PestBuda

New bridges in Budapest 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.

A virtual visit to Budapest – Explore Kossuth Square online 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.

Unique bicycle track being built in Budafok A bicycle pump track will be built in the 22nd District, in a previously unused area next to the Budafoki elágazás tram stop. Amateur and professional cyclists will be able to use the area. A wide promenade will lead through the park, and other communal spaces will be built as well.

The flood of 1876 – Devastation in Buda and Pest The flood of 1838 is part of our collective memory; everyone in Budapest has heard of it. However, it was not the last major flood that wreaked havoc in the capital. In 1876, 145 years ago, the river flooded, mainly damaging Buda but causing houses to collapse in Pest. Today, Budapest is safe from floods, which is mainly thanks to our ancestors' efforts in the 19th century.

House of Hungarian Music to open before Christmas The construction of the House of Hungarian Music in City Park has entered its final stage. To commemorate the occasion, a time capsule was placed in the centre of the building. The institution will open its doors to the general public before Christmas this year.

Restoration of Turul statue begins in Buda Castle The turul statue of Buda Castle has been lifted from its pedestal and moved to a temporary restoration workshop created on Savoyai Terrace. The statue will be cleaned, its bronze work repaired, and the internal iron frame reinforced.

Fifty years ago, humans weren’t the most numerous inhabitants of Budapest Rats are one of the most unpopular animals. However, they are also dangerous as they spread countless diseases. In the past, every big city was teeming with these rodents, and even today, only a few can say they are almost rat-free. Budapest is one of them.

Explore Archduke Joseph's Palace – Designs for the interior to be rebuilt revealed The reconstruction of Archduke Joseph's palace in Buda Castle will begin later this year. Newly released visuals showcase the glass-roofed ornamental main staircase, a two-story-high ceremonial hall, and the Renaissance revival garden.

A street in Buda and a mountain in Australia – Who was Tadeusz Kościuszko? Kosciuszko Tádé Street in the 1st District is generally well-known. However, few people know who the person behind the name was and why the street known as Koronaőr Street before 1948 was renamed in his honour. However, the hero of Polish independence, Tadeusz Kościuszko, born 275 years ago, was so well known in his day that in addition to a street in Buda, the highest mountain in Australia was named after him, and his statue was even erected in Washington.

International Investment Bank moved into Chain Bridge Palace The listed historical monument, Chain Bridge Palace, designed by Miklós Ybl, has become the Budapest headquarters of the International Investment Bank. The Renaissance revival building was completed in 1869 and opened in its new function on Friday.

A wise, diplomatic and friendly leader – Károly Ráth the first Lord Mayor of Budapest. Károly Ráth became the first Lord Mayor of the united Budapest in 1873. Although the Lord Mayor was already 52 years old when he took his post, many said he gave his whole life to serving Budapest. Educated as a lawyer, the mayor was extremely popular. He held his position for 24 years and was re-elected at every election he ran in until his death. Despite this, no public space in Budapest bears his name, nor does a statue stand to honour his memory.

From military training ground to nature preserve Not far from Megyeri Bridge, an environment filled with rare plants has survived, with biodiversity that would be sensational anywhere in the country. Yet a few decades ago, the Újpest Homoktövis Nature Reserve, one of the last remnants of the Rákos Fields, was still a military training ground. Join Pestbuda on the newest instalment in a series that explores the national wonders of Budapest.

Six months to go – Saint Stephen's Hall ever closer to (re)completion On 20 August, the first reconstructed ornate hall of the Royal Palace of Buda Castle will open to the public. Saint Stephen's Hall has the most lavish representative space of the turn of the century, housing several unique artistic and applied artistic solutions. The structure of the rebuilt Southern Connecting Wing of the Royal Palace is now complete, internal work will begin in the coming days.

A palace of glass – Szervita Square Building completed The new glass building on Szervita Square will house offices, luxury apartments and a parking garage. With seven overground and five underground stories the building replaced the old parking garage that was built on the square in 1973.

Restoration of Habsburg Gate and Turul statue in Buda Castle has begun The ornate gate built during the Hauszmann-reconstruction of Buda castle stands at the Szent György Square station of the Buda Castle Funicular. The ornate fence, stairs, and the adjoined great Turul statue – erected in 1905 – are being restored.

Cultural Centre in Buda Civic Casino to open on Krisztina Square The Budavár Cultural Centre has moved out of its previous home, the Andrássy Palace, at 6 Bem Quay. The institution will soon move into its new home at 1 Krisztina Square in the newly renovated building of the former Buda Civic Casino. The institution will operate as the Sándor Márai Cultural Center in the future.

The first panel building in Budapest was completed sixty years ago – A new era began next to Üllői Road In Hungary, a housing shortage defined the 1950s. Due to forced industrialization, thousands moved to the cities, chiefly Budapest and the newly created idealistic cities. However, there was not enough vacant housing in these cities. The communist government believed industrialised house construction to be the solution. As a result, the first panel building in Budapest was completed on the József Attila Housing Estate sixty years ago.

Renovation of Klauzál Square Planned The largest square in Erzsébetváros will be redesigned with larger green spaces, a dog park, and a playground. The local council awaits input from residents regarding the plans.

From Venice to Moorish ornaments – Uránia National Film Theatre turn 125 An iconic building in Budapest and one of the most important works in the oeuvre of the architect Henrik Schmahl has served Hungarian culture and entertainment for 125 years. The unique building with Moorish ornamentation is home to both the Uránia National Film Theatre and the University of Theater and Film Arts. The structure will now be given a new function. With the closing of the Ódry Stage, it will become a theatre for student productions. However, this article will offer a deep dive into the history of this marvellous building and its place in Budapest, rather than the details of a complex reorganisation.

Large-scale reforestation programme set to begin in Budapest The renewal and reforestation of forests in and around Budapest will start in two locations, Budakeszi forest in the 13th District and Határ forest in Kőbánya. The programme aims to increase the ratio of indigenous trees and shrubs in the forests and remove dangerous weak plants.