Greetings From The Austro-Hungarian Empires Other Capital City Budapest, Hungary!

From 1867 until 1918 Budapest, Hungary shared power with Vienna, Austria in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The city is actually two cities Buda and Pest seperated by the Danube River and were not permanently connected until the construction of the Chain Bridge.

Budapest is also refered to as the "Paris of the east" and is well light at night adding to its historic charm. The photograph (above) is taken from the Pest side with the Buda Hills (Castle District) in the distance. The green public area in the foreground is known as Roosevelt Square with the well light bridge being the Chain Bridge over the Danube River. To the left of the photograph is the Royal Palace and fanicular that takes visitors up the steep hill. The fortress compound was constructed when Turkish forces seiged the city destroying much of its infrastructure. To the right of the picture is the Matthias Church originally constructed in 1015 although it underwent major renovations in the 1800's. The church is significant to the Habsburg Empire because it was the site of the last coronation of a Habsburg Ruler Charles IV who came to power in 1916. The monarchy was shortlived however as the Empire along with Germany suffered defeat in World War I and the prevailing side including US President Woodrow Wilson favored the break up of the Empire and the creation of nation states to create a more stable Europe.