at Ofen in 1247, which from 1351 down to the first conquest of Pest by
the Turks after the Battle of Mohács in 1526 was the residence of the kings
of Hungary. Sultan Soliman captured Ofen in 1541, garrisoned it with
12,000 janizaries, and made it the seat of a vizier. It remained for nearly
150 years in the hands of the Turks, who were at length expelled by the
allied Germans under Charles of Lorraine and Lewis of Baden in 1686. In
1777 Maria Theresa transferred the university of Tyrnau to Ofen, and in
1784 Joseph II. established it at Pest. After the 'Compromise' of 1867,
Pest rapidly developed, while Ofen lost ground. After the union of the
towns (p, 333) Budapest became a royal residence in 1892.
a. Quarters on the left bank (Pest).
The finest part of the town on the left bank adjoins the Danube,
on which extends a succession of handsome buildings, 2½ M. in
length. The inner town is surrounded by the Innere Ring-Strasse,
viz. the Zollamts-Ring, Museums-Ring, and Karls-Ring (Vámház,
Muzeum, and Károly Körút), and connected towards the N. by the
Waitzner-Ring (Váczi Körút) with the Grosse Ring-Strasse, which
describes a semicircle from the Margareten-Brücke (Pl. D, 2) to the
Boráros-Platz (Pl. G, 7), and is known in its successive sections as
the Leopold-Ring, Theresien - Ring, ElisabethRing, Joseph - Ring,
and Franz-Ring (Lipót, Teréz, Erzsébet, József, and Ferenez Körút).
A third Ringstrasse (Hungária Körút) is under construction.
In the Franz-Joseph-Platz (Ferencz József-Tér), opposite the
Suspension Bridge (Lancz-Hid; Pl. D, 4), rises the Academy, a taste-
ful Renaissance edifice by Stüler( 1862-64). The aim of the institu-
tion, founded in 1825 by Count Stefan Széchenyi and numbering
300 members, is to encourage the study of the Hungarian language
and of science. The elegant vestibule is borne by marble columns of
different colours. On the groundfloor, to the left, is the Library,
with 140,000 vols. (adm., see p. 332 ). The room in which the
Academy meets is adorned with Hungarian landscapes by Ligeti.
The lofty Reception Room, used on great public occasions, has a
gallery borne by 24 columns of red marble, and a vaulted ceiling
resting on Caryatides. The mural paintings, by Lotz, represent
scenes from Hungarian history. — The second floor contains the
Botanic Collection of the National Museum (p. 337), the third floor
the Historic Picture Gallery. — The National Gallery, formerly
here, has been transferred to the Museum of Fine Arts (p. 340).
The Goethe Room on the groundfloor contains portraits, books, MSS.,
and other objects connected with the poet (adm. Mon., Wed., & Frid.,
10-12, free; at other times 1 K.).
In front of the Academy are a bronze Statue of Count Stefan
Széchenyi (d. 1860), by Engel, and busts of the Hungarian scholars
Szarvas and Salamon, by Jankovits. On the E. side of the Franz-
Joseph-Platz are the Police Office, the Prince of Coburg's Palace,
and the Dianabad (p. 332). On the S. side is the Chamber of Com-
merce, with an Ionic portico, in front of which is a seated bronze
statue of Franz Deák (d. 1876), the statesman, by Huszár. In the