Magyar Antikváriusok Egyesülete Bosze Adam Zenei Antikvarium / Adam Bosze Music Antiquarian
BUDAPEST 2016 - ILAB CONGRESS & INTERNATIONAL ANTIQUARIAN BOOK FAIR
For the first time ever ...
... the Hungarian rare book dealers invite colleagues and collectors from across the world to Budapest. The 42nd ILAB Congress and 26th ILAB International Antiquarian Book Fair from 21 to 25 September 2016 will present Budapest as one of the most beautiful cities and one of the most fascinating book capitals in Europe.
Dear Colleagues,
Before the First International ILAB Congress and Fair in Budapest in September, we would like you to have a glimpse into its programme. First of all, we have prepared a brief series on the most prestigious attractions of Budapest.
The Castle District
The first citizens arrived at the Castle Hill in the 13th century after the Mongolian invasion, seeking protection in the hills of Buda. The first royal castle was built around this time. The golden age of the Castle Hill was in the 15th century, following the wedding of King Matthias Corvinus and Beatrix of Naples in 1476. Many Italian artists and craftsmen accompanied the new queen, and Buda became an important European city. After the Turkish occupation, Buda was in ruins. A Baroque city was built, and the Castle Hill soon became the district of the government. During World War II, Buda was bombed to the ground and had to be rebuilt.
Today, the Castle Hill is recognized as a World Heritage Site and has many must-see attractions, Gothic arches, eighteenth-century Baroque houses and cobblestone streets. Though the Castle Hill has changed much since its construction began in the 13th century, its main streets still follow their medieval paths. Some houses date back to the 14th and 15th centuries, giving us an idea of what the Castle District may have looked like back then. A surprising number of the buildings are still private homes, as the Castle Hill is also a residential area.
The Castle Hill is also home to a large interconnected cellar system that consists of natural caves created by thermal waters and man-made passageways. Inhabitants have used the caverns for centuries for storage and shelter. The earliest traces of human life found here are 500,000 years old.
