BP_booklet_text_EN

THE PARLIAMENT
Over centuries, the descendants of the
conquering leader, Árpád, enacted laws
without use of a permanent house for the
Hungarian parliament. After the 1848 revolution,
the dynamically altered nation began to
feel the need to change this situation. Thus,
in 1882 a competition was announced to design
a building that would house the parliament,
which was won by Imre Steindl. Three
years later on the 12th of October, the works
began on Lipótváros’ Tömlő square. This
was the biggest investment of the time, and
for seventeen years nearly a thousand people
worked on it. As there was a wish to undertake
the project with Hungarian materials and
a Hungarian workforce if possible, entire branches of industry were revived by this initiative.
In this building with an internal volume of 473 000 cubic metres, 90 exterior and 152 interior
statues stand tall on the walls. The building has 27 doors, and inside 29 staircases enable movement
between the levels. The building is 268 m long, 123 m wide and 96 m high, and there are
more than 200 offices accommodated. It has become a structural representative of the capital of
our homeland.

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THE MARGARET BRIDGE
The Margaret Bridge of Budapest
was constructed as the second
permanent bridge in the capital over
the course of almost 4 years. Lenthy
negotiations and legal wrangling
plagued the project. In connection
with the construction of the Chain
Bridge, formerly in private ownership,
a law had been passed that
before 1936, stating no new bridge
over the Danube could be built within
8 km of the position of the Chain
Bridge. Finally the Chain Bridge was
redeemed by the Hungarian state
and preliminary work on the construction
began. The 607 metre long
bridge, which today links Margaret
Island with St Stephen Boulevard
and Margaret Boulevard, was put
into service on 30 April 1876. The
side bridge linking to the island was
not completed at this time, and up
till 19/08/1900 (present the date
formats onsistenly) the island could
only be approached by boat.
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The bridge was originally 11 metres
wide, which was later expanded to
16.6 metres. The bridge sustained
heavy damage from World War II
explosions. Following rebuilding,
reconstructions have been carried
out several times. Most recently, a
wonderfully restored and renovated
Margaret Bridge was put into service
on 20/12/2011. An important
criterion during renovation was
restoration of the pre-World War II
appearance of the bridge, so wrought
iron lamps and overhead cable
brackets were added, new railings
were installed and the spectacle was
enhanced with floodlighting.
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THE MARGARET ISLAND
The island was named in the 1300s after
Princess Margaret of the House of Árpád,
daughter of King Béla IV, who lived here in the
13th century in a convent of the Dominican
order. Remains of the convent can still be found
today . Previously the island was referred to
in written records as Annunciation Island and
Rabbit Island. In 1686, Margaret Island was still
comprised off three sections. On the initiative
of Archduke Alexander Leopold, magnificent
parks, botanical gardens and wooded groves
were established at the beginning of the 19th
century. At the end of 1866, mining engineer
Vilmos Zsigmondy began drilling an artesian
well, and a few months later medicinal waters
at 43 degrees broke forth from a depth of 1200
metres. Thanks to this, development of the island
as a bathing resort began . On the basis of design
work by Miklós Ybl, the three islands were united
and the medicinal baths were completed, as well
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as the Large Grand Hotel and several small
villas. As the island was regularly engulfed by
floods which caused major damage, the land
was banked up with soil thus raising the level
by more than two metres. The island could only
be approached by boat until 1900, and then the
side branch of Margaret Bridge was built leading
to the island. The 2800 metre long island
with an area of 96.5 hectares is linked at its
other end with the Pest and Buda banks of the
Danube by the Árpád Bridge built in 1950.
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GRESHAM PALACE
The Gresham Life Insurance Company had this fine
unique palace erected as its foreign head office to
the designs by Zsigmond Quitter, and it was completed
by 1906. The Nákó House, in Neo-Classical style,
had previously stood on the site. Produced primarily
for the British aristocracy, the most famous architects
and artists of the age laboured on the building. The
ceramic decorations were produced in the Zsolnay
works in Pécs, the wrought iron pieces were prepared
in Gyula Jungfer’s workshop. With its ornate facade
and peacock patterned wrought iron railings, it is one
of the outstanding buildings of Hungarian Art Nouveau
architecture, and has been a world heritage site
since 1987. It is known at present throughout the world
as Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace, and following
renovations, it opened its doors in 2004 to all guests
who are fond of grandeur and genial hospitality. The
building was bought by the Sultanate of Oman in
the November of 2011, but it is still run by the Four
Seasons Hotels headquarters in Toronto.
