Fisherman's Bastion is a terrace of pale stone towers, stairways and neo-Romanesque arches on Budapest's Castle Hill. Its east-facing balconies frame a sweeping view across the Danube to the Hungarian Parliament Building and the Pest riverfront. The architecture looks medieval, but the bastion was designed as a lookout and promenade rather than a working fortress.
Architect Frigyes Schulek built Fisherman's Bastion between 1895 and 1902, around the time of Hungary's millennium celebrations, beside Matthias Church, which he also restored. Its seven towers represent the seven Magyar tribes associated with the founding of Hungary, while its name recalls the fishermen's guild said to have defended this stretch of the old city walls.
Visit early in the morning for quieter terraces, or come after dark to see Parliament illuminated across the river. The lower terraces are free to visit, while the upper sections generally require a ticket during designated hours; check current admission details before going. Wear comfortable shoes for the steps and cobbled streets, and leave time to explore Matthias Church and the surrounding Castle District.