The Royal Palace is one of the main sights of Budapest. The first fortifications on this site were built after the Tatar invasion, around 1247, under Béla IV. The complex of buildings, first mentioned in 1439, is called Frisch Palace. At the same time, the Chonka Tower was completed, the construction of which was suspended due to the death of the king.
Under Matyasz, the interiors of the palace become even more opulent and rich. In 1541 it was captured by the Turks, and suffered from fires, earthquakes and epidemics. In 1686, when the fortress was stormed, the little that the Turks had spared was destroyed. The palace was rebuilt and enlarged under Maria Theresa. In the 19th century, the palace was enlarged according to the design of Miklós Iblá. The most famous masters of the time worked on the decoration, but their works were lost during the Second World War.
Nowadays, the Palace Quarter is one of the main cultural centres of Budapest. It is home to the collection of Hungarian fine art, the Hungarian National Gallery, the Museum of Modern History and the Széchenyi State Library.
