The Visegrád Citadel sits on a steep forested hill above the town, commanding extraordinary views up and down the Danube — this is the bend itself, and from here you can see why it was considered one of the most defensible positions on the river. The fortress dates from the 13th century and was enlarged in the 14th and 15th under the Hungarian kings.
Below the citadel, the remains of the Royal Palace of Matthias Corvinus can be visited — a Renaissance court that briefly rivalled anything in Italy, now mostly ruined but partially excavated and displayed. The walk up to the citadel takes about 40 minutes; alternatively, a local bus runs from the town centre. The views justify the effort.