This is one of Budapest’s grandest sites. Everything is on a monumental scale. The square was laid out 1896 to mark the 1000th anniversary of the Magyar conquest. Since 2002 the Millennium Monument, together with Andrásy Avenue, is part of UNESCO's prestigious World Heritage sites. It is located at the end of Andrásy út, next to City Park in the VI district. You can walk along Andrasy Avenue from the city center, or take the M1 (yellow) metro line to Hõsök tere station.

The Millennia Monument, at its center, has a 36m high column topped by the figure of Archangel Gabriel, and this is surrounded by the chieftains who led the Magyar tribes into the Carpathian Basin. Behind this, a semicircular colonnade displays statues of Hungary’s most illustrious leaders. On top of the semicircle, there are four symbolic statues: Work and Wealth on the left, two chariots depicting War and Peace in the centre, and Honour and Glory on the right. The stone tablet in front of the main column, which on ceremonial occasions is guarded by soldiers, commemorates those who died for national freedom and independence

The building on the left of the square is the Museum of Fine Arts. This is currently under restoration. The imposing building was completed in 1906. There is much of interest within the museum. Of most interest to visitors will probably be the old masters collection, which is upstairs. There are works by Goya, El Greco, Van Dyck, Raphael, and many others.

The print room on the ground floor is also interesting as it has works by Leonardo, Rembrandt, and Picasso amongst others. Don’t miss Monet’s Plum Trees in Blossom, also on the ground floor. Other things worth seeing include works of Italian sculpture from the 4th century to the 18th century and French, English, German, and Holland sculpture from the 13th century to the 18th century. A famous masterpiece is the horseman sculpture, made by Leonardo da Vinci. The museum opens Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5.30pm.

The building on the right of the square is the Palace of Arts. Its exterior is most impressive but the inside is quite austere. This is used mostly for temporary exhibitions, and if there is something on it opens Tuesdays to Sunday from 10am to 5.30pm.

You will be awestruck by the sheer size of the Millennium Monument on Heroes’ Square. The Archangel Gabriel presides over the geometrically tiled square from the top of a 120-foot Corinthian Column while, offering protection at the rear, are two curved colonnades. On your left is the neoclassical Museum of Fine Arts built in 1906, but mimicking an ancient Greek temple and to the right is the angular building of the Palace of Art. This boasts an incredibly colourful mosaic on top of the gold-topped columns.

Crossing over the bridge and across the lake amongst the trees, you’ll see the incredible fairytale structure of Vajdahunyad Castle. It’s a clever coordination of architectural styles, and it is said that it reflects more than 20 of Hungary’s most famous buildings. I’m not an architectural expert but I saw Gothic, Renaissance, a bit of baroque, and Romanesque. It shouldn’t work, but it’s really quite intriguing! In the square surrounding the castle we admired the Ják Chapel, a direct copy of a 13th-century Benedictine Chapel. We didn’t mind that it was a reproduction, as it was still an amazing construction with its statues guarding the perfectly sculptured portal.

In the same area we stumbled across a fascinating sculpture-the composition of a seated hooded man. This is one of Budapest’s most acclaimed monuments (what do we know!) and was completed in 1903. Its eerie and menacing, yet benign appearance will give a different message to us all.

In the opposite direction the superb neo-baroque Széchenyi Baths building, completed in 1913, is the home of the deepest and hottest hot springs in Budapest. Zsigmond discovered them in 1879, and his statue stands proudly outside the main entrance.

In this area you’ll find Budapest’s zoo, with its entrance gate guarded by a couple of elephants. We didn’t visit it, but later regretted it. Apparently it too has some terrific examples of secession architecture, with animals accommodated in enclosures mimicking their natural environment.

We finally left the park and walked down the adjacent Hermina Street. There are some really elegant houses on this road. Number 47 looks like the architect had so many ideas, but had to cram them into one design. It is folly-like in appearance.

We were now thoroughly exhausted, so we decided to catch a tram. Wrong!! We were now going in the opposite direction of our hotel, so we jump off and get a combination of buses to the station. I think we could have walked there quicker, but it was an experience!