Horse carriages have a long and rich history in Europe, especially in the former Austria-Hungary monarchy, where they were used by the imperial family, the nobility, and the common people for various purposes.
The most famous and elegant horse carriages were the fiakers, which were named after the French word for a taxi stand. The fiakers were originally used as public transport in Vienna, but later became a tourist attraction and a symbol of the city’s culture.
The fiakers were also popular in other cities of the monarchy, such as Budapest, Prague, and Bratislava. The fiakers were usually drawn by two horses and had a coachman who wore a traditional uniform and a hat. The fiakers carried passengers to various destinations, such as the opera, the theater, or the park. The most famous fiaker was the one that carried Emperor Franz Joseph I and his wife Elisabeth (Sisi) to their wedding ceremony in 1854.
Today, you can still see and ride the fiakers in some of the former cities of the Austria-Hungary monarchy, such as Vienna and Budapest.
However, if you are looking for a more modern and magical experience, you should visit the Lumina Park a temporary open air exhibition on Margitsziget (Margaret Island) in Budapest, where you can see an illuminated horse carriage made of LED lights.
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