Central and Eastern Europe demystified: A trip to the most beautiful capital cities – Part 2

Dear friends, last time we spoke about Prague and Belgrade and today we delve deeper into the heart of the old continent as we have Central and Eastern Europe demystified: A trip to the most beautiful capital cities of this part of the world continues with today’s suggestions.

Similar in name, Bucharest and Budapest, the capital cities of Romania and Hungary respectively, the two neighbour countries have shared a common history marked equally by partnership and disputes.

Different as ethnic background, brought together by geography and divided by history, if we can say so, the now peaceful neighbours have gone through their moments of tension. Not much emphasis is being placed, however, on the times when Hungary and Romania were actually partners. During the 1848 European Revolutions, Romanians and Hungarians fought side by side. After the Second World War, Romania and Hungary shared the same destiny, as they were both integrated in the communist system and they both said goodbye to the old regime after the 1989 European Revolution.

As for their two capital cities, though preserving touches of the communist era, they are counted among the most interesting European capital cities.

Bucharest boasts the largest administrative building in the world, the Palace of Parliament (also known as the House of the People). The Romanian capital city preserves an old quarter with buildings dating back a couple hundred years, Lipscani, but it also displays modern architecture and has an active night life, as we have more of Central and Eastern Europe demystified.

The Hungarian Budapest takes pride in what is perhaps the most beautiful cruise on the Danube River, which, especially done at night, passing under the famous bridges built over, offers a breathtaking landscape of both coasts, the old cities of Buda and Pesta, now united.

This short lesson of history and geography will be continued next time.