The „intertwined history” of the bridges and the city of Budapest
Which ideas and events have shaped the fate of bridges of Budapest and the cityscape? Alongside many other interesting facts, this question is also answered this newly published book by the Budapest City Archives, which introduces the history of bridges in Budapest.
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12th District selects World War II memorial
April 8, 2021 at 3:00 PM
The symbolism of scarcity and hope – are the words used by the judges to describe the winning design of the World War II memorial planned for the 12th District. The sculpture will be built alongside the Varosmajori Church and has been designed to remember the district residents that lost their lives in the conflict.
Popes in Budapest – Several leaders of the Catholic Church visited the Hungarian capital before being elected
April 8, 2021 at 10:00 AM
The recent announcement that Pope Francis would visit Budapest in the autumn of 2021 for the closing Mass of the International Eucharistic Congress came as a true surprise to many. The last time a similar event took place was exactly thirty years ago, in 1991, when Pope John Paul II visited the Hungarian capital. Four other leaders of the Catholic Church came to Budapest, even before they were elected the Bishop of Rome. But what have former popes seen of our capital? In 1891 Pope Pius XI saw a tram for the first time in Budapest in 1891. John XXIII visited in 1930 for the St. Emeric Memorial Year, while Pius XII and John Paul VI attended the 1938 Eucharistic Congress. Although none of them visited as popes, it meant a lot to them and the Hungarians that they visited Budapest.
Csömöri overpass to be completed in 2021
April 7, 2021 at 6:30 PM
The modernisation of the Csömöri út overpass is to be completed this year. During the construction of the overpass connecting Csömöri Road and Drégelyvár Street in Újpalota, steel supports will be installed until the end of May to strengthen the bridge. The damaged concrete structures will be repaired by mid-summer, and traffic will return to the bridge by the end of December.
Dutch memories fill Budapest
April 6, 2021 at 9:00 AM
Városliget Avenue is more than two hundred years old. The elegant road lined with villas and public buildings became the home of the elite of Pest in the last third of the 19th century. Several successful people had a house or holiday home built there, and many celebrities treated themselves in the sanatoriums located in the area. Városliget Alley has become a well-known name, yet, 100 years ago, in 1921, it was renamed Vilma Királynő Road after Queen Wilhelmina. The cause: a strange tale for which Budapest wanted to express its thanks to the Dutch.
Museum of Transport opened 55 years ago after post World War II repairs
April 5, 2021 at 1:00 PM
After a more than a two-decades-long forced break, the Museum of Transport opened in City Park on 2 April 1966. During World War II, in 1944, several bombs hit the building. Although the most valuable works of art were saved, the destruction was still immeasurable: in addition to the building, the bombing also caused significant damage to the collection.
Depictions of Christ portray the events of the Holy Week around Budapest
April 4, 2021 at 9:30 AM
Depictions of Jesus can be found in every district of Budapest of one walks with their eyes open. Most often, crosses erected near Catholic churches or by public roads are reminders of Christ’s crucifixion, but several Calvaries, statues, and building mosaics also depict Easter-related events: the story of the Passion and the resurrection of the Messiah. This virtual walk will present a selection of the most valuable works of art that give hope at Easter in 2021.
Parks around Rákos Stream in Zugló to be renovated
April 3, 2021 at 4:00 PM
The banks of Rákos Stream in the 14th District will be transformed into a park in three stages. Work is already underway, and the first 400-metre section between Egressy Road and Bartl János Street has already been opened. The entire project will be completed by the autumn. Plenty of trees and shrubs will be planted in the new areas, and plenty of benches will be installed, on sun terraces, alongside playgrounds, drinking fountains. Public lighting will be solar-powered.
One of the oldest ways of the cross in Budapest – The Kiscell Calvary is over 200 years old
April 3, 2021 at 11:00 AM
During the Easter period, people used to visit many calvaries, i.e. Ways of The Cross, in Buda and Pest. One of the oldest calvaries in the city, built 200 years ago and starting next to the Kiscelli Museum, is still one of the most visited Ways of The Cross in Budapest today. Even in 1956, the year of the revolution plenty of people walked the Way, as can be seen in a photo from 65 years ago.
