Rozsadomb district (Rose hill) is famous for its beautiful opulent villas, and also notorious for hosting Gül Baba's mausoleum- a very particular place.

This up-the-hill amazing Danube viewpoint was one of the very first sights I got to see when I first came to Budapest. It has remained one of my favorite spots ever since! And not only for the great view it provides.

Besides the Turkish spas (like the Ivócsarnok article), Gül Baba türbeje is the only place in the city where you can really feel the genuine Oriental touch of the Magyar capital (just a little reminder: Budapest was under Ottoman rule from 1541 till 1686).

So Gül Baba was an Ottoman-Turkish esteemed dervich (you can even read his biography on wikipedia!) that is said to have introduced rose culture to Hungary. I'm not sure if that was not an urban legend from the start but it was enough to give the whole district the name of 'Rozsadomb'!

I recommend you climb Mecset utca once you get off at Margit hid (Tram 4, 6) after several flights of stairs, you can access the mausoleum garden. You'll find Gül Baba's grave inside this octagonal stone shrine - which you can visit (you just have to ask the security guy, he will open it up for you). The grave itself is nothing tremendously exciting but the view is nice: so go there in time as the gate to the garden closes at night!

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Hélène Bienvenu

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