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covers periods which came long after the Romans had left: superb Renaissance, Baroque, Biedermeier and neo-Classical furniture. Budafok, famed for its wine-making, lies not far from Nagytétény. Millions of litres of the very finest sparkling wines and select reds and whites lie maturing in the cavernous cellar system hereabouts. A tour of the cellars combined with wine tasting takes at least half a day. A trip out to the Statue Park will prove an unforgettable experience. Gigantic statues and memorials erected during Communist times and collected from all parts of the country (although largely from around the squares and streets of the capital) after the change of regime have been brought together to make a stunning collection probably unique in the world. Budapest is a spa city. Travellers were writing about its remarkable medicinal waters in the 1500s. One of the Turkish baths built around that time is the Rudas, and it still employs some of the original fittings today. Gellért Spa is the most elegant in town, offering a bubble bath, open-air wave pool, thermal pools and medical services to very high standards. Of course one’s tour, trip to a museum or spa wouldn’t be complete without enjoying a fine meal in one of the many excellent restaurants of the capital, or coffee and cakes in an equally outstanding confectionery. Budapest is proud of the Százéves (100-year-old) Restaurant, which actually is well past the magical century. In fact the Alabárdos, Aranyszarvas (Golden Hind) and Kárpátia are also getting on in age. Their furnishings and style are delightful, and each serves traditional Hungarian cuisine made to order, just as is the case in the famed Matthias Cellar (Mátyás pince). Among the confectioneries, the once renowned Hauer has reopened on Rákóczi Road, and Mozart on Erzsébet Boulevard serves the creme de la creme in cakes and desserts. Gerbeaud on Vörösmarty Square and the Zsolnay confectionery in the Béke Hotel are elegant and old world, with delicacies served on fine Hungarian porcelain. We hope that in the course of getting to know Budapest you’ll discover for yourself: you just can’t help falling in love with this city. Castle quarter and Castle Hill A-B3 I. district (Buda) – è Castle bus ç 16 Funicular Part of the World Heritage. Due to its excellent features it was settled as early as the 13 th century; King Béla IV built a castle here after the Tartar 32 www.budapestinfo.hu invasion, and he chose this spot as the seat of royal rule. The Castle quarter on Castle Hill stands 180 m above sea level. It is around 1.5 km long and in places it is 500 metres wide. It boasts three churches, five museums, many historical buildings, monuments, streets and squares, a theatre, four hotels, numerous atmospheric restaurants, cafés, galleries and gift shops. Breathtaking panoramas open from the Fishermen’s Bastion and the promenade in front of the National Gallery. Royal Palace B3 I. district Castle quarter – è Castle bus, Funicular One of the symbols of the nation, the palace has witnessed wars and occupation from the 13 th to the 20 th century. The Turks occupied it, as did the Habsburgs, it was destroyed three times and then rebuilt, each time in the architectural style of the age. Today’s neo-Classical style was taken on after the Second World War. The building hosts several distinguished institutions: the Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest History Museum and the National Széchényi Library. Fishermen’s Bastion A3 I., Szentháromság tér – è Castle bus A relatively youthful structure next to Matthias Church. Building started in 1895 on the designs of Frigyes Schulek. It was sited on the place of the medieval fish market and the walls protected by the guild of fishermen, whence the name. The neo- Romanesque bastion has only ever had a decorative role: it is a popular place to look out over Pest. Liberty Statue B4 XI., Gellérthegy – ç 27, 86 « 18, 19, 41, 47, 49, 118 The 14-m-high statue, the work of outstanding architect Zsigmond Kisfaludy Strobl, was raised in 1947 in memory of the country’s liberation. And even though the post-war period also marked the start of Soviet rule, the statue on Gellért Hill was not removed even after the change of regime since it had become an indelible part of the cityscape. There are two other sculptures at the foot of the female figure holding aloft the palm of victory: one is an allegory of progress, the other the fight against evil. Hungarian State Geological Institute D2 XIV., Stefánia út 14 2 Stadionok ç 7 One of the capital’s finest Art Nouveau buildings. It was designed by Ödön Lechner and built in 1899. Its light blue ceramic roof and blue Zsolnay ceramic decoration harmonize with the yellow-brown façade. Three figures can be observed on the middle roof crest holding a globe. There is a rock and mineral exhibition in the Institute.