Church Renovation programme to begin
April 2, 2021 at 2:30 PM
Before easter, the government announced a major church renovation programme: 25.7 billion HUF was reallocated to renovate the churches.
The first modern shopping centre in Budapest – The Skála store in Buda opened 45 years ago
April 2, 2021 at 9:00 AM
There was a store in Buda that brought new colour and new quality to the slow socialist state store system. The modern design, the huge floor space of more than 22,000 square metres, and the relative abundance of goods contributed to the rapid rise in the popularity of the Skála store, which opened 45 years ago on 2 April 1976.
Pest Embankments revisited: Promenade planned from Kossuth Square to Bálna – Széchenyi Square to be redesigned
April 1, 2021 at 7:30 PM
An agreement detailing the renovation of the Pest Embankment has been signed by representatives of the Government and the capital. According to the plans, a new promenade and green areas will be created from Kossuth Lajos Square to the Bálna, the roundabout on Széchenyi Square will be removed, the tracks of tram line 2 and Közraktár Street will also be renewed.
Zsolnay fireplace of Szent Stephen's Hall to be installed soon
April 1, 2021 at 2:00 PM
One of the most beautiful ornaments of the first reconstructed historical hall of Buda Castle will be the more than 2.5 meters wide and 4.5 meters high ceramic fireplace, made by the Zsolnay Porcelain Manufactory in Pécs. Experts worked on the reconstruction of a masterpiece for five years. The fireplace is made up of 611 pieces, for which nearly a kilogram of 24-carat gold was used. The reborn Saint Stephen's Hall will be opened to the public on 20 August.
Szent István Park turns 85 – A parquet factory once sprawled across the greens
April 1, 2021 at 9:00 AM
The green that opened on 1 April 1936 was originally called Lipótváros Park, then Rakovszky Park. It was given its current name in 1937 and has been called Szent István Park ever since. The site of the beautiful ornamental garden was once a parquet factory, and its construction was initiated in the 1920s by the President of the Public Works Council at the time, Iván Rakovszky. Újlipótváros' most popular park is 85 years old.
Construction of passenger centre in Keleti Railway Station begins
March 29, 2021 at 3:00 PM
The construction of the passenger centre in the 137-year-old Keleti Railway Station, which serves nearly 11 million passengers a year, has begun. The development will greatly increase passenger comfort, bring international and domestic ticket sales into the same hall, while new escalators and lifts will make the centre easily accessible.
Educational canopy trail planned for Normafa
March 27, 2021 at 4:00 PM
An educational canopy trail has been planned for Normafa. To be built on the former Sport Hotel site, the trail will have space for 150 visitors and focus on conservation education. The study trail will begin at ground level and climb above the tree canopy to offer a stunning view of Budapest.
Pest Embankment opened to pedestrians again
March 26, 2021 at 5:00 PM
Once again, the Pest Embankment will be closed to traffic on weekends between Margit Bridge and Közraktár Street. Only pedestrians and cyclists will be allowed in the area.
Sándor Márai Cultural Centre completed in the former Buda Civic Casino on Krisztina tér
March 25, 2021 at 3:00 PM
The new cultural and community centre of the 1st District, the Sándor Márai Cultural Centre, was opened on 22 March in the newly renovated building of the former Buda Civic Casino at 1 Krisztina Square.
Design renders for renovation of Ministry of Agriculture released
March 24, 2021 at 9:00 AM
The renovation of the Ministry of Agriculture's Kossuth Square building will begin in the summer. The design renders newly published show that the Neo-Renaissance facades will be restored to their original beauty. The previously closed central courtyard will be opened to visitors. Gyula Bukovics designed the palace, and its construction began in 1885, the same year in which construction of the Parliament building on the other side of the square but was completed fifteen years earlier, in 1887.
Planning of M2 metro and Gödöllő Suburban railway connection begins
March 23, 2021 at 4:00 PM
Planning of the connection of Metro line 2 and the suburban railway to Gödöllő can begin after the government decided to provide the necessary funding. Construction plans for the reconstruction of the suburban railway line and the renovation of affected stations can begin. Renders of key elements of the plans have also been published. The metro and suburban railway tracks will be connected above ground on Örs vezér square.
