Danube Bend (Dunakanyar) excursions

We drove to the Danube Bend this time.  Five years ago when we were last here we caught the boat that starts at the Vigado ter in Budapest and goes to Visegrad or Szentendre.  This time we drove as we wanted to explore the whole area.

The castle at Visegrad.   Visegrad is on the right hand side of the Danube situated on the Danube's abrupt bend and is at the most beautiful section and the very symbol of the Bend.  The left side of the river  is less well developed and also much less tourist visited, but it has much to offer.

The view of the castle from the other wise of the Danube.  You can cross by ferry at either Nagymaros or Szob.  We particularly wanted to see Zebegeny which is a lovely little town and also go walking in the Borzsony Hills.

Taken from the castle and looking down on the town of Visegrad.

The same side.

These campers on a thin strip of sand in the middle of the Danube.  It seemed to be one family who set up their holiday camp there.

The delightful small town of Zebegeny on the right hand side of the Danube.  We had lunch there and the informative and helpful waiter, when asked what was nice to see, directed us to the best kept secret in the Borzsony Hills - Hegyes teto.  We would never have known about it otherwise.

This photo was taken at the monument up the hill at Zebegeny overlooking the town and part of the Bend.

The best kept secret.  The photo was taken from the top of the Julianus barat torony (tower) at Hegyes-teto not far from Torok-mezo.  The tower is 482 meters high  and to get there you have to climb up a pretty steep gradient of a hill

Andrew took this of me toiling up and up and up.  It was a bloody steep climb I tell you, but worth every step because at the top you got a 180 degree view of the Danube both in front and behind you.

This is the view looking the other way.  The views from the tower are breathtaking and nowhere in the guide books was there a mention of this wonderful place where the views of the Bend are almost without parallel. The tower was erected in 1939 and no guidebook mentions it. We are very lucky as it had fallen into a state of disrepair and has been closed for refurbishment. We are not sure for how long but only re-opened in July 2013. These photos are taken from the tower windows as they give a wonderful frame of the Danube Bend.

Nobody coming to visit Budapest should miss the opportunity to come to the Danube Bend.  But don't just go to Szentrendre which is in my opinion vastly over-rated.  Visit both sides of the Danube here if you can.