Fisherman's Bastion looks like it belongs in a fairy tale, which is rather the point. Despite appearances, this white-stone confection of turrets and terraces has never defended anything. It was built between 1895 and 1902 purely to give Budapestians somewhere magnificent to stand while admiring their city.

The name recalls the fishermen's guild who once protected the medieval walls on this spot and sold their catch in the square beside Matthias Church. Architect Frigyes Schulek designed seven towers to represent the seven Magyar chieftains who led their tribes into the Carpathian Basin in 895. When the Soviets occupied Budapest, a giant red star hung from the arches overlooking the Danube.

VoiceMap's self-guided audio tours explore Castle Hill's layered history, from its medieval fortifications to its postwar restoration, revealing how this theatrical terrace was built not for battle but for the simple pleasure of looking at a beautiful city.