Matthias Church in Budapest, Hungary

On June 13, 2019 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Hungary4 Comments

Located in the heart of the Buda Castle District in Budapest is the historic Matthias Church. The current church was built in the 1400’s in the Gothic architectural style, but it was extensively remodeled in the 19th century. The original church was built around 1015, but nothing remains of the original Romanesque architectural style. The Matthias Church sits in front of the Fisherman’s Bastian, which is the wall with towers that surrounds the Danube River side of Castle Hill. The church is clearly visible from the Pest side of the river, especially with its colorful roof.

As Seen from the Pest Side of the Danube River

The church is named after King Matthias, who ruled Hungary in the 19th century. The church has been the site of several coronations as well as royal weddings, including both of King Matthias’ weddings. Unfortunately, there was actually a wedding at the church when we toured the Buda Castle District, so we weren’t able to go inside. The church itself has had as tumultuous of a history as Hungary itself. The church has had several names before becoming the Matthias Church, including The Church of Mary and The Church of Our Lady. After Hungary was conquered by the Turks, most of the church’s treasures were transferred to Bratislava and the Turks converted it to a mosque. It was later then restored and many of the Gothic features restored.

During World War II, the church was badly damaged by both the Germans and the Soviet Union, so work was done in the 1950’s and 1970’s to again restore it to it original grandeur. In addition to the church, there is also the Holy Trinity Statue that is near the main entrance of the church with wonderful details. Regardless of its history, Matthias Church is certainly one of the most important features in the Buda Castle District. The diamond patterned roof, gargoyles, and the raven with a ring in its mouth make it very interesting to see. Apparently the raven with the ring symbolizes a story of when King Matthias took off his ring and a raven grabbed it and flew off with it. King Matthias then chased down the raven and slew it in order to get his ring back.

Matthias Church and the Holy Trinity Statue

Hungarian Goulash Stew

On June 12, 2019 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Hungary, Recipes5 Comments

We had goulash a couple of different ways when we were in Budapest and neither of them were anywhere close to what we’d eaten before. In Hungary, goulash is actually a soup with beef, potatoes, and carrots in rich broth. We also found restaurants that offered a heartier version of the dish that is served as a stew, which is what westerners envision when they hear the word goulash. The key to the dish is the paprika, which comes in mild, medium, and hot varieties. For our version of goulash stew, we chose to use hot paprika, which we brought home with us from Budapest. Another thing that we found common in Hungary was to have both potatoes as well as rice, noodles, or dumplings in addition, which helps to soak up all of the flavor of the sauce. We think that the dish turned out to be quite delicious and will certainly make it many times in the future.

INGREDIENTS

2 lbs Beef Bottom Round Roast – trimmed and cut into 2 inch cubes
3 tbsp All Purpose Flour
3 to 4 tbsp Olive Oil
2 Yellow Onions – roughly chopped
2 Peppers (1/2 Red, 1 Green, 1/2 Yellow) – roasted, peeled, and roughly chopped
2 Garlic Cloves – minced
2 tbsp Hot Paprika (3 tbsp if using mild)
2 tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
1 can (15 oz) Whole Tomatoes – hand crushed
5 cups Beef Stock
10 Small Golden Potatoes – cut in half
Salt and Pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

Heat the oil in a Dutch Oven (or stew pot) on the stove to medium-high heat. Add the meat to the oil and generously season with salt and pepper. Sautee the meat until it is browned on all sides. While the meat is cooking, sprinkle it with the flour and continue to stir to even out the flour and remove any lumps. If necessary, add more oil to keep the meat from sticking. Add the onions, garlic, peppers, and paprika and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the vinegar, tomatoes, and beef stock to the pot and stir. Be sure to scrape the bottom of the pot to incorporate anything that might have gotten stuck when the meat sautéed. Bring to a boil and lower the heat to low, cover, and let simmer for an hour, stirring occasionally. Taste the broth and add salt and pepper if necessary. Add the potatoes and continue to simmer for an additional 30 minutes or until the potatoes are fork-tender. Serve with rice.

Fisherman’s Bastion in the Castle District of Budapest

On June 3, 2019 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Hungary10 Comments

The Buda Castle District is one of the most popular locations to visit in Budapest and the Fisherman’s Bastion is definitely one of its most unique features. Built in the late 1800’s, the Fisherman’s Bastion has some interesting architecture that is both in the neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque styles. It is basically a wall with towers along the edge of Castle Hill that surrounds Matthias Church and has wonderful views of the Pest side of Budapest, the Danube River, and the Parliament Building. Because so the Castle District is so popular, you will likely find the area to be very crowded, especially due to the river cruise ships that stop in Budapest and give their passengers a day to tour the city.

The Largest Tower of the Fisherman’s Bastion

There are seven towers in the Fisherman’s Bastion that represent the tribes that settled in the Carpathian basin after migrating from Asia. Today, the towers present opportunities to see panoramic views of the city. The Fisherman’s Guild was responsible for protecting the Buda Castle walls, which is likely the reason that the wall and towers were named the Fisherman’s Bastion. There is also a statue of Stephen I, the first king of Hungary, on horseback in the courtyard behind Matthias Church.

Amazing Views of the Parliament Building

If for nothing other than the amazing views, it is certainly worth walking along the walls of the Fisherman’s Bastion. Each of the different towers offer slightly different views and the architecture of the Fisherman’s Bastion is certainly interesting even without the amazing views. Located on the Buda side of the Danube, there are definitely plenty of wonderful sights to see throughout the Castle District.