The Danube bend tour Visegrad,Estergom,and Szentendre

   While in Budapest, as in Vienna I knew I would be on the Danube river at least part of a day. We took a tour that was in a van to  three cities on the Danube. It was a small tour and we met  a lovely couple from Sweden that we were happy to  talk with and share our day with. First we followed the Danube river 46km north west of Budapest to the city of Esztergom, which was at one time the capital of Hungary. <King Bela moved the capital to Buda hill where it was better defended. >.We saw many sites along the way.The most memorable was the views of Danube and of Margaret island. This is a park where locals spend their weekends swimming, walking and relaxing. 

   Our destination was the Esztergom Basilica.The grounds outside were very beautiful but what

 was a" wow" moment was the view behind the church.We were up  high and down below   

  was a bridge leadiing to  the country of Slovakia.So close we could of walked across it.

  The Basilica was very large inside The main alter depicts The assumption of blessed Virgin  Mary which is the largest painting in the world painted on a single canvas. .The cathedral houses the third largest organ in Europe.There was a wine cellar and burial tombs beneath.Interesting history here.I'll make it brief.

  There are several pictures of one of the Popes visiting the Basilica. It  makes sense that  since the Arch Bishop of Esztergom was head of the Roman Catholic Church in Hungary that the Pope would visit here.The Arch bishops name was Jozsef Mindszenty.He supported church freedom and opposed communism and Stalinist persecution. He was arrested, tortured and convicted of a life sentence. He was freed in the revolution <1956>and granted political asylum and lived in the U.S. embassy in Budapest never leaving  for 15 years!! In 1971 he was allowed to  leave the country .He died in exile in Vienna in 1975.His remains were brought back and laid to  rest in the burial crypt of this church with the other Arch Bishops.

  After we all had some free time we were back in the van and off to Visegrad.The next stop on the tour. We traveled through forested hills and up  twenty six  miles to  the royal palace ruins of  the castle town of Visegrad. The view from the citadel where we had lunch was spectacular.The Danube river and the ruins all laid out around us..The lunch was wonderful shared with our new found friends from Sweden.  We had great conversation as we were serenaded by Gypsies.

  After lunch our group headed to  the artists village of Szentendre.A baroque village with over fourteen museums.My husband and I walked along the main street and did some souvenir shopping for back home. We were able to  have a look around a wine cellar as well..Eventually we walked down to the dock and boarded the boat on the Danube for Budapest. It was a very enjoyable ride down the river with our companions conversation, views of the parliament buildings the bridges,Buda hill and Margaret island before coming to  rest on the Pest side..

 That was our day on the Danube bend tour.