Rondo to be restored amid continuing works in City Park
March 22, 2021 at 3:00 PM
Városliget Promenade will be rebuilt. The Rondo, the historical entrance of City Park, will be restored, and a new part of the park will be created between the House of Hungarian Music and the new Museum of Ethnography. Almost 80,000 square metres of green space will be renewed, and 200 new deciduous trees planted by the spring of 2022. In addition, hot air balloons will once again rise from Mimóza Hill in City Park.
Sipeki Balás Villa to be restored on Hermina Road
March 21, 2021 at 2:00 PM
The Art Nouveau Sipeki Balás Villa, built between 1905 and 1907, currently the headquarters of the Hungarian National Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired, is to be fully restored. The listed building, designed by Ödön Lechner, will be renovated under supervision for HUF 1.94 billion. The wing attached to it in the 1970s will be demolished and replaced with a new wing.
Buildings of former BM Hospital on Bajza Street demolished
March 20, 2021 at 6:00 PM
The buildings' demolition on the plot on the corner of Bajza Street and Városligeti Avenue is in full swing. The building complex was closed in 2007. New buildings for the Hungarian Museum of Architecture and Monument Protection Documentation Centre will be constructed on the plot.
Jumping to the present: Újbuda renovated 12 000 square metres of Parks
March 20, 2021 at 2:00 PM
A large 12 000 square metre park has been created among the tower blocks built in Újbuda in the 1970s. Sprawling between Tétényi Road and Fejér Lipót Street, the park includes renovated sports fields and courts, walkways, new ping pong tables and rest stops.
Government and Budapest City Council agree on major development plans
March 19, 2021 at 5:00 PM
The government plans to provide 3000 Billion HUF in additional funding towards healthcare and transportation development and environmental protection initiatives, according to plans laid out by the Government Commissioner for the Development of Budapest. According to an agreement reached on Thursday, the government will finance three projects: the renewal of the Pest embankment, the southern extension of the Buda intertwining tram, and the renovation of the Kelenföld bus station with the creation of a new 1,500-place P+R car park.
Playground and outdoor gym being built on Nagyrét
March 18, 2021 at 5:00 PM
The development of Nagyrét in Hűvösvölgy continues: a thematic playground and an outdoor gym will be built on one of the most popular greens in Budapest by the end of April. The playground, designed by sculptors, will evoke the indigenous fauna and flora of the forest. Work will begin later this week.
Petőfi Literary Agency gifted House of Hungarian Writers, Óbuda Shipyard and Zichy Palace
March 18, 2021 at 9:30 AM
The Petőfi Literary Agency, a subsidiary of the Petőfi Literary Museum, will be gifted several state-owned buildings in Budapest. According to plans, a pop culture and related arts centre will be created in the facilities of the Óbuda Shipyard and Zichy Castle by 2025.
Pavements closed – Renovation of Chain Bridge begins
March 17, 2021 at 2:00 PM
Chain Bridge will be closed to pedestrians from 17 March, and walking across the bridge will be forbidden until work is completed in 2023. The pavements have been closed as part of preparatory steps before the renovation begins. Motorists can use the bridge until mid-June.
Building of Rác Bath up for auction
March 16, 2021 at 4:00 PM
Although the renovation of the Rác Bath complex was completed in 2010, it has never reopened due to protracted legal and financial disputes. Now the building's condition has deteriorated so much that it needs to be renovated again. The building – owned by Rác Nosztalgia Kft., which is under liquidation – will now be put up for auction together with the hotel connected to it for 5.1 billion HUF.
A blast saved Budapest from icy floods 65 years ago
March 16, 2021 at 10:00 AM
The sad year of 1956 brought other disasters than the brutal defeat of the revolution. Pestbuda has already reported on the earthquake in January, but another disaster struck the country in March. A huge flood wreaked havoc south of Budapest, and special measures were needed to protect the capital. Ice blocks were blown up near Kossuth Bridge.
János Esterházy in Budapest – The memorials of a martyr
March 14, 2021 at 6:00 PM
János Esterházy was an outstanding Hungarian statesman, a martyr of the 20th century. He alone did not vote on a bill allowing the deportation of Jews in the Slovak parliament. Although his work is mainly related to Upper Hungary (in present-day Slovakia), Esterházy lived in Budapest several times, and many monuments in the capital are connected to him. Among others, he saved the lives of thousands of Slovak, Hungarian and Jewish people and helped evacuate more than a hundred thousand Poles to Hungary and Budapest. His beatification process began in 2019.