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NEW YORK PALACE
T
he building of the New York Palace was
an assignment of the New York Insurance
Company. Alajos Hauszman was in charge
and it was built based in the Italian eclectic
style. In 1894, a beautiful café house (the
palace’s main attraction) was opened and soon
became the haunt of the artistic and literary
bohemia. The age’s most respected journals,
the Nyugat’s editorial office was found here, as
well. At present the building houses the Luxury
Hotel, owned by the Boscolo Group, and its
unique pomp is still a reminder of the one-time
atmosphere. By the entrance a fountain dazzles
visitors, the interiors are decorated with bronze
statues, the halls are adorned with Venetian
chandeliers, the hotel rooms are furnished in
elegant Italian style. Its 22 halls are a popular
venue for events, whether a banquet, a wedding
reception or a meeting of friends.
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CHAIN BRIDGE
In winter one used to be able to walk on
the frozen surface of the Danube, but during
ice drifts, commuting in this way between
the two banks of the river became impossible.
Once, István Széchenyi was forced to wait an
entire week in December of 1820 until he found
one brave boatman who would take him to the
other side. After this incident, he initiated the
building of “the Bridge” . Building this bridge
had historical significance, since it was the first
permanent bridge between Pest and Buda. The
designer of the bridge was William Tierney
Clark, and construction was supervised by
Adam Clark.
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Added in 1852, The stone statues of the lions proudly standing at the bridgeheads were produced
by sculptor János Marschalkó. All the Danube bridges were destroyed in the Second World War,
one of the last being the Chain Bridge. Reconstruction work was completed on 20 November 1949
and the new Chain Bridge was put into service on the 100th anniversary of the construction of
the original bridge. After being taken over by local traffic in 1849, it became a national symbol of
development. Both Hungarians and visitors enjoyed the use of this bridge.
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BUDA CASTLE
The history of Buda Castle dates back to the Medieval
period. Construction began in the mid 1300s, the
golden age in the time of King Matthias Corvinus. The
early central palace was severely damaged in the battles
against the Turks, but later, thanks to the initiative of
Maria Theresa, it was renovated in a majestic baroque
style. Unfortunately, the palace fell victim to the Second
World War, and at present it does not retain any parts
which would reflect the luxury of the bygone kings.
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Reconstruction work on the palace started in 1959
on a rather tight budget. A simpler design was implemented
and instead of reconstructing the ornate
halls, modern and puritan architectural options
were chosen. Today, it has an important role in the
country’s culture since its chambers are used by the
Hungarian National Gallery, the National Széchenyi
Library, the Ludwig Museum of Contemporary
Art and the Historical Museum of Budapest. It is
home to numerous traditional events, including the
Crafts Festival and the Buda Castle Wine Festival.
The Buda Castle Palace as part of the Buda Castle
Quarter has been designated as a world heritage
site since 1987. Hundreds of thousands of tourists
from all parts of the world visit every year. Numerous
sights and points of interest are on offer for
them. These include the Buda Castle Labyrinth,
the old narrow streets and cosy restaurants of the
Castle Quarter. Thanks to the location of the Palace,
one can enjoy a wonderful panoramic view
over the city of Budapest.
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MATTHIAS CHURCH
M
atthias Church, with the official name of
Buda Castle Church of Our Lady, has occupied
a prominent place in Hungarian history
from the beginning. According to ecclesiastical
tradition it was founded in 1015 by St Stephen.
