RSSThe Danube is the second longest river in Europe after the Volga, flowing 2857km from the Black Forest to the Black Sea and passing through nine countries. Between the confluence of the Bereg and Briach streams at Donaueschingen and its shifting delta on the Black Sea, the Danube is fed by over three hundred tributaries. Entering the Carpathian Basin, the Danube widens dramatically, only to be forced by hills and mountains through a narrow, twisting valley, almost a U-turn - the "Bend" - before dividing for the length of Szentendre Sziget and flowing into Budapest.
The cluster of towns on the Bend offers an amazing collection of history, culture and architecture, particularly the small towns of Szentendre, Visegrád and Esztergom. The sedate town of Vác on the east, the gardens of Vácrátót and the charms of Nagymaros and Zebegény are also main tourist attractions while the neighbouring Pilis and Börzsöny highlands provide ample opportunities for hiking and horse-riding.
The Danube bend is an extremely scenic area with green valleys and hills rising up from the river, picturesque little towns and market squares and commanding fortresses with sweeping views. Many visitors choose a boat cruise on the Danube from Budapest, stopping at the little towns along the way.
Danube is known by varying names in the countries through which it passes. Known as the Donau in Germany and Austria, it becomes the Dunaj in Slovakia and then the Duna in Hungary before taking a course through Croatia, Serbia and Bulgaria as the Dunav, Romania as the Dunarea and the Ukraine as the Dunay, forming the frontier for much of the way. Used by armies and tribes since antiquity, this "dustless highway" deeply impressed Attila Jószef, the great Hungarian poet, who described it as "cloudy, wise and great", its waters from many lands as intermingled as the people of the Carpathian Basin.
</