Statue of Pál Vasvári erected in the garden of the National Museum
March 14, 2021 at 11:00 AM
Pál Vasvári was a leading figure in the Youths of March and played an important role in wording the 12 points. As one of the heroes of the War of Independence, he fell in battle in 1849, living only 23 years. A bust in his honour was unveiled in the garden of the National Museum on Saturday.
Renovation of Chain Bridge begins
March 12, 2021 at 6:00 PM
On 17 March, the pedestrian pavements on Chain Bridge will be closed as the renovation begins.
From Triton's Well to Ifipark - The stories of the Castle Garden Bazaar
March 12, 2021 at 10:00 AM
The Neo-Renaissance garden of the Castle Garden Bazaar was built between 1874 and 1882. It is a worthy pair to any palace garden in the world and houses many details that have exciting stories to tell beyond their beauty: the Triton Fountain, the garden's budding roses, and the medieval curtain wall could each tell hundreds of stories if not sentenced to silence. So let us tell their stories for them.
A Master of Art Nouveau – Remembering Zoltán Bálint
March 11, 2021 at 11:00 AM
Zoltán Bálint was born 150 years ago and played a significant part in redefining Budapest's architecture, but his name is little known today. His prolific oeuvre, his work with fellow architect, Lajos Jámbor, elevates him to an unavoidable position in Hungarian Art Nouveau architecture.
Planning of new tramway for Southern Danube Bridge begins
March 10, 2021 at 4:00 PM
The tramline for the future Galvani Bridge is being planned. The new, two-track, four-kilometre tramway will run from Fehérvári Road in Buda across the new Danube bridge and North Csepel, and over the new Ráckeve-Danube bridge to Gubacsi Road in Pest.
Construction of Gazdagrét confirmed 40 years ago
March 10, 2021 at 9:00 AM
Gazdagrét is unique among the housing estates in Budapest. Located in the Buda hills, the area has clear borders and remains a popular place to live today. A popular soap opera followed its life for years.
Iconic Bálna in Budapest to be renovated
March 9, 2021 at 4:00 PM
Budapest's iconic building, Bálna or the Whale, which has defined the Danube-banks for years, is to be renovated. The structural renovation will see key materials replaced with modern counterparts, but the exterior will not change. Bálna will also receive decorative lighting.
Signposts on the road – Unique installations uncover the details of Wekerletelep
March 8, 2021 at 3:00 PM
Walking along the 1.6-kilometre path of the 10 signposts in Wekereletelep allows visitors to dive into the listed area's history. Looking through the peep-holes on the steel and wood posts highlights small but important details of the area.
New bridges in Budapest
March 8, 2021 at 9:00 AM
PestBuda has reported on the largest railway development, the Southern Ring Railway, currently underway in Budapest several times. Recently, new renders appeared of an important element of the railway line, a new bridge. Take a look.
Budapest council presents urban development plans
March 7, 2021 at 5:00 PM
The Budapest city council has published a new urban development strategy running until 2027. According to the wording of the program, the movement of Budapest residents to the agglomeration must be stopped, traffic jams must be reduced, and as many green spaces as possible must be created in the capital.
Magdolna Udvar completed – Cultural institution opens in old Budafok town hall
March 6, 2021 at 5:00 PM
The new cultural institution in Budafok will house a local history museum and several exhibition spaces. A café will open in the inner courtyard, the new Atrium. One of the rooms in the former town hall building will be a so-called visual warehouse, in which objects can be taken in hand.
The story of four hundred graves – Archaeological excavation on Margit Boulevard comes to an end
March 5, 2021 at 6:00 PM
The excavation on a plot at the corner of Margit Boulevard and Rómer Flóris Street has been completed. Archaeologists uncovered many Bronze Age and Roman items and artefacts from the Ottoman Period, as well as four hundred graves.
Hotel to open in Drechsler Palace – Ödön Lechner's masterpiece reborn
March 4, 2021 at 4:00 PM
Standing opposite the Opera House, at 25 Andrássy Avenue, the French Renaissance-style Drechsler Palace is to be renovated as a five-star hotel. The remodelling of the building, designed by Ödön Lechner and Gyula Pártos, will include a loft conversion. The owners have promised that the listed historical monument will be restored to its former glory.
