00:00I'm Lily Douse and this is Grand Voyager. In this series, I travel the world to discover incredible places filled
00:10with culture, luxury and adventure.
00:13Along the way, I meet the people, taste the flavours and experience the moments that make each destination unforgettable.
00:26Today, I'm traveling to Budapest, an enchanting city, which is renowned for its spectacular architecture, rich heritage and iconic views.
00:38See ya and welcome to Budapest. In this episode, I'll be exploring the grandeur of the city, sat right on
00:46the bank of the Danube.
00:48There really is something for everyone and so much to explore.
00:53For centuries, the city was split by the Danube before being officially united in 1873 to form modern Budapest.
01:01I'm starting my journey by meeting two locals at Galert Hill, a statue which showcases the unification of the city.
01:11Well, this is very romantic how it comes together, right?
01:14So, you guys are giving me tours of the city and then finally we'll come back together.
01:19So, very romantic.
01:21Taking the place of Princess Pesh, Susie is showing me the flatter side of Budapest.
01:27We've come to explore the city park, meeting at Szczesny Thermal Bath to understand why spa culture is an important
01:34part of Hungarian life.
01:36It is actually built for the people, can you imagine it? Not for the aristocracy.
01:40It's a public bath of the time because simply people didn't have bathrooms at home.
01:46Built in 1913, the bath welcomes over a million visitors each year and it's clear to see why it's popular
01:53with locals and visitors alike.
01:56The city park was host to the Millennium Exhibition of 1896, celebrating 1,000 years of the country.
02:03It was a whole exhibition here with over 250 pavilions, buildings temporary, buildings made of temporary materials.
02:12So, the public's favourite from the whole exhibition was the Wajda Hunyad Castle.
02:18That's where we're standing. It's an unpronounceable name.
02:21The castle is a mix of architectural styles, reflecting different periods in Hungary's past.
02:28It has like a Harry Potter style.
02:31Everyone says something like that, or Walt Disney Castle, things like that.
02:36The final iconic exhibition was Heroes Square, a grand entrance to the park itself.
02:42At that time Budapest was not sparing anything, no money, no space.
02:46It was the time when the country had to show and represent and celebrate its path.
02:57The next stop on our tour is the Hungarian State Opera House, one of Budapest's most important cultural landmarks, supported
03:05by Emperor France Joseph I.
03:08But France Joseph, however limited the size, he said it cannot be bigger than mine in Vienna.
03:14He should have kept this sentence a bit longer, and he admitted it, that he forgot to add.
03:19I should have said it cannot be more beautiful either.
03:22No trip to Budapest is complete without a visit to St. Stephen's Basilica, named after the first king of Hungary.
03:30It took more than 50 years to finish due to design changes, financial difficulties, and even the collapse of the
03:38original dome.
03:38Whether you believe it or not, this was built out of local donations.
03:43From stunning parks to incredible architecture, Budapest is breathtaking.
03:49Thank you so much for today Susie, it's incredible to end our tour of Pesht.
03:54Pesht, right?
03:56Yay! With this incredible view.
04:00After my time in Pesht, I'm heading to Buda to explore the castle district with Gergo.
04:06We are standing actually by the so-called Fisherman's Bastion, which is the embodiment of the turn-of-the-century
04:14historicism.
04:17The Fisherman's Bastion was constructed between 1895 and 1902 and offers incredible views of the city.
04:25Obviously, the one that stands out is over there, the Parliament Building, one of the largest parliaments of the world.
04:32The Fisherman's Bastion stands directly beside Mateus Church, one of Hungary's most important churches.
04:38So what we see in the colouring is hundreds of years of history, from the medieval days,
04:45all the way to the Hungarian folk art, through the Hungarian folk art, and all the way to the turn
04:50again of the 1800s and 1900s.
04:53We continue to walk around the Buda Castle district, reaching Buda Castle itself.
04:59Unfortunately, from those medieval days, we don't really have lots of leftovers, if you can say that, but this is
05:08in his memory.
05:09Today, the castle houses museums and galleries, rather than royalty.
05:14But one special room has been restored to its former glory.
05:18Here, this fireplace is the one that stands out, with 150,000 pieces of ceramics.
05:28To end this part of my journey, I head out onto the Danube with Susie and Gergo.
05:34This was the highway of not just transportation, but as well trading.
05:39So if you look around from here, you can perfectly see the riverbanks, which are a very important part of
05:46the city.
05:47This truly is a fantastic way to enjoy the city, and say goodbye to two newfound friends.
05:55Sat on the banks of the Danube, overlooking the Chesney Chain Bridge, you will find a very grand building, which
06:03embodies the spirit of Budapest's golden glam era.
