Interesting Information About Hungary

Hungary is a small landlocked country located in Eastern Europe which has so much to offer at cultural and artistic levels that one can’t even imagine of. Firstly, it has given to the world a number of writers, scholars, inventors, singers and composers that it makes Hungary the unofficial land of the artists. Secondly, it has its roots seated so deep that it boasts to be one of the oldest countries of Europe, dating back to the times of Magyars, which were an alliance of semi nomadic tribes who came from southern Russia and the Black Sea coast and settled here during the ninth century. And lastly, the country is blessed with natural beauty and amazing sceneries and attracts a large number of tourist footfalls every year. But more than anything else, it’s the enriching facts about Hungary’s past and present that makes not knowing about it in detail nothing less than a sin. So here we go; read and absorb.

Fast Facts

Capital:Budapest
Official Language: Hungarian
National Language: Hungarian
Demonym: Hungarian
Religion: Roman Catholic (predominant), Calvinist, Lutheran, Greek Catholic, Christians and Others
Legislature: Unicameral National Assembly or Országgyűlés
Independence: 16 November 1918
Constitution: 25 April 2011
Area: 93,030 sq km
Population:  10 million (UN, 2011)
Currency: Forint
National Animal: Turul

Interesting And Fun Facts About Hungary

• Hungary is a landlocked country surrounded by seven other central European countries, namely, Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west..
• The famous Lake Balaton is situated here, which is the largest one in entire central Europe. Apart from this, the country is also a home to a number of spa towns and hot springs.
• The country boasts to have a number of famous traditions in folk as well as classical music. It was the birth place of a number of famous performers and composers; the list includes names like Franz Liszt, Bela Bartok, Zoltan Kodaly and many more.
• Hungary came into light when it rose in partnership as Austro-Hungarian Empire during the mid nineteenth century. But soon after the First World War, Hungary gained existence as an individual free state.
• Just after the Second World War, the country came under the communist rule and when it tried to rise against the soviet rule in the year 1956, the attempt was crushed by the Red Army. Still, later in 1968, Hungary became the first European nation to gain partial economic freedom; it embraced the concept of free market and decentralization too at a limited level.
• Hungary played a vital role in facilitating the collapse of communism in the Eastern Europe. It opened its border, which it shared with Austria, to give way to the East Germans to escape to the West and consequently the Berlin Wall was history.
• Culture in Hungary differs from place to place. You might be able to find a large variety of cultures and languages just by moving a few kilometres. Also, the culture of the Great Plains is different from that in the mountains.
• Same can be said about the Hungarian cuisine too, as it picks on distinct tastes within a matter of few kilometres. The Hungarian cuisine contains lot of variety and includes beef and pork, fresh vegetables and fruits, breads and cheese and a lot of exotic herbs and spices.
• The Hungarian currency, Forint, has hit the rock bottom. One Forint used to contain 100 filler, which are now extinct as they have no significance and value as currency.
• Hungary is one of the oldest countries in Europe; it was founded in 895 AD, at the time when France and Germany too used to be a single entity. This was even before the unification of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.
• Hungarians were the inventors of a few amazing things such as the Rubik’s Cube, ball point pens and holography.
• Media in Hungary is quite strong, although it is divided into private and public sectors. These two sectors of media are continuously in competition with each other.
• Budapest, the capital city of Hungary, is home for Dohány Street Synagogue, the largest synagogue in Europe and the second largest in the world after one in New York. The Synagogue is made up in the Moorish architectural style and was built in the mid nineteenth century.
• Interestingly, it is believed that if you are in Budapest and you touch the pen of an anonymous statue which sits in a park near the Heroes square then you would become a great writer. Though the statue looks more like a grim reaper but according to the natives, it is of the chronicler of King Bela.
• Hungary once used to be a part of the Celtic world, even before the Roman Empire came here. The country got it names after the Huns who settled here after the decline of the Roman Empire.
• World’s largest geothermal cave system is found in Hungary. It is located in the undergrounds of Budapest. Adding to the fact, there is also present the Europe’s largest underground lake which has been recently discovered and is located under Gellért Hill.
• The country is known for its elaborate bath practices from the Roman times. Hence, the largest bathing spa complex in Europe is located here too.
• Hungarian is officially among the most difficult language to be learnt and spoken. This has been certified by the British Foreign Office survey.
• As per the European Union figures, Hungary has the highest death rate by cancer and highest female suicide rate in Europe.