Admire the magical view from the Fishermen's Bastion

From the banks of Buda on the west side of the Danube, the heights of the bastion offer a breathtaking view of the Hungarian parliament on the east side, in Pest. There's no better place in the whole city to admire it. In 2018, singer Ellie Goulding even filmed part of her video at the Fishermen's Bastion. The aerial views make for magnificent visuals, while the almost fairytale architecture of the castle allows Ellie to take centre stage in a variety of fabulous dresses. The views are well worth the effort, and if you want to get to the top you'll have to climb the 197 steps to the circular balcony at the top of the tallest tower. To get to the top, however, you'll need to pay a small fee ranging from 210 to 420 forint, which is between 40 pence and 90 pence, so be sure to bring some cash!

Like the Millennium Monument on Heroes' Square, the Fishermen's Bastion was designed and built between 1895 and 1902 to celebrate the millennium of the arrival of Hungarian tribes in the Carpathian Basin, the present-day location of Budapest. The plans were drawn up by the architect Frigyes Schulek, also known as the architect of Matthias Church, which is located a few dozen metres away and is also well worth a visit. It was built on the exact spot where the fish market once stood in the Middle Ages.

The Bastion is located in the same district as Buda Castle, another of the city's must-sees. You can combine a visit to these two monuments with a walk to link them. If you're interested in history, you can hire the services of a guide to enhance the walk. Wander the cobbled streets of Castle Hill and soak up the magnificent architecture. The district is also the ideal place for a well-deserved coffee and cake break. Don't hesitate to stop off at one of the many little pastry shops you'll come across.

The 7 towers symbolise the 7 tribes that entered the Carpathians 1,000 years ago, led by Árpád, leader of one of the tribes before founding the Magyar country and taking power. The seven chiefs can also be seen at the foot of the millennium monument. Another point in common between these two must-sees is the statue of Stephen 1st that they share. Throned on its enormous pedestal, the statue of the bastion, made entirely of bronze, turns its back on the city of Pest. Stephen I (975-1038) was the first King of Hungary and founder of the country. Canonised 45 years after his death, he is now considered Hungary's patron saint and is often depicted in the country.

It is these restorations from different periods that have given Budapest its reputation as an eclectic city in architectural terms. It is important to note that the city does not have as many planning regulations as Paris, for example. Whereas in the French capital it is complicated to mix architectural styles when building and impossible to build a shopping centre next to a historic building, in the Hungarian capital these restrictions apply to a lesser extent and it is common to see styles from different periods rubbing shoulders.

This is precisely the case at the Bastion des Pêcheurs, where the Hilton hotel occupies an important place in the monument's landscape. Although the Bastion is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, that doesn't stop it from being a landmark. The hotel, designed by architect Béla Pintér in 1977, is typical of the architecture of the period. It consists of a tower and two wings. The north wing is based on the remains of a medieval Dominican monastery, while the south wing is based on the façade of an 18th-century Jesuit college. So there are 4 different architectural styles in one place, if you include the Bastion. There could even be 5, as the Bastion is made up of elements from the neo-Romanesque and neo-Gothic styles.

If you are attracted by the unusual, you can of course stay here. This hotel is just 15 minutes from Pest city centre. The rooms offer superb views of the Danube and the city. They are luxuriously furnished with a comfortable space of 31m2. A good opportunity to visit the Dominican architecture wing from the inside. The hotel has also stocked a number of ancient relics for you to discover.