06:06The Four Seasons Hotel, Gresham Palace, Budapest, is a beautifully restored Archniveau Palace, set on the banks of the river,
06:14welcoming guests such as myself.
06:17The Royal Suite takes luxury to another level, with a private balcony offering breathtaking panoramic views across Budapest.
06:26Some hotels aren't just a place to rest your head.
06:29They're truly part of a city's history.
06:32And this hotel is exactly that.
06:35One experience I never skip is a visit to the spa.
06:39It's one of my favourite ways to slow down in a city, and the perfect place to unwind.
06:46Beyond Budapest, Hungary's countryside is rich with authentic experiences.
06:51Today, the Humta Rural Adventures team has curated a special adventure for me.
06:57We start by hopping on a horse-drawn cart to head into the forest with a local forager.
07:03Petra explains some of the different types of morals found in this woodland.
07:07These ones are giving more Lord of the Rings style.
07:11Yes.
07:12They're like little houses.
07:13Yes.
07:14If I were a little creature in the forest, I would live in one of these, probably.
07:19Next, we taste something that most people wouldn't automatically think would be a forest plant to forage.
07:26I'm going to show you how to eat a stinging nettle raw.
07:32Oh, okay.
07:34Maybe I need to start having some more nettles.
07:36I really like it.
07:37It tastes good.
07:38It tastes very good.
07:39To test my taste buds even further, Petra finds a plant with a distinct flavour.
07:44What vegetable does it remind you of?
07:48A radish?
07:49Yes.
07:50No way.
07:51Yeah.
07:52It's part of the brassica family.
07:55So cabbage and radish as well.
08:00Okay.
08:02After using the forest as nature's farm, it's time to discover a unique organic garden concept nearby.
08:09There are a whole range of crops growing here.
08:12And of course, I need to try some, starting with arugula.
08:16It's really peppery.
08:18Yeah, it's a bit strong, but amazing.
08:22What's this one?
08:24It's called Indian mustard.
08:27Then finally, some radish to complete my experience in the garden.
08:31Then you are in the garden, you know.
08:39It's a bit strong, but yeah.
08:42Wow, that is incredible.
08:44See ya.
08:45And with one stock before lunch, I've come to learn how to weave using wood from the local garden.
08:52So this is the willow.
08:54Yes.
08:54And you should put in the hole.
09:03This piece or this end?
09:06We weave willow through the frame, gently shaping the wreath before adding more intricate designs.
09:12This one goes over and then it goes under?
09:15Yes.
09:16And the other.
09:17Over.
09:20Koshpalag is truly a special place, made even more memorable by the incredible people I've met along the way.
09:28Budapest might only be 45 minutes away, but you really do feel like you're in a completely different world here.
09:35And I mean, look at these incredible views.
09:41To finish the trip, I return to Budapest and dine at the remarkable two Michelin-starred stand restaurant.
09:47The restaurant and the food philosophy is about childhood memories and absolute roots of Hungarian gastronomy.
09:56The head chef, Ben, allows me to join him in the kitchen to prepare a pasta dish with a Hungarian
10:02twist.
10:04We start by rolling out pasta sheets, infusing one of the sheets with parsley to give it a green colour.
10:11This is where the artwork comes in, for sure.
10:15This is when it's no longer food and it's a creation.
10:18We form a very intricate design, which is layered to form a ravioli shape.
10:24So it's an assortment of wild mushrooms, black garlic, roasted garlic, wild garlic capers, so rums and capers, salt and
10:31pepper.
10:32The ravioli is cooked and plated, and the remaining sauce is served to me at the table by the co
10:38-owner of the restaurant, Tamas.
10:41So this is a mushroom juice, just a tiny portion in the middle.
10:47This is the hole.
10:49That's why the hole's there.
10:51The taste is spectacular.
10:55Sometimes food is truly a work of art, and I have to say this definitely is.
11:00I'm pretty proud of what I've created, but also the flavours are spectacular.
11:07The restaurant's exceptional tasting menu takes guests on an unforgettable culinary journey.
11:14And if you were to describe Hungarian cuisine in a few words, how would you describe it?
11:21I think it's historical.
11:24It's many, many hundred years old, the roots.
11:28I couldn't say it better myself.
11:32Historical, yet full of flavour.
11:37Budapest is truly an enchanting city, with incredible views from every angle.
11:44From Grand Boulevards to riverside views, and the Danube linking Buda and Pesce,
11:51there really is lots to explore.
11:53But now, it's time for my next adventure.
11:59Have a great day.
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