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].
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Leisure park opens in Gazdagrét
December 4, 2020 at 6:00 PM
The Kaptató Promenade sports and leisure park has opened in Gazdagrét in the 11th District. The park features a larger green area, an outdoor workout area, a dog park and a chess table.
Sports in 19th century – National Gymnasium turns 150
December 4, 2020 at 3:00 PM
One hundred and fifty years ago, a gymnasium was built in Budapest, a building that still stands on Szentkirályi Street. However, it is not quite like modern sports halls. From the outside, it looks just another palace. Only a small plaque reminds passers-by that it was once built as the National gymnasium in 1870 following the Austro-Hungarian compromise, during Gyula Andrássy's term as Prime Minister. This is what a gymnasium was like at the time: it looked like a palace and housed not only three halls and dressing rooms, but space for the community to live its life. While the rooms are now used for university education, the sports halls still serve their original function.
Millennium House receives prestigious architecture award
December 4, 2020 at 10:00 AM
Millennium House has received prestigious recognition at the Hungarian Real Estate Development Awards. The renovated cultural institution – one of the oldest buildings in City Park was named best development in the culture category of the awards.
Commemorative medal issued in honor of the 125-year-old Hungarian Olympic Committee
December 3, 2020 at 5:30 PM
The Hungarian National Bank has issued a silver commemorative coin with a face value of HUF 10,000 and a non-ferrous metal coin with a face value of HUF 2,000 on the 125th birthday of the Hungarian Olympic Committee.
Homeless shelter in City Hall still a possibility?
December 3, 2020 at 11:00 AM
The Budapest Government Office is to restart the procedures pertaining to the homeless shelter. The decision opens up the possibility for a temporary crisis shelter to be created in City Hall.
Botanical Garden in City Park opens
December 2, 2020 at 2:00 PM
Renovated botanical garden, a new dog park, and the two-kilometre-long, illuminated running track have been opened in City Park. With this, more than 150,000 square metres of green space has been revitalized during the development of the park.
Fifty years since the new trains arrived some are still in use on suburban railway lines
December 2, 2020 at 10:00 AM
Over the last few days, a number of articles have surfaced regarding the two companies that remain in competition to provide the new trains for the suburban railway lines. The new vehicles are much needed, as most of the current trains were bought in the 1970s. The oldest of them has been in use on the Csepel line for 55 years.
Fifty years of construction – Saint Stephen's Basilica opened 115 years ago
December 1, 2020 at 3:00 PM
St. Stephen's Basilica is the largest church in Budapest. Today, it is one of Budapest's most famous monuments of the capital, thanks to the work of Miklós Ybl. However, it also features prominently in the oeuvre of two other architects: József Hild started its design, while József Kauser finished its construction. Construction lasted an astounding 55 years, and the church was finally consecrated 115 years ago, on 19 November 1905.
A remény adventje – Idén csendes ünneplés lesz a Szent István-bazilikánál
November 30, 2020 at 3:00 PM
The Christmas market before Saint Stephen's Basilica was voted the most beautiful Christmas Market in 2019. This year, the event will be unusual and move online. The three festive symbols, a 12-meter tall decorated Christmas tree, a nativity scene and an Advent wreath with a diameter of 5 metres will be placed in Saint Stephen's Square.
From pawn shop to University – Construction of the Central Pawnbroker Offices began 120 years ago
November 30, 2020 at 10:00 AM
A huge building on Lónyay Street has stood empty for fifteen years. It has been unused for so long that most passers-by will not even remember its name. Yet for more than a hundred years, it was the centre of trading in pledged goods. Over the past years, there have been plans to build a hotel in the walls, films have been shot within them, and there were fears that it would be demolished. In the end, this beautiful example of turn-of-the-century architecture is being saved.
A Tu-154 aircraft first visited Budapest 50 years ago
November 29, 2020 at 10:00 AM
The introduction of a new type of aircraft has always been a great sensation in Budapest. It was no different when the most modern passenger aircraft of the time, a product the Soviet aviation industry, the Tu-154, arrived in the city 50 years ago.
Archaeologists uncover Sarmatian ruins in Zugló
November 28, 2020 at 2:00 PM
A Sarmatian settlement from the 2nd–3rd centuries is being excavated near Rákos Stream in the 14th District. Dugout homes, water pits, roman ceramic, glass and metal artefacts have been found.
