The Danube Bend (Dunakanyar) is one of the most picturesque and culturally rich regions in Hungary. Located just north of Budapest, it marks the spot where the Danube makes a dramatic curve, flowing around the Visegrád Hills (Visegrádi-hegység) and the Börzsöny Mountains. This area holds great historical significance and today is a favorite weekend getaway for Budapest residents and international tourists alike.
The Bend is situated where the Danube cuts through the Western Carpathians, creating a spectacular landscape of high riverbanks, rolling hills, and castles perched on mountaintops. It’s a meeting point of the Great Hungarian Plain and the mountain ranges, resulting in great natural and climatic diversity.
The Danube Bend played a key role in Hungarian history:
- Szentendre – A town of artists, settled by Serbs after the fall of Belgrade (1521). Full of Orthodox churches, Mediterranean-style streets, colors, and creativity.
- Visegrád – Once the seat of medieval Hungarian kings, with the ruins of a royal palace and a fortress atop the mountain, overlooking the bend.
- Esztergom (Ostrihom) – Former capital and the seat of the archbishop, the cradle of Christianity in Hungary. Known for its enormous basilica and crypts.
- Nagymaros – A town on the opposite bank from Visegrád, offering excellent views and a base for hiking.
- Vác – A baroque town with a cathedral and beautifully preserved old town. Destroyed during the Turkish wars, it was rebuilt in the Austrian Baroque style.
The region is well developed for tourism, with guesthouses, hotels, campsites, and regional restaurants. It’s easily accessible from Budapest by train, bus, boat, or car.
