In reality, the Hungarians drank Egri Bikavér, a type of red wine that comes from this region.
The Eger Castle still stands to this day. To me, it looks more like a fortress than a castle because of its thick stone walls that overlook the rest of the city. In the main town square, a statue of István Dobó stands heroically, pointing to the sky. I pass by this commemoration of Eger’s history every day on my way to work.
Soon after Hungary gained independence from the Ottoman Empire, it became a part of the Habsburg Austrian Empire. In 1867, an agreement called the Ausgleich gave Hungary more control over its territory, creating the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The territory under Hungarian control included various ethnic groups like Slovaks, Czechs, Romanians, and the Roma. When I visit Budapest, I am quickly reminded of the influence that the Austro-Hungarian period had on the country. Many of Budapest’s most iconic buildings, including the Parliament Building, Buda Castle, Opera House, and Saint Stephen’s Basilica, were constructed during this period and have retained their distinctive Baroque and neo-Gothic styles. The inside of the Parliament Building is grand and ornate, with surfaces covered in intricate gold patterns and ceilings that tower above your head. I think the best time to see the building is at night, thanks to its beautiful lights. It looks like something out of a movie!
While Budapest has some beautiful architecture from the Austro-Hungarian period, this era of Hungary’s history came to an end because of World War I. When a Serbian nationalist assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914, the Austro-Hungarian Empire declared war on Serbia.