According to written records it was known in the
17th century as St Stephen’s church. The church
had been standing for centuries when our King
Matthias had a tower built onto it. During this
period the church attained the peak of its mediaeval
prosperity. King Matthias and the great
historic figures following him had their weddings
here, and Queen Elizabeth too and Charles I,
the last crowned Hungarian king, also took their
oaths in this holy place. The building suffered
severe damage in World War II. Reconstruction
work was begun in 1950 and the finishing
touches were completed in 1984. For the first
time in the history of the church, the state gave
it into the possession of the Church in 1999, and
even today this place of holy pilgrimage occupies
a position worthy of its rank on Holy Trinity
Square in the vicinity of Buda Castle Palace,
providing a home for sung High Mass and welcoming
visitors with open doors.
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FISHERMAN’S BASTION
Today’s Fisherman’s Bastion was constructed on the
site of an old fortification on the castle wall in Neo-
Romanesque style to designs by Frigyes Schulek. Besides
the Parliament and the Opera House, it is one of the most
treasured structures of Hungarian eclectic style. It was
designed and constructed in connection with the restora-
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tion of Matthias Church and elaboration of the
plan for reconstruction of the surrounding area. In
accordance with the original plan it should have
been completed for the millennium celebrations of
the Magyar empire (1896), but timing of the work
was delayed. Construction took place in several
stages, and although one section was opened in
1902, the work was only completed in 1905. In contrast
to its name, it has really never served defence
purposes. The origin of the name is that at one
time, part of the Buda Castle section was guarded
by the fishermen’s guild, and the bastion bears the
name of Fisherman’s Bastion in memory of this.
The seven towers symbolise the seven chieftains
who conquered the land. Since 1987 it has been a
world heritage site as part of Buda castle quarter.
Thousands of tourists are drawn here by the unequalled
panorama from the observation terrace,
so it became one of the most significant tourist
attractions in Budapest soon after its construction,
as it still is today.
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SAINT STEPHEN’S BASILICA
As the church’s proud castle, this divine monument is the
adornment of the Szent István tér (square). Although a
collection had been launched as early as 1810, construction work
on St Stephen’s Basilica began in 1851 to designs by József Hild,
who worked on the completion of the church until his death in
March 1867. Following this, one of the most acclaimed architects
of the age, Miklós Ybl, was given the commission to construct
the building. The year 1868 is memorable in the history of the
construction of the church, when due to poor building methods
and material quality issues, the walls and drum of the dome collapsed.
Construction continued in 1871 after a lengthy break and
a Neo-Renaissance building was erected on reinforced foundations.
Construction was so important , even the monarch Franz
Jozef came to see how the keystone would be set down. . Bombings
during World War II caused significant damage to the walls,
towers and roof structure of the building, so these have had to be
reconstructed. Complete renovation of the Basilica began in 1983
and finished in 2003. The sanctuary is a frequently visited place
by believers, but it is also a popular tourist sight of Budapest. The
building itself is astonishing while the view of the city seen from
the cupola is simply unforgettable. The building is 96 metres
high, which is on record today as the third tallest building in the
country. It is possible to access the circular viewing gallery by lift,
or by climbing 364 steps for those of an enterprising spirit. The
ceremonial opening of the treasury expanded by three additional
rooms, took place on 18/03/2012 and houses the fullest legacy of
Prince Primate Cardinal József Mindszenty.
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HUNGARIAN STATE OPERA HOUSE
S
eptember 24, 1884 was
the long opening of the
Budapest Opera House,
and the great opening
celebration was enhanced
by the presence of Karl
Franz Jozef.
The awaiting crowd of the Sugár road was so excited to see the interior that they swept aside the
guarding policemen and ran into the palace-like institute. Although, the name of the road has
since been changed, the building is still beautiful and is a favourite of opera lovers.
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BUDAPEST OPERETTA THEATRE
The building was erected in 1894
to designs by Viennese architects
Feller and Helmer. The best French
restaurants in the city lined up in its
ornamental winter garden and the
building also housed a concert coffee
shop. It was a palace of entertainment
until the outbreak of World War
I, which ceased with the disappearance
of the belle époque. Based on a
decision made in 1923, it once again
opened its doors to the public as the
home of the Metropolitan Operetta
Theatre, and the “Silver Age” of Operetta
began. Although the building was
redeveloped in 1966 and the interiors
were refashioned, on the occasion of
reconstruction in 1999 the original appearance
was restored and upgraded
with modern technical equipment.
