Discovering India & the World: Szentendre

Cobblestone alleyways, a skyline of church spires, red tile rooftops and a river flowing alongside. No, I am not describing a Van Gogh painting here; I am talking about Hungary’s City of Artists, Szentendre. A charming and picturesque city along the Danube River, Szentendre lays north to the imperial city of Budapest. A great deal of Hungary’s eight centuries of history and culture is centered in the region around this town that was founded in the fourteenth century by Serbian refugees fleeing the Turkish advance.

What attracts tourists to this little town is the fact that its beauty seems frozen in time. It’s a perfectly preserved eighteenth-century town embellished by neat, brightly-coloured houses with tidy window boxes, beautiful Baroque churches, and quaint cobblestone streets all surrounded by lush countryside. The town boasts of its selection of 48 museums and monuments, with Marx tér, the town’s main square being its central rococo cross monument. Most of the historic monuments are clustered around Marx’ter. Some of the best dining venues and shops are also located here.

Visit the Marzipan Museum to witness perfect reproductions of Hungary’s greatest monuments, busts of Hungarian leaders, and legends all made completely from the candy confection of marzipan! Also known as the City of Artists, Szentendre is home to several artists who began flocking the here beginning in 1900. With its seven churches (including Serbian, Greek Orthodox, and Catholic) and world’s smallest operating synagogue, Szentendre has always been a crossroads of culture. To appreciate the beauty of the city, look beyond the touristy shops and wander the looking at the architecture, the galleries, and the churches.