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Reconstruction of the former Red Cross headquarters on Dísz Square to begin in 2021 Designed by Alajos Hauszmann and Dezső Hültl, the palace once housed the Red Cross Society, and then the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The representative spaces of the palace, torn down after World War II, and its façade will be rebuilt according to the original plans. Other areas will be reimagined for the modern age.

Filled to the brim – Balls and dances during carnival season in Pest filled the city In today’s world, filled with fears caused by the pandemic, many have forgotten that these weeks are traditionally some of the happiest in the year: Carnival season. The time for masquerade balls and fun, of bidding winter farewell, and turning towards the spring. Sadly entertainment is limited this year, but the stories of the past can console us, as we remember the brass bands playing in City Park, as ball after ball was held throughout Buda and Pest, and a street organ sounded through Óbuda.

New school building on Völgy Street in 2nd District nears completion A topping-out ceremony has been held at the new school building under construction in Völgy Street within the 2nd District. Teaching will begin in the new structure in September, with 350 students enjoying the new conditions.

A hidden gem – The forgotten true beauty of Merzse Swamp Budapest is perhaps one of the leading capitals in the world in terms of groundwater and springs. However, not only springs can be found throughout the city. Once Pest was surrounded by swamps: from the present-day Újpest to Soroksár swampy areas ringed the city. Today, the diverse wildlife that surrounded Pest not so long ago is confined to the small Merzse Swamp.

New gymnasium planned for Budafok An impressive gymnasium is built in the 22nd District between Antal Nagy Secondary School and György Kolonics Primary School. The venue will house events as well as basketball games and other sports. Construction of the facility is expected to begin in the summer and should be completed by the end of 2022.

Changes planned for the area around Buda bridgehead of Petőfi Bridge Goldmann György Square in the 11th District will be completely transformed. The university is planning to construct new buildings in place of the V2 building and the canteen that have stood empty for years. A zero-emission research centre has been planned for the site. Dive into the history of this unique site with PestBuda!

Renovation of Blaha Lujza Square to begin this year Traffic flow around Blaha Lujza Square will be redesigned, creating a pedestrian-friendly space with new trees. The grass-covered areas of the square will increase, and water games added. A unique pavilion for events and cultural purposes will be built. The facade of the Corvin Department Store will also be restored. Work beginning in 2021 will last for roughly one and a half years.

The future of Gutenberg – Construction of printers' headquarters began 115 years ago The construction of a masterpiece of Hungarian Art Nouveau architecture, Gutenberg House, began in 1906. The residential building that served cultural purposes for several decades is still unique, despite losing much of its charm over the last few years. The sculptures and murals that adorned its facade were destroyed almost 50 years ago, this stunning building would deserve to be restored to its original condition.

A bridge of legends – Mythbusting the stories about Chain Bridge The lions have always had tongues, and the bridge is not a copy of another structure in England, not was it named after Széchenyi in 1899. There are several urban legends about Budapest’s oldest permanent river crossing, and some have even made their way into professional writing, despite being untrue. Join Pestbuda on an adventure to separate fact from fiction and uncover unique facts about this outstanding, unparalleled structure in Budapest, Chain Bridge.

University of Theater and Film Arts opens new campus on Mészáros Street The Zsigmond Vilmos Institute of Motion Picture Arts will move into the newly renovated former headquarters of Duna TV on Mészáros Street in the 1st District. Students are expected to begin using the campus in February. The University organised a press tour of the new facilities.

Four tram stops to be redesigned on Line 50 Following the renovations on tram line 50 passengers will be able to access the platforms through ramps, to help wheelchair users and commuters with prams. Work is expected to last until this Autumn.

Landslide in Buda: cracked walls and sunken villas lined Castle Hill In January 1936 the earth began to move in Buda. But it was not an earthquake but a landslide. The western slope of Castle Hill began to slide. Roads sank, houses cracked, many homes had to be abandoned. The hill’s movement lasted for months and was eventually stopped in the Autumn. Several houses were demolished due to the disaster.

Plans for family park in Tétényi Meadows completed The family park in Tétényi Meadows will be built around the Danube Swabian Memorial in Nagytétény in the 22nd District. Utilising the trees in the area, a thematic playground, slide park, outdoor gym, fenced dog park, ping pong tables and a small hill for tobogganing. Visual designs of the park have been completed.

A master of beautiful gates – Works by Gyula Jungfer adorn public buildings around Budapest A walk around the representative public buildings of Budapest is almost a walk to visit the major works on GyulaJungfer. The artist that reimagined ironworking in Hungary and elevated it to an applied art was born 180 years ago. His work still defines Budapest.

Replanning of Szent János hospital begins Szent János Hospital, which covers nearly 150,000 square meters and has nearly fifty buildings, will be renovated over several years. The designers promise that the listed historical buildings of the pavilion-type hospital will be redesigned to preserve their architectural heritage while bringing them in line with the demands of modern medicine.

Renovation of Chain Bridge to begin at the end of February The public procurement procedure for the renovation of Chain Bridge has been completed. The renovation will begin at the end of February, and the technical handover procedure will be finished by the autumn of 2023.