Today the 900 seat theatre auditorium
is illuminated by a hundred year old
chandelier, and radiates magnificence
and elegance for operetta enthusiasts.
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MOLIN ROUGE
K
nown as the citadel of genteel revelry,
the Moulin Rouge opened its
doors to the general public in in 1922
on Nagymező Street in Budapest. The
special atmosphere of the club evokes
the mood of 20th century Paris, amalgamated
with elements consistent with
demands of the modern age. It was renovated
in 2000 according to the original
plans, thus preserving its enchanting atmosphere.
The candlesticks, the stucco,
the red velvet and every tiny detail of
the building speak of a thrilling world.
Simultaneously preserving the values
of the past as well moving on with the
spirit of the age, the Moulin Rouge provides
opportunities for amusement in
our days too, whether for discos, unique
events, or even a birthday party.
MAI MANÓ HOUSE
Imperial and royal court photographer Mai Manó
had this magnificent building constructed, and it
was completed in 1894. The building was later bought
by Sándor Rozsnyai and his wife, and they attached
a 3 storey Arizona club to it in the courtyard, which
was in operation until 1944. Following World War
II, the building was used by several people for various
purposes, then in 1996 the Hungarian Photography
Foundation began to buy up the tenancy rights from the
tenants and the Mai Manó Gallery was opened in 1995.
Later in 1999, the House of Hungarian Photographers
was opened on the 1st and 2nd floors of the building.
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PARIS DEPARTMENT STORE
T
he Paris Department Store on Andrássy Road,
previously known as the Fashion Hall, was
closed for a lengthy period but once again opened
its doors to the general public in 2009, this time
providing a home for the Alexandra Book Store.
One can choose from a huge selection of books, CDs
and DVDs in these magnificent and elegant surroundings.
An unusual treasure, the central room
of the building is the ornamental Lotz Hall, which
in earlier times was a ballroom, but now provides a
home for events and the Book Cafe coffee shop. The
opulently gilded walls are decorated with fresco
compositions by Károly Lotz. The Alexandra Book
Store operating in the Paris Department Store won
the prize for the Metropolitan Bookshop of the Year
in 2011, based on the votes of members of the Hungarian
Publishers’ and Booksellers’ Association.
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ARTIST COFFEE SHOP
T
he Artist Coffee Shop, built in 1884, is housed in a Neo-Renaissance residential building on Andrássy
Road. Looking back on a past of close to 120 years, the atmosphere of the decorative coffee shop
has enthralled countless artists, which is why they were inclined to visit it. It was also a regular haunt of the
Kossuth Prize winning Hungarian writer Iván Mándy for many years.
His place at his regular table had
to be marked with a brass plate at
the time, which is still there on the
table today. The interior space, furnishings
and the beautiful chandelier
have been preserved till today,
and the elegant style has been
amalgamated with comfort. Ladies
and gentlemen, artists and art lovers
still sit at the tables today, but
tourists and young people are also
happy to drop in to enjoy delicacies
in the unusual surroundings.
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AVENUE ANDRÁSSY
B
udapest city centre was linked
with the outlying areas and
the City Park by the narrow
tracked Király Street until the
19th century. Increased traffic
demanded that part of the traffic
in the overcrowded Király Street
be diverted. In order to remedy
the problem, then prime minister
Count Gyula Andrássy Sr., proposed
the construction of a new
avenue and building work was
commenced in 1871.
In order to construct road, numerous residential buildings had to be demolished (the homes of close to
ten thousand people were knocked down). New buildings were therefore also featured in the construction
plans . Meanwhile the plan for building another road came to the fore, namely the Grand Boulevard
project. The two new broad roads met at the Octogon, still a gaping pit at the time.
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Although the road was soon completed, construction slowed down due to the economic crisis of 1873
and a large part of the investment by the building contractors was taken over by the upper middle class
and the upper class. As the construction of an above ground railway line had been opposed from the
beginning, the line for the Millennium Underground Railway was laid beneath the 2310 metre long
Andrássy Avenue.
The continent’s first underground
route was opened to the general
public on 2 May 1896. In 2002
Andrássy Avenue became a world
heritage site, together with Heroes’
Square and the Underground Railway.
