A Fascinating Country with a Tumultuous Past(a)|迷人的匈牙利

by William Ryan

Hungary is an increasingly popular travel destination known for more than just goulash.

　　The Eastern European country of Hungary has had a stormy history. It was Christianized around 1000 AD and remained part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire from 1867 to World War I. The war devastated the country, resulting in the loss of two-thirds of its land and population. Hungary declared neutrality during World War II, but it owed Hitler a political debt because he returned some of its former land. This fact made it practically impossible for Hungary not to align with the Nazis. After the war, Hungary was under the control of the Soviet Union. In 1956, a popular revolt against Soviet rule was met with massive military intervention and subsequently crushed. As the Soviet Union became more open during the Gorbachev years, Hungary moved gradually toward democracy and a market-based economy. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Hungary aligned itself with Western Europe, joined NATO in 1999, and then became part of the European Union in 2004. The country has seen an ever-increasing number of tourists since then, and for good reason.

　　Hungary is a great country to visit, and the lively capital of Budapest occupies both sides of the Danube, the second largest river in Europe. The city offers some of the best travel values anywhere, and seasoned travelers claim it rivals Prague, long considered by many as the most interesting city in that part of the world. Andrassy Avenue is Budapest's main shopping boulevard and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's lined with attractive Neo-renaissance mansions and townhouses as well as numerous cafes and boutiques. Elsewhere, another must-see is Buda Castle, an ancient estate built in the 13th century that was once home to Hungarian Kings.

　　Also not to be missed in Hungary is Holloko, a Paloc ethnographic village and UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you've ever thought about traveling to Europe, Hungary is well worth your consideration.

　　东欧国家匈牙利有一段充满波折的历史。公元 1000 年左右，匈牙利成了基督教国家，而且从 1867 年到第一次世界大战期间它一直是奥匈帝国的一部份。该国受到了战争的蹂躏，损失了三分之二的土地和人口。匈牙利在第二次世界大战期间宣布中立，但因为希特勒归还了该国先前的一些土地，因此匈牙利在政治上欠希特勒一个人情。这个事实让匈牙利不得不与纳粹结盟。战争结束后，匈牙利就被苏联所掌控。1956 年，一个由民众发起的反苏联起义行动遭到了大规模的军事干预，随后行动就被瓦解了。由于苏联在戈巴契夫时代变得更加开放，因此匈牙利逐步迈向民主国家及以市场为基础的经济体。1991 年苏联解体之后，匈牙利与西欧国家结盟，并在 1999 年加入北大西洋公约组织（The North Atlantic Treaty Organization，简称 NATO），接着又在 2004 年成为欧盟的一员。从那时起，前往匈牙利旅游的游客不断增加，这不是没有道理的。

　　匈牙利是一个很值得前往的国家，热闹的首都布达佩斯占据了欧洲第二大河多瑙河的两侧。这座城市到处都很有旅游价值，而且经验丰富的旅客宣称它可以媲美长久以来被许多人公认在旅游方面是全世界最有趣的城市――布拉格。安德拉西大道是布达佩斯的主要购物大道，也被联合国教科文组织列为世界遗产。安德拉西大道两侧排列着许多迷人的新文艺复兴风格大楼和联栋住宅，以及为数众多的咖啡馆和精品店。此外，另一个非看不可的地方就是布达城堡，它是一座建于十三世纪的古建筑，曾经是匈牙利国王的皇宫。

　　另一个在匈牙利不能错过的景点就是霍洛克，它是帕洛克民族的村落以及联合国教科文组织认定的世界遗产。如果你有想要去欧洲旅行，匈牙利是个非常值得考虑的地方。