The Danube River and Its Cities: A Viewpoint from Budapest

The River Danube, flowing between the Black Forest and the Black Sea, is one of the world’s most international rivers. Connecting, as well as separating, human life; it crosses 10 European countries and 4 capital cities (Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest and Belgrade) while serving as the national border along 39% of about an 1,800 mile long journey.

This presentation will begin with an overview of major cities on the Danube, highlighting their distinct contexts and geopolitical backgrounds. Melinda will then turn attention toward the ‘twin-city’ phenomenon, illustrating disparate urban landscapes developed face to face, on both sides of the Danube belonging to the same or different countries. Finally, she will describe the case of Buda and Pest, the historic twin-cities that unified and became Budapest, the Hungarian capital city in 1873, explaining contemporary urban development issues related to resources and potentials offered by the Danube.

Co-sponsored by the Department of Urban Planning & Policy’s Master of City Design (MCD) Program.

For disability accommodations, please contact Christiana Kinder, (312) 996-8700, christia@uic.edu.