About the city and the twinning
About Budapest
Budapest, the capital and largest city of Hungary, lies on both banks of the Danube. The modern city was formed in 1873 when Buda and Óbuda on the western bank united with Pest on the eastern bank. The hills of Buda overlook the river, while the flatter Pest side is home to the Hungarian Parliament Building, the Hungarian State Opera and Andrássy Avenue. The Chain Bridge links Buda and Pest, and the banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrássy Avenue together form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Budapest is also known for its thermal baths, including the Széchenyi Baths in City Park.
Twinning with Bethlehem
In September 2018, Bethlehem Mayor Anton Salman and Budapest Mayor István Tarlós signed a twinning agreement at the Bethlehem Peace Center in Manger Square. The agreement identifies culture, tourism and education as areas for cooperation. Later that year, Budapest Deputy Mayor Gábor Bagdy attended the opening of Bethlehem’s Christmas season at Mayor Salman’s invitation. Donations from Budapest and Kalocsa were sold at Bethlehem’s Advent charity fair to support an organisation that helps children who are ill and to provide aid packages for families in need.