Budapest, the 1920 Olympics and the storms of history
November 28, 2020 at 9:00 AM
Hungarian athletes and sports fans have long been preoccupied with the question of when Budapest will host the Olympic Games. Budapest has applied several times and even won the right to host the 1920 Olympics 100 years ago. Many plans for the various buildings were drawn up but World War I pushed history in a different direction. In the centenary of this failed bid, join PestBuda in a glace through the plans, and what was realised of them.
A greener Buda – trees and other plants planted in Buda
November 27, 2020 at 5:00 PM
About 250 trees have been planted in the 2nd District through November.
Illuminated Christmas-tram service begins
November 27, 2020 at 2:00 PM
The old-timer tram decorated in festive lights will run on several lines this year and can be used until 6th January.
The new Chain Bridge opened 105 years ago
November 27, 2020 at 10:00 AM
The Chain Bridge, as seen today, is not the structure that István Széchenyi dreamed of and which was built to the plans of William Tierney Clark. The Chain Bridge we love and use today is 105 years old and was opened on 27 November 1915.
New sports hall of Szent Margit Secondary School opened
November 26, 2020 at 2:00 PM
The secondary school in Buda has received a completely new sports hall, the roof of which is a handball court.
Tradition and Modernity: The sacred art of Béla Lajta
November 26, 2020 at 10:00 AM
In a recent article, PestBuda honoured the memory of Béla Lajta. One of the leading Hungarian architects of the early 20th century, Lajta played a definitive role in the formation of Budapest in the period. Continuing a series in honour of the centenary of his death, join us on a tour of his sacred art in the Jewish cemeteries of Salgótarjáni Street and Kozma Street.
Ruins of observatory found on Gellért hill
November 25, 2020 at 1:00 PM
Archaeological excavations are happening in preparation of the renovation of the Citadel. Around the fortification, the ruins of the observatory that once stood on Gellért Hill but was destroyed in 1867 have been found. The dig team has also confirmed the find of a First World War gun carriage, Celtic, Roman, and Ottoman Turkish coins. The renovation of the courtyard is set to begin soon, accompanied by the restoration on the outer walls.
Motorised Tricycles – A new postal service arose 120 ears ago
November 25, 2020 at 9:00 AM
The Hungarian Postal Service played a central role in the motorisation of Hungary. The company first began using foreign vehicles, but 120 years ago, the first Hungarian-made vehicles entered into service. These early attempts were not even cars, but motorised tricycles, powered by Hungarian internal combustion engines.
National Christmas tree erected on Kossuth Square
November 24, 2020 at 4:00 PM
The massive silver pine will decorate the square from the beginning of Advent to Epiphany.
Tens of thousands of fires – A short history of the 150-year-old Budapest Fire Brigade
November 24, 2020 at 12:00 PM
Founded in 1870 through the initiative of Ödön Szécsenyi professional firefighters have been battling flames in Budapest ever since. Over the last 150 years, they have proven themselves not only during fires and catastrophes but through the storms of History during the world wars and the siege of Budapest. Their work is now a fundamental requirement of the city functioning safely.
New Görgey Park completed in Csepel
November 23, 2020 at 3:00 PM
The newly opened Görgey Park in Csepel was renovated based on observations collected from the public. A fountain, running track and other sports equipment can be found on the green, where 40 new saplings have also been planted.
The only pope to visit Budapest twice: Pope John Paul II
November 23, 2020 at 10:00 AM
Allegations that surfaced recently in the McCarrick report have ignited calls to have Pope John Paul II stripped of his sainthood. The much-revered Pope was the first to visit Budapest, and as a result, has a living memory in Budapest.
Mester Street Clinic receiving five-storey expansion
November 22, 2020 at 2:00 PM
The planning of the expansion of the Mester Street Clinic in the 9th District is underway. The six-storey building is planned to be opened in 2023, leading to the concentration of healthcare services in Ferencváros.
Built in an uninhabited area, houses now surround the 250-year-old Franciscan church
November 22, 2020 at 9:00 AM
Augustinian Friars built the baroque church and monastery in the previously uninhabited area of what is today Buda. In 1785 the complex passed on to the Franciscan Order, who expanded the original building. Residential buildings have since surrounded the Franciscan church. Nevertheless, the walls have survived the vicissitudes of history and continue to offer peace to their community.
Kalevala statue unveiled in Buda
November 21, 2020 at 2:00 PM
The park bordered by Attila Road, Krisztina Boulevard and Szarvas Square was renamed Kalevala Park last year. A monument to the Finnish epic was unveiled recently.
