Budapest's historic Buda Castle (pictured) has been home to Hungarian royalty for generations, with roots that date back to the 13th century, and the place looks great today, considering it's been besieged 31 times. Of course, all that besieging required extensive rebuilding, renovating, and modifying over the intervening 764-odd years, resulting in a castle with multiple influences, including the Baroque style of the 18th century and a "modern" central domed structure that was added in the late 1800's. Visitors can learn all about the castle's tumultuous history while touring through some of its 203 rooms and several museums, including the Budapest Historical Museum, with its intricate displays of artifacts from the Middle Ages, and the Hungarian National Gallery, which boasts an impressive collection of paintings and sculpture from the medieval period to the present day. One of the castle's most striking features isn't inside its walls, though. The Matthias Fountain, a Romantic style fountain built by Alajos Strobl in 1904, depicts the legend of a young girl falling in love with King Matthias while he was out on a hunting trip, unaware that he was the king of the land. The best part of the castle, however, is the fact that you can take a funicular to get to the top of Castle Hill. Everything's more fun after a ride on a funicular, isn't it? Guests at Le Méridien Budapest should definitely take the time to visit this striking castle overlooking the Danube.