Heroes’ Square C2 XIV, City Park – 1 Hôsök tere ç 4 ë 79 The most spectacular square in the capital, sited at the entrance to City Park. Anyone coming up Andrássy Boulevard sees from afar the 36-m-high column in the centre of the Millennium memorial, on top of which is a statue of the Archangel Gabriel holding the Hungarian Holy Crown and apostolic double cross. Quarter-circular colonnades extend to both left and right of the column. Between the pillars of the colonnade are figures of the ‘greats’ from Hungarian history, while the butt piers are embellished with emblematic sculptural ensembles (work, welfare, knowledge, honour and peace). The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is positioned in front of the monument. The magnificent buildings of the Palace of Arts and the Museum of Fine Arts to the right and left of the monument enhance the fine architectural entity of Heroes’ Square. Parliament B2 V., Kossuth tér 1–3 ≥ 441-4000 www.parlament.hu Tours: daily every 15 minutes, groups of min. 5 persons (weekdays 8 am–6 pm, Saturday 8 am–4 pm, Sunday 8 am–2 pm); assemble at Gate No. 10. Daily tours with foreign language guides: English 10 am, midday, 2 pm; German 11 am, 3 pm; French 2 pm; Hebrew 10.30 am, 1.30 pm; Russian 3 pm (Sunday 11 am); Italian and Spanish 11.30 am, 4 pm Admission: adults HUF 2300, students: HUF 1150, International Student Card accepted, free for citizens of the European Union Information: 441-4415 2 Kossuth tér ç 15 « 2 ë 70, 78 The largest building in the country, the permanent site of the national assembly, Parliament sits on the Danube embankment with its entrance looking out over Kossuth Square. The neo-Gothic building is the work of architect Imre Steindl, and was constructed between 1884–1904. It has 691 rooms, is 268 m long and its cupola rises 96 m into the air. The staircase is embellished with fine frescoes by Károly Lotz and sculptures by György Kiss. Parliament’s most important work of art, the painting “The Conquest” by Mihály Munkácsy, is in the Munkácsy Room next to the President’s office. Since 2000 the general public has been able to view the Hungarian coronation regalia here: St. Stephen’s Crown, the sceptre, orb and Renaissance sword. Hungarian Academy of Sciences B3 V., Roosevelt tér 9 – « 2 ç 16 The oldest and most significant building on Roosevelt Square. Its perfect neo-Renaissance design came from the studio of Berlin architect Stüler, and it was built between 1862–64. The grand gala hall decorated with pictures by Károly Lotz is also used for staging concerts. There are lecture and session rooms, and a valuable scientific library. Allegorical sculptures in the imposing foyer and on the façade are the work of Miklós Izsó and Emil Wolf. Hungarian State Opera House B3 VI., Andrássy út 22 ≥ 331-2550 www.opera.hu ç 4 1 Opera ó daily 3–4 pm Daily guided tours in English, German, Italian, Spanish and French. Prices: adults HUF 2400, students HUF 1200 (International Student Card accepted). Information: 332-8197 One of the most imposing opera houses of its day, the Budapest Opera House opened in 1884. Its neo- Classical and neo-Renaissance design is the work of the greatest Hungarian architect of the 19th century, Miklós Ybl. The grandiose lobby, elegant staircase and horseshoe-shaped auditorium are important tourist sights in themselves. Guest conductors at the Opera House have included such world greats as Gustav Mahler and Otto Klemperer. Gresham Palace B3 V., Roosevelt tér 5–6 – « 2 ç 4, 16, 105 This Art Nouveau building was commissioned by the www.budapestinfo.hu 33
Page 3 and 4: Contents Handy information 5 City t
Page 5 and 6: HANDYinformation Turista informáci
Page 7 and 8: middle of October): GMT +2 hours Ho
Page 9 and 10: GENERAL INFORMATION INTERNET ≥Tel
Page 11: CITY transport TRANSPORT IN THE CAP
Page 14 and 15: MUSEUMS, Churches Most museums are
Page 16 and 17: Hungarian Natural History Museum
Page 18 and 19: Gizi Bajor Museum of Actors and Act
Page 20 and 21: CHURCHES, ECCLESIASTICAL COLLECTION
Page 22 and 23: CULTURAL avenue Welcome to Europe
Page 25 and 26: Motorway Main road Secondary road R
Page 27 and 28: www.budapestinfo.hu 27
Page 30 and 31: over the city. Right alongside, and
Page 34 and 35: Gresham Assurance Company, London,
Page 36 and 37: ANTIQUES road show ANTIQUES STREET
Page 38 and 39: MUSIC, THEATRES, events Hungarian c
Page 40 and 41: [3] BEYOND Budapest JUST OUTSIDE BU
Page 42 and 43: [2] MEDICINAL BATHS, caves Budapest
Page 44 and 45: LEISURE PARKS, HILLS, NATURE PROTEC
Page 46 and 47: 10 am-6 pm, 31 October-17 December:
Page 48 and 49: 48 www.budapestinfo.hu ▲ CENTRAL
Page 50 and 51: ●14 Cascade*** XII., Szarvas Gáb
Page 52 and 53: ●41 Pilvax** V., Pilvax köz 1-3
Page 54 and 55: ●17 Soul Café IX., Ráday utca 1

BEYOND Budapest

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