● Capital: Budapest
● Language: Hungarian
● Currency: Forint (1 HUF 0,003 Euro in 2019)
● Population: 9,78 million, 105 per km² 2018
● Surface: 93 000 km²
(Image: Flag of Hungary; source: Pixabay)
In the 9th century the Magyares, originally from the area between the Wolga and Ural, settled in Hungary. In 1000 Stephan I founded Hungary and so became its first king. After an eventful history, with Mongoles, Polish and Ottomans occupying the country, Hungary was united with the Habsburg Empire of Austria-Hungary. In 1918 this empire came to an end. After World War II the Treaty of Jalta put Hungary under Soviet rule, against which the population rebelled in 1956. In the 1960s a liberation process was started, which became known as the so-called „Goulash Communism“. Hungary also played an important role in the Revolution of 1989, at the end of which the Republic of Hungary was declared.
Since 2004, Hungary is a member of the EU.
(Image: Metró Budapest - the third oldest subway system in the world; source: Pixabay)
The Danube flows through the country over a length of 417 km. It offers an interesting natural sight called the „Knee of the Danube“. About 30 km north of Budapest the river carves its way through the Visegrad Mountains, forming an almost rectangular bend.
(Image: View from Visegrád Citadel to the Danube; source: Pixabay)
Geography: The Danube divides the country into two types of landscape, Transnubia, with hills and forests, and the Puszta, a vast savannah. Also there are thermal springs and dripstone caves.
Famous people: Franz Liszt, Bela Bartok, Ernö Rubik (inventor of the „magic cube“), Laslo Joszef Biro (inventor of the biro).
(Image: Balaton Lake - largest lake in Central Europe; source: Pixabay)