To this day it is the broadest
and most imposing thoroughfare in
the capital. A delight to the eyes,
rows of trees run all along both
sides of the road. The Hungarian
State Opera, numerous famous
restaurants, the Artist Coffee
House, the Paris Department
Store, shops offering world renowned
luxury brands, salons and
numerous galleries are all found
here. It is therefore understandable
why thousands of tourists choose
Andrássy Avenue as a destination
for their visit.
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HEROES’ SQUARE
All the lamp posts are facing a peculiar monument
on the Hősök tere (Heroes’ square). It is
the millennial monument which commemorates the
thousandth anniversary of the original settlement of
the Hungarians. The monument depicts the heroes
who made Hungarian history with their deeds. A
Gloriette designed by Miklós Ybl stood here in 1894,
which also incorporated a drinking fountain. The
Gloriette was short lived, as in the year following its
placement the decision was made to build a Pantheon
on its site for the Millennium celebration. Sculptor
György Zala and architect Albert Schickendanz were
commissioned with implementing the task. Statues of
14 Hungarian rulers stood in the original monument.
The square was later named Heroes’ Square in 1932.
During the communist dictatorship following World
War II, the statues were refashioned in accordance
with the political views of the age, so the statues of
the Habsburg monarchs were replaced. Although the
country has been liberated from the dictatorship, the
statues of the Habsburgs have still not been returned
to their original positions.
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THE VAJDAHUNYAD CASTLE
The end of the 19th century brought a special
series of events for Hungarians. The nation
was celebrating the foundation of the state. The
Millennium Exhibition of 1896 was part of these
celebrations. The event resulted in construction
of many new buildings. One of them, found in
the Városliget, was this castle with its four different
architectural styles designed and carried
out by Ignác Alpár. These buildings all display
the stylistic features of other monuments from
Hungary’s past located elsewhere in the country.
The Romanesque period building group includes
the Ják chapel, which still today is a consecrated
place where Roman Catholic mass is celebrated,
the Tompa Tower by the lake and the stone
bridge with the lion statues. The Gothic building
complex includes the Nyebojsza Tower, which is
a copy of the tower in Hunedoara, the great hall
and the Apostles’ Tower. The definitive elements
of the Renaissance-Baroque building group are
the palace in Austrian Baroque style, the Catharine
Bastion Tower, and the French Tower
visible from the lake.
Due to the budget constraints and short
construction deadlines, at first the building
complex was largely made from wood,
but in consideration of the great success,
it was later rebuilt from more durable materials.
The work was completed in 1908.
After the conclusion of the celebration,
the castle was given to the Museum of
Hungarian Agriculture where visitors are
always welcome.
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GUNDEL
The word Gundel is synonymous
with tradition and
quality in the area of hospitality.
The founder of the restaurant,
Károly Gundel felt it was
his goal to gather the values
and specialities of Hungarian
gastronomy and to amalgamate
these with modern gastronomic techniques used in other parts of the world. With his persistent,
popularising work he succeeded in putting Hungarian cuisine on the world gastronomy map. Looking
back on a past of more than 100 years, the Restaurant has survived the storms of history, the
world wars and the changes of regime, and at present is proudly continuing the work of the founder.
It has won numerous national
and foreign accolades.
The Gundel Restaurant is
popular with both Hungarians
and foreigners, the
secret of which is the milieu
surrounding the guests,
the inimitable hospitality,
the tradition which radiates
from the building and
environment, and the food
compositions prepared from
outstanding quality ingredients.
The Gundel Artistic Prize
was created at the turn of the
millennium, which is assigned
each year in 14 categories for
the purpose of acknowledging
the best in various branches
of the arts and in order to
support their work. Since 2010
the chairman has been Miklós
Szinetár, Kossuth prize winner,
twice Mari Jászai prize
winner and director of theatre,
opera, TV and film.
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SZÉCHENYI BATH
This magnificent building is Europe’s largest thermal bath complex and was Pest’s first bath.
