also strengthened during this period, with structures like the "Broken Tower" and parallel "cortina walls" descending towards the Danube.

King Matthias Corvinus continued the palace's evolution, completing the Gothic structures and initiating a significant Renaissance rebuilding. This era introduced Italian humanists and artists to Buda, making it a pioneering center of Renaissance art north of the Alps. The palace cour d'honneur was modernized, an Italian loggia was added, and notable interiors like the Bibliotheca Corviniana were established. Matthias also began construction of a new Renaissance palace, the Matthias Palace, featuring a grand red marble stairway and bronze gates depicting the deeds of Hercules. After Matthias's death, his successor, Vladislaus II, continued these works. During the Ottoman occupation starting in 1526, the palace was looted of its statues and library volumes. Despite its historical significance, the Ottoman administration allowed the palace to decay, using parts of it as barracks and stables, and later as a gunpowder magazine, which led to its detonation during the 1686 siege.

The medieval palace complex met its end during the Great Siege of 1686, when allied Christian forces recaptured Buda from the Ottomans. A heavy artillery bombardment caused widespread destruction, including the explosion of Stephen's Tower, which had been repurposed as a gunpowder store. While the walls largely survived the initial bombardment, the burned-out structures rapidly deteriorated due to neglect. By the early 18th century, the palace was beyond repair, and King Charles III ordered the demolition of the ruins in 1715. Later, between 1749 and 1769, the Baroque palace that largely occupies the site today was constructed. This structure, though later damaged in World War II and simplified during its post-war reconstruction, represents the most recent major phase of the castle's long and varied history.