History
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The Hungarians descend mostly from the Magyars that settled in Hungary in the 9th century. In 1000 Stephen the First founded the Hungarian state and was thus the first king of Hungary.
In the following centuries, the country was occupied by the Ottoman Empire. From the 19th century on, Hungary built together with the neighboring county Austria the Habsburg empire of Austria-Hungary. The mighty empire broke only after the First World War in 1918.
During World War II, Hungary joined the Soviet Union and after the war it allied with the Soviet Union against the west. 1989 the Republic of Hungary came into being. Since 2004 Hungary is a member of the European Union.
Worth Knowing
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The largest lake is Lake Balaton.
The Danube plays an important role for the Hungarian trade.
In Hungary there are many hot springs and caves.
Hungarian culture has a preference for spicy food and Hungarian paprika.
he Fisherman's Bastion is placed on the only city wall in Budapest and was defended by fishermen in medieval times.
Facts & Figures
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Capital Budapest
Language Hungarian
Currency Forint
Inhabitants 9,9 Million
Area 93 000 km²
Specialities Goulash, Debrecener, Lángos
Geography The Danube divides the country in Transdanubia (beyond the Danube) with many hills and forests and the Puszta, a grassy steppe
Famous Personalities
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Ernö Rubik Inventor of the "Rubik´s Cube"
László József Bíró Inventor of the ballpoint pen