Thanks to mining engineer Vilmos Zsigmondy’s discovery, the bath was in partial operation
in 1881. Later, it was rebuilt according to the plans of Győző Czigler to meet the age’s requirements
and it became well-known as the Széchenyi Bath. The popularity of the baths grew rapidly
and in order to meet increased demands, a plan for developing the baths came to the fore.
As a result of this, extension of the public baths wings was competed in 1927 and the beach
swimming pool was constructed. This was the first swimming pool in Pest.
Although it was heavily damaged in World War II, partial operation continued unchanged.
Heating was provided for the changing rooms in 1963, and since then the open air pools have
been open throughout winter.
The complex was renovated once more recently, the renovation and modernisation developments
on the building being completed in 2006. Since then it has always been a popular place.
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PESTI VIGADÓ
The first “Place of Merriment” was completed in 1833 to
designs by Mihály Pollach, and opened under the name of
Redoute. It provided a venue for many significant events of the
age. Among these can be listed Franz Liszt’s highly successful concert,
Johann Strauss Sr. appeared here and the first exhibition of
applied art was held here, the first house of representatives sat here
in 1848. Austrian general Hentzi had the building shot to pieces
in 1849. The new Pest Vigadó was dedicated in 1865 with a ceremonial
ball “with sumptuous public dancing and merriment”.
With the implementation of designs by architect Frigyes Feszl, it
became the most important cultural institution in the capital city
at that time. Many significant personalities have stepped onto
the stage in this building. Among them are Zoltán Kodály, Béla
Bartók and Ernő Dohnányi. The building complex suffered severe
damage in the Second World War. Following renovation it was
once again opened to the general public in 1980 and served as a
venue for concerts and high standard lectures for more than two
decades. Deterioration of the state of the buidling made renovation
necessary, the work of which was completed by 14/03/2014
and the building was opened with a concert by the Hungarian
Arts Academy. At present the sumptuous building provides a
venue for concerts, various conferences, banquets and receptions,
and with the opening of new floors visitors are welcomed by a
permanent exhibition.
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ELIZABETH BRIDGE
The first steps on today’s Erzsébet híd (Elizabeth
Bridge) began echoing more than a
hundred years ago. At that time this crossing
point above the Danube was referred to as the
bridge of the Eskü tér (Promise Square) and its
pavement was fashioned from wooden cubes.
Building began in 1897 when there were only
two other bridges: the Lánchíd (Chain Bridge)
and the Margit híd (Margaret Bridge). Although
a price of two krajcár (the currency of
the time, the equivalent of a penny) had to be paid
in the little buildings at either end of the bridge, the
citizens were glad to use the new bridge. The original
bridge was bombed by the German troops in
1945. Then, only years later (November 21, 1964)
was the new construction handed over. Following
the death of Queen Elisabeth, a decision was made
to raise a worthy monument honouring the queen,
using monies raised in a voluntary nationwide collection,
in the city she loved so much: Budapest. The
statue portraying Queen Elisabeth located at the
Buda bridgehead of Elisabeth Bridge is to the praise
of the creativity of György Zala.
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GELLÉRT HILL
Legend has it that this hill used to be a
gathering place of witches, but today it
is simply a place with a beautiful view of the
city. The name of the hill is closely connected
to another legend that tells the story of a
bishop. His name was Gellért, and in 1046
he visited the pagan Hungarians to convert
them to Christianity, but they resisted, and
the bishop was stuffed in a barrel equipped
with inward pointing nails and rolled down
a hill. Later, the converted Hungarians
named the hill after Gellért and erected a
statue depicting him. A university observatory
was built atop the hill in 1815, but it did
not last long. At the time of the war of independence
in 1849, soldiers of the Hungarian
army set up their artillery guns nearby and
fired on Buda Castle from here. As a result
of answering fire from the Austrian artillery,
the Observatory was destroyed.
The Citadel was raised on the site by the Habsburg
dynasty in 1854. At 220 metres long with walls 12-16
metres thick, this stronghold was built primarily for the
purpose of intimidating the rebellious people of Pest, At
the foot of the fortress wall overlooking the city, stands
the Freedom Statue, which is the work of Zsigmond
Strobl Kisfaludi. Today a hotel and restaurant are in
operation within the thick walls. In 1987, UNESCO
declared Gellért Hill as a world heritage site.
