Adamkó Péter - Dénes György - Leél-Őssy Szabolcs: The Caves of Buda - Our Budapest (Budapest, 1992)

the thermal spring depositing the limestone layers attracted the man of the Stone Age. Archaeologist László Vértes referred to these tool finds when he named the ancient Stone Age handicrafts found here and at Vértesszőlős as “Buda Culture”.

During the Middle Ages inhabitants probably discovered the caves within the Castle Hill when they hit the hollows while trying to drill wells. Later the natural cavities were broadened and connected, perhaps building stone was exploited from them and stairwells were erected for use as cellars and shelters against sieges over the centuries. The total length of the cave system including both natural an man-made sections is close to 10 km.

In the 1930’s one portion was opened for visitors and a few chambers were turned into a cave museum.

During the World War II the cave was transformed into air-raid shelters. It remained in the hands of air defense authorities for years after the war. Several chambers functioned as an emergency hospital while a different section was opened to visitors for many years. Today most of the cave is closed and unused, although one section houses a wax museum with figures depicting historical scenes.

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