Masterpieces with a view – A visit to the Royal Palace of Buda Castle
November 21, 2020 at 9:00 AM
A few secrets from Buda Castle: there is no gas in the building for security reasons; thus, the whole complex is connected to district heating. The current dome reaches higher than the original planned by Alajos Hauszmann. At the turn of the century, the length of the connecting halls facing the river was matched only by Versailles. Pestbuda visited the building before pandemic-related limits on events entered into force, as part of a guided tour offered within the Budai Várséták ('walks in Buda Castle') series of the National Hauszmann Program.
Trees lining Újpest Embankment to be refreshed
November 20, 2020 at 2:00 PM
Starting from Jászai Mari Square and moving north a total of 105 elderly acacia trees will be felled and 161 common maples planted. The maple is indigenous, can cope well with urban environments and grows lush foliage within a few years.
Böske Bridge – The story of Petőfi Pontoon Bridge
November 20, 2020 at 9:00 AM
Following the devastation of World War II a series of temporary bridges were constructed in Budapest to ensure movement around the city. One of these was the Petőfi Pontoon Bridge, which was named after the fact that it connected Petőfi Square in Pest, with Döbrentei Square in Buda, not far from the ruins of Erzsébet Bridge. However, the population quickly became to use the slightly more ingenious name, Böske Bridge, Böske being a common Hungarian nickname for Erzsébet or Elizabeth. The name Petőfi Bridge was later inherited by a completely different structure.
A dream shared by Liszt and Erkel – 145 years of the Academy of Music
November 19, 2020 at 2:00 PM
The Hungarian National Academy of Music opened with much ceremony 145 years ago on 14 November 1875. The institution was temporarily housed on the present-day Március 15. Square, Hal Square at the time. It moved into the four-storey palace on Andrássy Avenue in 1879. Its current main building on Liszt Ferenc Square was opened in 1907. Franz Liszt and Ferenc Erkel are the reason that the highest level of music training began in Hungary.
Márai statue unveiled in Újpest
November 19, 2020 at 9:00 AM
The new bronze bust of the writer Sándor Márai was erected in the suburbs of Újpest on Szent László Square.
New interactive map lists nearly 1000 street names connected to Trianon
November 18, 2020 at 2:00 PM
A new interactive map highlights public spaces in Budapest that bare names that refer to territories, settlements, fortifications, ethnographic areas and peoples annexed by surrounding countries as a result of the dictated Treaty of Trianon that ended World War I for Hungary.
A new bridge in the heart of the 11th District
November 18, 2020 at 9:00 AM
A rail bridge has crossed above the intersection of Tétényi Road – Bartók Béla Road and Karolina Road in the 11th District for 71 years. In connection to the development of the Southern Ring Railway, a longer and wider railway overpass is being built. The goal is to convert the newly gained space underneath into an urban plaza, with trees and greens, and ample room for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport passengers to move through freely.
A bird's eye view of the Royal Palace of Buda Castle
November 17, 2020 at 5:00 PM
A unique drone shot of the reconstructed building of Buda Castle has been released. After a close view of the newly restored Mátyás Fountain, turning to the Main Guardhouse and its charismatic café, to fly over and into the newly completed Riding hall. After a close examination of the building's details, the shots swoops past the Csikós Statue.
Vizafogó Nursery wins Budapest Architecture Award 2020
November 17, 2020 at 2:00 PM
The reconstruction and expansion of the Vizafogó Nursery has won this year's Budapest Építészeti Nívódíj or the Budapest Architecture Award. The third phase of the MOME Campus and Creative Innovation Knowledge Park, the National Museum Restoration and Storage Centre, and the Ligeti Studio villa, alongside the Havana Market, received honourable mentions.
Built on a freight station: the Millennium City Centre
November 17, 2020 at 9:00 AM
Budapest is a city of constant change. This is especially true for parts of the city that were once industrial centres or served these industries. The decaying remains of 100–150-year-old factories are often called rust belts. While the future of many of these areas remains uncertain, some examples have been completely transformed and given an entirely new lease on life. Over the past 25 years, the Millennium City Centre has sprouted where the Danube-Bank Freight Station once stood and has become such an area.
Extra work slows renovation of Western Railway Station
November 16, 2020 at 4:00 PM
The renovation of the 143-year-old Nyugati Pályaudvar's, the Western Railway Station's, roof is underway. However, due to newly discovered faults revealed by the work in progress, further repairs will have to be carried out on the historical monument. These unforeseen additional tasks will delay completion of the restoration until the end of summer 2021.
When Five Year Plans decided the future of Budapest
November 16, 2020 at 9:00 AM
Under Socialist rule, the state governed economy operated according to what were called five-year plans. These determined the type and volume of goods and raw materials to be produced in the next five year period. However, these should not be equated with a well thought out business plan, as they were not based on realistic demand and business opportunities.
