From the Archives - The Fishermen Warriors of Buda

Fisherman's Bastion, Budapest, Hungary  © Doug Hickok



During the Middle Ages, the Fisherman's Guild of the Hungarian town of Buda took charge of defending its walls during times of conflict. Centuries later, the city of Budapest built the Fisherman's Bastion to honor these brave souls, but more importantly to lure tourists to the Castle District. And they easily took the bate... hook, line and sinker. Hundreds of them visit every day. Designed in a neo-Romanesque style, the monument resembles a fairy tale castle with ornate towers, ramparts, passageways and stairwells. Perched on a hill overlooking the Danube River, the attraction also offers beautiful vistas of the modern day capital.
The three sculpted anglers shown above have cast aside their fishing nets and donned the garb of warriors. Note the fierce nonchalance of their demeanor. Furthermore, not only are they defending the city walls, they're in the city walls!