A forgotten bridge on the Danube – Many forget the second road bridge under construction in Budapest Two bridges are being built as part of the Galvani Bridge development project. The cable-stayed structure spanning the main Danube branch has been discussed in detail but the other bridge planned to cross the Soroksár branch of the river has almost been forgotten, despite being a major and beautiful piece of infrastructure.

The future of the Citadel seen from the sky A unique drone video is giving viewers a sneak peek into the future of the Citadel. The dilapidated fortress on the top of Gellért Hill will soon be renovated. Its outer walls, courtyard and cannon tower will be restored. The new public park will open in 2022, and an exhibition entitled "Bastion of Freedom" showcasing the Hungarian nation's struggles for independence will open in 2023, housed in the old cannon tower.

Irredentist statues erected on Szabadság Square 100 years ago The group of irredentist sculptures erected in response to the Trianon Peace Treaty was unveiled a hundred years ago, on 16 January 1921. One of the first spectacular responses to the treaty that ended World War I was welcomed by a crowd of 50.000. The sculptors. Zsigmond Kisfaludi Strobl, István Szentgyörgyi, János Pásztor and Ferenc Sidló cast the statues to depict everything that the territories lost only half a year earlier had meant in Hungarian history.

New exhibition about the Middle Ages opens in the Castle Museum The Vármúzeum ('Castle Museum') of the Budapest History Museum has created the fifth exhibition that places the finds of mediaeval archaeology from the past year in the spotlight. While the physical exhibition does exist. Currently, visits are limited to virtual tours.

Historical buildings avoid destruction in Budapest city-centre In response to recent events, the Prime Minister's Office has ordered the initiation of listing two buildings as historical monuments of Budapest. All work must stop on the Márványmenyasszony ('marble-bride') restaurant in the 1st District, which hosted the weddings of historical figures such as Széchenyi and Wesselényi and the house on Kazinczy Street, which has become known as Tamás Wichmann's pub. Although the future of these buildings remains uncertain, their history is known all the better.

Planning of Népliget Railway Station begins The planning of the third new stop on the Southern Circular Railroad has begun after the planners were confirmed. The new station will provide an easy transfer to metro and national coach services.

The brilliant Kálmán Kandó – One of Hungary's greatest design engineers Kálmán Kandó, the enormously talented design engineer of Ganz Works, died ninety years ago. High-efficiency generators, transformers and electric motors were the results of his work. His efforts made electric power much more efficient.

New buildings of University of Theatre and Film Arts revealed From February, the University of Theatre and Film Art will continue work in new, renovated and modern educational facilities and new names for its institutes — the university's leadership has announced.

Construction of passenger centre in Keleti railway station begins The passenger centre's construction in the 137-year-old Keleti Railway Station, which serves 11 million passengers each year, is set to begin. The station's underpass section will be completely redesigned, and passenger access to the station will be easier with new escalators and lifts. The project will increase passenger comfort and is expected to be completed towards the end of this year.

Franz Joseph supported exhibition to showcase the most famous Hungarians A long-awaited exhibition opened in the Castle Garden Bazaar 135 years ago. Entitled Portrait Gallery of Hungarian History it collected depictions of the most famous Hungarians in chronological order. The effort was supported from the highest levels, and its creation was seen as not only a cultural but academic endeavour.

Building of the University of Theatre and Film Arts was once owned by the YMCA The buildings of Budapest hide many secrets. At times, the city can even surprise those who have been researching the history of its buildings for years. In many cases, plaques placed on facades commemorate or highlight interesting details from their history. One such plaque can be found on the facade of 2/C Vas Street, the building of the University of Theatre and Film Arts. The text encourages passers-by to dig a little deeper into the structure's history, by noting that a church once stood within the walls.

Memorial plaque remembers victims of the Maros Street massacre A memorial plaque has been unveiled in the courtyard of the former Jewish hospital, to commemorate the victims of the massacre carried out by members of the Arrow Cross Party on 12 January 1945. Forty men and forty-four women lost their lives, including patients, doctors and nurses.

Churches of the Holy Family call the faithful in both Buda and Pest On 27 December last year, Pope Francis announced in Rome that the Catholic Church will celebrate a special year dedicated to family love, beginning on 19 March 2021. Discussions about the concept of a family have recently brought the issue to the front of public debates, making the Year "Amoris Laetitia Family" a particularly well-timed initiative in the country. Currently, three churches in Budapest are dedicated to the Holy Family, reminding the faithful that family appeared as a fundamental value and a natural element of human existence at the beginning of Christianity. In preparation for the year of the family, Pestbuda visited the Churches of the Holy Family in Zugliget and Terézváros.

Old school in 1st District being torn down – Residential building planned as replacement The former Szent Gellért Primary School building is being torn down at 8 Gellérhegy Street in the 1st district. A residential building with 44 flats will be built in its place. Demolition began a few days ago.

Castle walls and walkways being renovated in Buda Castle The restoration of the parks and walls of Buda Castle is continuing with work to renovate the retaining walls and walkways throughout the Palace. The elegant historical gardens will regain their former elegance.