Hungarian coat of arms on Ybl retaining wall restored
November 15, 2020 at 2:00 PM
The Ybl Retaining Wall below the Csikós Courtyard in Buda Castle is currently being renovated. The Hungarian national coat of arms decorated with the Holy Crown of Hungary is now visible on a renewed section of the wall.
Over 500 artefacts and mementos from Metro M3 transferred to Museum of Transport
November 15, 2020 at 9:00 AM
A total of 510 artefacts, items and mementoes of the M3 metro line have been transferred to the collection of the Hungarian Museum of Science, Technology and Transport, including well-remembered wall-coverings, information boards and yellow benches. The letter-mosaic found in the station on Deák Square will remain in its original location.
The most Hungarian Habsburg rests in Buda Castle – A visit to the Palatine Crypt
November 14, 2020 at 9:00 AM
A lesser-known segment of the vast Royal Palace of Buda Castle has housed the final resting place of the Palatine-branch of the House of Habsburg since the Hungarian National Awakening and the Reform Period. The crypt of the Habsburg palatines has remained almost unchanged since the 19h century. Few know that a Habsburg was buried in the crypt in the 2010s. Pestbuda visited the stunning site as part of a tour organised by the National Hauszmann Program before the restrictions announced on 10 November, limiting events entered into force. Join us on a visit to the crypt of the Royal Palace of Buda Castle.
The English edition of PestBuda magazine now live
November 13, 2020 at 2:00 PM
The PestBuda urban history magazine is launching an English edition to provide meaningful information and quality articles to internationals living, working or studying in Hungary, and the descendants of Hungarians around the world who no longer speak Hungarian, about the rich urban heritage, culture and often surprising history of Budapest.
Stunning house with famous underground safe renovated in Buda Castle
November 13, 2020 at 10:00 AM
The house under 72 Úri Street and its underground tunnels once housed Hungary's gold reserves during the second world war and 600–700 people alongside them. In the 1950s the location was used to control the electrical grid. The house has newly been restored to its original late-baroque design as the educational centre of the Hungarian National Bank.
The home of national diets, Királydomb, to be named national memorial site
November 12, 2020 at 2:00 PM
The government has submitted its proposal to name Királydomb (lit., 'hill of the king') in Rákosmező a national memorial site. Found in present-day Kőbánya along the Rákos Stream, the field once hosted national diets and the elections of Kings. The area is under threat of being built up.
The charitable doctor – 150th anniversary of László Batthyány-Strattmann's birth
November 12, 2020 at 9:00 AM
The Batthyány family has given Hungary many excellent soldiers, politicians and scientists. Among them, Dr László Batthyány-Strattmann stands out with his dedication and love for humanity. As an ophthalmologist, he spent all his wealth, time and energy treating the poor. Pope John Paul II beatified the prince in 2003.
Fifty years in the works: Airport express road to become dual-carriageway
November 11, 2020 at 11:00 AM
Although not many people are travelling by plane during the pandemic, everyone agrees that better transport is needed between Liszt Ferenc International Airport and the Budapest city centre. A new rail connection to the airport is in the works, and now a design tender for expanding the expressway to the airport to two lanes in each direction has been announced. But how has Budapest grown out of the road that served the airport for decades?
Stunning buildings stand deserted around Budapest
November 10, 2020 at 10:00 AM
The Hungarian capital is filled with beautiful buildings. Houses, public institutions, museums, hospitals, the list goes on. Nevertheless, several impressive buildings that once fulfilled important tasks stand empty in modern Budapest, waiting for a new tenant to return them to their former glory. This list collects five abandoned buildings found in Budapest.
Once known as Stalin Bridge, Árpád Bridge turns 70
November 9, 2020 at 9:00 AM
Its construction was abandoned during the Second World War. It bore Stalin's name for six years and was the longest bridge in the country for years. Árpád Bridge is now seventy years old.
Ice skating rink to be built on Kapisztrán Square
November 8, 2020 at 5:30 PM
A new ice skating rink is to be built in Buda, within the castle walls in front of the local mayor's office. Parking on the square will be suspended.
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.
A message from the former school: An exhibition in memory of János Neumann was opened at the Fasori Secondary School
An exhibition was opened in János Neumann's former school, the Fasori Lutheran Secondary School, on the occasion of the 120th anniversary of the world-famous mathematician's birth. In the exhibition presenting the former Neumann milieu, paintings, graphics, photos, furniture, and objects tell the story of the art-supporting spirit of the noble bourgeois family at the turn of the century.