Hungary Birding Tours

Hungary (or Magyarorszag in Hungarian) is located in central Eastern Europe, in the middle of the Carpathian basin. Hungary is landlocked and shares its borders with no fewer than seven countries: Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, and Slovakia. Its capital, Budapest, is in the north of the country and is regarded by many as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, with its combination of culture, history, cuisine, and nightlife. Hungary’s population is 9.7 million people with around a third of these people living in the Budapest area.

One of Hungary’s most famous sons is Attila the Hun, with his rampaging Hunnic army feared by the Roman Empire for around 20 years until his death in 453 AD. The country was ruled by several factions before Hungary became a Christian Kingdom on Christmas Day in 1000 AD. Hungary’s power peaked in the 15th century before becoming part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1867. This union ended after the end of World War One which saw Hungary lose 71% of its territory and 58% of its population. During World War Two Hungary joined the Axis Powers before becoming part of the Soviet Union after the war ended. Independence from the Soviet Union was achieved in October 1989.

Hungary is divided into three parts by two large rivers, the Danube River, and the Tisza River, in fact the entire country lies within the drainage basin of the Danube River. The west of Hungary consists of hills and low mountains, including part of the eastern Alps. The rest of the country is a vast plain, apart from the very north which is part of the Carpathian Mountains near Slovakia. Mount Kekas, the tallest mountain in Hungary, is found in these mountains which rises to 3,327 feet (1,014 meters). Hungary has hot summers and cold winters with regular snowfall throughout the country.