HUNGARY 361

moved here from its previous

location. The museum

houses all sorts of hydraulic

equipment from the 20th

century, as well as exhi b its

devoted to damming the

Danube and navigation.

There is a collection of engin-

eering tools, as well as a

history of water manage ment

since Roman times. There are

several hands-on displays

aimed at children.

A five-minute walk south

along Vörösmarty utca leads

to Széchenyi tér, centre of the

Lower Town and sur rounded

on all sides by a mixture of

Baroque and Neo-Classical

houses, many of which are

now cafés. Its focal point is

the Town Hall, an immacu-

lately preserved Rococo

building from 1729.

E Danube Museum and

Lower Esztergom

Kölcsey utca 2. Tel (033) 500 250.

# May–Oct: 10am–6pm Wed–Mon;

Nov–Dec, Feb–Apr: 10am–4pm

Wed–Mon. 8 7

http://www.dunamuzeum.hu

The role of the Danube in the

history and development of

Esztergom is given due impor-

tance in this excellent museum

(Duna múzeum) close to the

city centre. The building itself

is a gem, origi nally built in

Baroque style in the 18th

century and fully renovated in

1973, when the museum

0 metres

0 yards

150

150

ESZTERGOM CITY

CENTRE

Bálint Balassa Museum 5

Esztergom Basilica 1

Christian Museum 4

Danube Museum and

Lower Esztergom 6

Royal Palace and Castle

Museum 2

Víziváros 3

E Bálint Balassa Museum
Mindszenty tér 5. Tel (033) 500 175.

May–Oct: 9am–5pm Tue–Sun;

Nov–Apr: 9am–5pm Wed–Sun.
& 8 Hungarian only.
http://www.balassamuzeum.hu
Named after a Renaissance
poet who died in 1594 while
fighting the Turks, the Bálint
Balassa Museum (Bálint
Balassa múzeum) focuses
primarily on life in Esztergom
during the Middle Ages and
the Ottoman era. It also
includes some archaeological
finds from the Royal Palace.
The two-storey museum
building, with its huge, tunnel-
like entrance, dates from
1860 and was originally a
boys’ school.

Key to Symbols see back flap

The Danube Museum, devoted to

the famous river

is used in Easter processions.
Though called a coffin, its
purpose has always been
symbolic; it is believed not
to contain any human remains.
The room devoted to altar-
pieces, some of which are
700 years old, is stunning
in its colour and historical
import. Besides the picture
gallery, there are equally
superb sculpture and
icon galleries.

VISITORS’ CHECKLIST

50 km (31 miles) NW of

Budapest. * 28,500.

£ Bem József tér. @ Simor

János utca. 4 Nagy-Duna

Sétány (summer only). ª

Széchenyi tér. _ Esztergom

Castle Festival (Jul–Aug).

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Railway Station
1.2 km (0.7 mile)
Bus Station
1 km (0.6 mile)
Danube
Kis-Duna
Mária
Valéria
híd
Kossuth
híd
Bottyan
híd
Customs
House
Bálint Balassa
Museum
Christian
Museum
Víziváros
Parish
Church
Royal Palace and
Castle Museum
Rondella
Danube Museum
and Lower Esztergom
Outdoor
Pool
Dark
Gate
Esztergom
Basilica
VÍZIVÁROS
SZENTGYÖRGYMEZŐ
BÁNOM
PRÍMÁS
SZIGET
SZENT
TAMÁS-HEGY