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FREEDOM BRIDGE
During the Second World War-similar to
other bridges of Budapest- it was demolished,
but during the city’s rebuilding, it was
the first one to be resurrected . It became
a national emblem, the symbol of freedom.
A distinctive decoration on the bridge is
the historic Hungarian coat of arms on the
portals and the turul birds landing on the
top of the portals – these being mythological
bird sfrom Hungarian origin legends. As the
structure deteriorated in several places over
the years, renovation could no longer be
deferred . The renovated bridge of splendid
appearance was once again opened to traffic
in the May of 2009.
Originally named Franz Jozef, the bridge
was given to the public as a part of the
Millenneum celebrationsBuilt between 1894
and 1896, the monarch himself hammered in
the last nail.
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GELLÉRT HOTEL AND SPA
The history of the Gellért Hotel and Baths goes back
to ancient times. In the 13th century, Andrew II
established medicinal baths and a hospital here. During
the Turkish period a bathhouse named Acsik ilidzse
stood here. Following the reoccupation of Buda it came
into the possession of Leopold I’s family physician,
then in 1718 the ownership passed to the city of Buda.
At that time it was known by the name of
Sárosfürdő. In 1894 it was demolished when
the Franz Joseph Bridge was built. When the
concept of Budapest as a city of bathhouses
was in formation in the early 20th century,
construction of the baths and the hotel once
more came to the fore. The building was
completed in 1918 in breathtaking art nouveau
style and entered public consciousness as
the first luxury hotel and bath in the capital.
It ranked among the most modern medicinal
baths of the age . In line with requirements of
the time, a a hospital was attached . Cuisine
was provided by the world famous Gundel
Restaurant until 1945. It now bears the name
of Danubius Hotel Gellért, which is one of the
best known hotels in Budapest. Preserving
its traditions, guests are still welcomed by the
polite and amiable staff, as they come to enjoy
the pleasures of relaxation in magnificent
surroundings.
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HUNGARIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM
The idea of founding the museum emerged in
times when the national consciousness and the
notion of freedom were both becoming apparent
among civilians. In 1802, Ferenc Széchenyi, wanting
to grant his rich collection to the Hungarian
nation, asked the permission of the ruling Ferenc I
who, of course, supported Széchenyi’s idea. Later,
the 1832-36 Hungarian Diet carried a motion to
build an independent house for the museum. The
appropriated sum was half a million Forints, and
the professionally recognized Mihály Pollach became
entrusted with the designs . His work was finished
by 1847, and the place had a significant role in the
1848-49 war of independence. The revolution broke
out after the famous poet, Sándor Petőfi, recited
his poem to the nation while standing on the stairs
of the museum. From that point on, the building
became a museum as well as an emblem of the nation’s
freedom. Nowadays the Museum welcomes
visitors with a permanent exhibition presenting the
history of the Hungarian nation, seasonal exhibitions
and interesting, colourful programmes for both
younger and older people.
42

GREAT / CENTRAL MARKET HALL
Aiming at ceasing the noisy and dirty
outdoor markets, the City Council established
the Central Market Hall. The stately
neo-gothic building was handed over to the
traders in 1897, and almost at the same time,
four other market halls were built on the
Pest side. The building is one of the finest
creations of historicism in Hungary,
built to the designs of architect Samu Pecz
together with the neighbouring University
of Economic Sciences. The building has a
ground space of 10 000 square metres, the
roof is adorned with building ceramics
from the famous Zsolnay works, the stone
entrance gates represent the Neo-Gothic
style. The building was declared a monument
in 1977, which was magnificently
renovated at the end of the 20th century.
In 1999 it was awarded the most prominent
accolade of the Chamber of Hungarian
Architects. This wonderful building is
still in operation as a market hall today,
welcoming thousands of local and foreign
shoppers and visitors with a colourful
selection.