Buda Castle and drinking water: Water pumps designed by Adam Clark completed 165 years ago A settlement needs water. And Buda Castle had various water supplies even in the middle ages. The city was supplied with water from the springs of Svábhegy and the Danube. Until the middle of the 19th century, pumps powered by animals pushed the water to the top of the hill. The first engine-powered pumping station in Buda was established 165 years ago, opening in 1856. Its designer was Adam Clark, the engineer that led the construction of Chain Bridge.

Plans to develop surroundings of Keleti Railway Station A real estate development program will be launched in the area around Keleti Railway Station. Government to provide 800 million HUF towards preparations.

Legendary locomotives arrive at future site of Transport Museum — Exhibition to showcase vehicles and plans The Museum of Science, Technology, and Transportation is preparing a large-scale temporary exhibition at its new home in the Északi Járműjavító, or Northern Vehicle Repair Shop. While the opening of the new Transport Museum is still a way down the road, the exhibition hopes to present the past and future of the new site to the public. When the public will be able to visit the exhibition depends on how the pandemic unfolds, but the vehicles to be showcase have already arrived at the site.

Downloadable album released about 90-year-old freeport in Csepel The 260-page publication showcases the 90-years history of the Csepel Freeport. Beyond photographs, the album contains unique historical documents.

Two tram stops renovated in Óbuda The tram stops at Selmeci Street and Szent Margit Hospital have been completely renovated. The passengers of lines 17, 19 and 41 will now enjoy wheelchair access and safe, protected pedestrian crossings to the completely renewed platforms.

Central Bank of Hungary to issue commemorative coin in honour of Saint Stephen The Central bank of Hungary has launched a new series of commemorative coins entitled "The Kings of the Áprád Dynasty that built a nation." A coin issued in honour of Saint Stephen will be the most valuable, with a face value of 500.000 HUF.

The eight-month miracle – Kossuth Bridge completed from scraps 75 years ago Previous articles on PestBuda have detailed how the retreating German forces destroyed all Danube bridges in Budapest. After the war, a series of temporary structures were erected to connect the battle-torn city’s two halves. However, it was obvious that a somewhat permanent structure would be needed. The result was Kossuth Bridge.

Renovated Nursery opens in Terézváros The Patrona Hungariae Nursery has been opened following a complete renovation and expansion. The nursery at 65 Szondi Street in the 6th District has been made accessible for those with limited mobility, while new group and development rooms have been created on the newly added upper floor. The internal courtyard was also renovated with new toys and plants.

Sixty-five years ago an earthquake shook Budapest Recent earthquakes in Croatia have caused more than 100 million HUF damage in Hungary, while some tremors have even been felt in Budapest. Earthquakes are not extremely common in the Carpathian Basin but do occur sporadically. One of the largest recorded tremors in Hungary, which also led to the loss of life, happened on the outskirts of Budapest 65 years ago, in January 1956.

Cars to be barred from City Park – Heroes Square to become pedestrian zone Officials announced that plans to create a car-free City Park are being prepared. A new overpass will be built above the Rákosrendező railway station to connect Zugló and Angyalföld. A new P+R car park, with 1500 spaces, is to be built at the terminus of the Millennium Underground at Mexikói Road.

Bulgarian community in Budapest renounces right to use property on Bajza Street in return for state funding The Hungarian state is providing 2,6 Billion HUF of funding, and the Bulgarian state 350 million HUF of support towards the construction of the new Centre of Bulgarian Culture on Vágóhíd Street in Ferencváros. In return for the state aid, the community will renounce its right to use a property on Bajza Street in the 6th District. The new cultural centre will be completed within two or three years.

Shop assistants with subscriptions to hairdressers – The Kálvin Square department store The department store is one of Kálvin Square's defining buildings and stands on a plot that once housed a school operated by the Reformed Church. In the interwar years, the city knew the shop as the Fenyvess Department Store. And while it only bore the name for 25 years, many remember the name to this day.

Further sections of ancient settlements found along Rákos Stream Archaeologists have found traces of wooden houses from the late Bronze Age, built 3300 years ago, in the 14th district. Wooden remains, ceramic artefacts and a pendant have been unearthed during the excavation.

Oldest working butcher shop in Budapest shuts down One of Budapest's oldest and most beautiful butcher shops at 29 Mester Street closed its doors on 31 December.

A funeral gave life to the bridge that created Budapest Two hundred years ago, a younger Hungarian hussar officer made a rather reckless statement to a friend. His words had many consequences and changed the lives of many forever. The officer, in fact, was only in a hurry to reach his father's funeral.

Former tram terminus in Zugliget to be renovated The former tram terminus at Zugliget is to be renovated as part of the Normafa Park Program, with additional funding provided by the government. A new skating rink will be added to the complex.

Rebirth: Historic palace at 47 Andrássy Avenue restored The building has housed one of the most beautiful cafes in Budapest, a casino, a pharmacy, a glove shop and a car dealership. Until recently, the building that once housed Café Palermo was a black sheep on Andrássy Avenue, but the era of real-estate related corruption and degradation has come to an end. Standing on the corner of Liszt Ferenc Square and Andrássy Avenue, the building currently hidden by a safety net, which hides the luxury apartments being built as part of the restoration.