Ornaments for three decades – The entrance halls of the Millenium Underground Railway
March 4, 2021 at 10:00 AM
Continental Europe's first underground railway was opened on 2 May 1896, the first day of the national millennium celebrations, after only nineteen months of construction. The unique vehicle strengthened the character of Budapest as a global city, connected the centre of Pest with City Park. The implementation involved construction not only underground but on the surface: with the exception of the Opera House, an entrance hall was built at the stations. However, these ornate little buildings later fell victim to the “modernisation” of the cityscape.
Under deconstruction: Fontana building being torn down
March 3, 2021 at 5:00 PM
Those wanting to take a last glance at the Fontana building, built in 1984 on the corner of Váci Street and Régi Posta Street, should hurry. The large-scale demolition works are already underway. The former shopping centre will soon be replaced by a more modern building on Budapest's top shopping street.
Paris Department Store on Andrássy Avenue opened 110 years ago
March 3, 2021 at 11:00 AM
The Paris Department Store at 39 Andrássy Avenue opened to the public 110 years ago, on 3 March 1911, after its previous building at 38 Rákóczi Road burned down, and the store moved to its new location. However, the new building of the Paris Department Store was larger and more luxurious than its predecessor. It was opened to shoppers until the end of World War II.
New collection of posters brings the turn-of-the-century to a terrace of Buda Castle
March 2, 2021 at 2:00 PM
A new outdoor installation of 25 posters has been opened on the terrace of the Castle Gaden Bazaar. The exhibit opens the door to the life, industry and politics of the past. The newly opened collection includes the posters of Budapest Orpheum, the Holzer Budapest Clothes Shop, the Törley Champagne Factory, the newly-opened Corvin Department Store, and the Budapest Operetta Theater's poster for its revue Halló Amerika. The works of the poster artist Géza Faragó are on display on the southern panorama terrace of the Castle Garden Bazaar.
A forgotten side of Kálvin Square – Lost buildings: The Geist and Pintér Buildings
March 2, 2021 at 9:00 AM
Kálvin Square is a transport hub, one of the busiest and most popular squares in Budapest. Museums, restaurants and hotels fill the nearby streets, but the square itself is also of interest. At the junction of Kecskeméti Street and Kálvin tér, where the huge blocks of the Korona Hotel now stand connected by a bridge, there were once two beautiful residential buildings houses. A look at their history is worthwhile.
Memorial to victims of the Hableány accident to be erected near Margit Bridge
March 1, 2021 at 6:30 PM
A memorial to the victims of the tragic accident that led to the sinking of the Hableány riverboat on 29 May 2019 will be erected on Széchenyi Embankment near Margit Bridge, not far from the location of the crash. Penta Általános Építőipari Kft. has been contracted for the work, which will be completed before the second anniversary of the tragedy.
A virtual visit to Budapest – Explore Kossuth Square online
March 1, 2021 at 2:00 PM
A new virtual tour of Kossuth Square around the Hungarian Parliament building has been released. The virtual space includes a collection of rarely seen films and less known facts to offer visitors a deeper understanding of the Hungarian nation's main square, its buildings and memorials.
The „intertwined history” of the bridges and the city of Budapest
Which ideas and events have shaped the fate of bridges of Budapest and the cityscape? Alongside many other interesting facts, this question is also answered this newly published book by the Budapest City Archives, which introduces the history of bridges in Budapest.
The Bridge Report, which brought a turning point in the history of Budapest
A travel report that changed the history of Pest and Buda, as well as Hungary. The little book contributed to the change of half a thousand years of legal customs and the implementation of an investment of unprecedented size and technical quality. This book was The Bridge Report [Hídjelentés in Hungarian].
Drama on the university wall - The heroic monument was planned 95 years ago
In the constant hustle and bustle of the Egyetem Square in Pest, the students may not even notice the monument that decorates the short section of wall between the church and the central building of ELTE. However, it commemorates their predecessors, the heroes who fought for their country in World War I, and those who heroically helped them. The first design of the dramatically collapsing soldier was born in 1928, ninety-five years ago.