BUDAPEST - fapipa

1956: The Hungarian
Uprising
Following mass anti-Soviet
demonstrations in October 1956,
the Hungarian Communist Party’s
Central Committee elected the
popular Imre Nagy as prime minister.
On 4 November, however,
just 18 days after he assumed
office, the Soviet army invaded
Hungary and crushed the new
regime. Nagy was arrested and
executed in 1958.
1989: The People’s
Republic Comes to a
Peaceful End
Anticipating the changes that
would eventually sweep the
whole of Eastern Europe, Communist
authorities in Hungary
sanctioned the creation of opposition
political parties in February
1989. The People’s Republic of
Hungary became the Republic of
Hungary in October, and in
January 1990, free elections were
held for the first time since 1919.
2004: Hungary Joins the
European Union
After ten years of negotiations,
Hungary became a full member
of the European Union on 1 June
2004. The occasion was marked
with days of celebrations
throughout the country, and was
greeted positively by most of the
population. Hungary had previously
become a member of
NATO in 1999.
Celebrating EU membership on Chain Bridge
Top 10 Great
Hungarians
Ödön Lechner
(1845–1914)
Groundbreaking Secessionist
architect, often considered as
the father of the Secession
Movement (see p23).
Sándor Petπfi
(1823–49)
Nationalist poet whose recital
of his poem Nemzeti Dal
(National Song) and the 12 pont
(12 points) on the steps of the
National Museum in 1848
sparked a revolt (see p30).
János Vaszary
(1867–1939)
Leading exponent of
Secessionist painting, whose
works can be seen at the
National Gallery (see pp20–23).
Ferenc (Franz) Liszt
(1811–86)
Hungarian composer,
regarded by many as the
best pianist of all time.
István Szabó (b. 1938)
Film director who received
an Oscar for his film Mephisto
in 1981.
László Bíró
(1899–1985)
Eccentric journalist who invented
the world’s first ball-point
pen in 1939.
Ferenc Puskás (b. 1927)
Footballer who led the
great Hungarian team of the
1950s (see p96).
Miklós Ybl (1814–91)
Architect whose work
includes the peerless State
Opera House (see pp26–7).
Mihály Vörösmarty
(1800–55)
19th-century poet and author
of the epic The Flight of Zalán.
Attila József (1905–37)
Radical poet who wrote of
hope and great beauty.
Begun among artists in Paris and Vienna in the 1880s, the Secession
Movement’s hallmark was its colourful, often fantastical designs.
Budapest’s Top 10
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