43

VÁCI STREET
Váci Street is a busy pedestrian precinct
located in district 5, linking Vörösmarty
Square with Customs House Boulevard. It
is one of Budapest’s most famous shopping
streets, which thousands of tourists love to
visit. Numerous famous restaurants are to
be found here, including the world renowned
Gerbeaud. Shoppers are welcomed by a broad
selection of wares in elegant stores and folk
art shops. The doors of the Pest Theatre open
onto this street, and the István Csók Gallery
is also located here. While walking, it is worth
observing the buildings, as many wonderful
architectural masterpieces can be spotted
here, some of which were built in Classisist,
Ecletic, Baroque and Art Nouveau styles.
On this street stand the former church and
convent of the Sisters of Loreto, as well as the
Town Hall, the site of the Metropolitan Assembly.
Interesting decorative elements can be
observed, delighting the eyes. Statues, Zsolnay
porcelain ornamentation and wrought iron
gates make this street, beloved by so many,
intriging and enthralling.
44

GERBEAUD
The legendary Gerbeaud (Cafe) is in the
heart of Budapest in the Vörösmarty
Square. It takes pride in being mentioned
among Europe’s oldest, greatest and most
famous confectionaries/sweet-shops. It was
opened in 1858 and later, thanks to co-owner
Emil Gerbeaud’s work, it became world
famous. The new owner had an outstanding
business sense. He mechanised his plant
and increased the staff to 150, a significant
proportion of whom had come from abroad
to specifically be trained at the Gerbeaud.
The varied products were sold in artistically
fashioned boxes of his own design. Hungarian
confectionery began a new direction,
acquiring numerous accolades for Hungarian
industry. A process began in the life of
the confectionary in 2009, in terms of a new
image and a new product range, which besides
preserving excellent quality, is produced using
the latest techniques. Gerbeaud is a place
for those who are fond of old-fashioned and
tarnished confectioners.
45

EASTERN RAILWAY STATION
46
T
he station’s eclectic building was finished
in 1884. At the time, it was the biggest and
most modern railway station in Europe. The
building itself stands nicely on the Baross tér
(square) while the station serves as the main hub
for international trains, as well as eastbound
Hungarian trains. The workmanship on the 43
metre high railway station, of which the top of the
facade is adorned with an allegorical sculpture
composition, is to the praise of architect Gyula
Rochlitz. Statues of James Watt, inventor of the
steam engine, and George Stephenson, designer of
the Rocket steam locomotive, stand by the main
facade. The spectacular frescoes in the service
counter hall were produced by Károly Lotz and
Mór Than. When Metro line 2 was built in 1969,
the square in front of the station was reconstructed
and a system of subways was established
between the Metro and the railway station, from
which the platforms can be reached on broad
staircases.

WESTERN RAILWAY STATION
T
he old station, which was built in 1842,
(although it was uniquely big) became outdated
by 1867 due to the modernization . The
widely known Eiffel company was entrusted to
design and carry out construction of the new
station. Building it was quite special because
the new station was built atop the old one,
and when the works were done the old parts
were removed. Construction was finished by
1877; and it became a major station in the city
while the building is the honor of the Nyugati
square. The railway station received its name
in 1891, not from its geographical location, but
because trains arrive and depart from here
chiefly in westerly directions. The station is a
favourite spot for tourists and also for artists.
The band Locomotiv GT held its farewell concert
here, and numerous video clips have been
recorded by foreign performing artists.
47

DOHÁNY STREET SYNAGOUGE
T
he biggest synagogue in Europe built between
1855-1859 according to the plans of Figyes Feszl
and Ludwid Förster, is still a major factor in today’s
vibrant Budapest lifesytle. Its neologist style is a
mixture of Moorish, Byzantine and Turkish elements.
The services are in Hebrew in the spacious
interior is capable of accommodating 6000 people.
At its opening ceremony, the original organ-pipe,
with its 5000 pipes, came to life by the hands of
Ferenc Liszt. The synagogue was renovated in 1996
and on this occasion, the organ was also replaced
by an almost completely new organ. The Heroes’
Synagogue may also be found here, raising a worthy
memorial to the Jewish soldiers who fell in World
War I. The lines of the Star of David painted on the
wall of the modern building seating 120 are made
up of the letters of quotations from the Scriptures.
The doors of the Synagogue are open to tourists with
multilingual guided tours available, either for individual
visitors or groups.