PestBuda

Five-storey expansion of clinic in Ferencváros to go ahead The Ferencváros Health Service Centre will be expanded with a new five-storey building. Within the Healthy Budapest Program framework, the government is providing a total of 5.6 billion HUF for development.

The famous line of hotels on the Danube Promenade started to develop in the year of the millennium Several hostels and inns awaited local and foreign guests on the banks of the Danube in Pest during the Reform period. What would become the Danube Promenade south of Chain Bridge, was a stronghold of hospitality. Most of the houses constructed in the 1870s were not originally built as hotels, and it was not until the millennium that these developments began in the area. Upscale luxury hotels such as the Grand Hotel Hungária and Bristol awaited guests at the end of the 19th century and from the 1910s, the Ritz.

Huge new park opens in Budapest The surroundings of Puskás Arena have been revitalised. A new public park awaits visitors with huge green areas, playgrounds, a running track and sports fields. After the European Football Championship, even more sports fields will be built in the area.

The pedestal of the Mária Square memorial column is being renovated – The statue was restored last year The pedestal of the Mária Immaculata memorial column in Mária Square in the 1st district is being restored. The upper part of the work, along with the statue, was restored last year.

Neither Pest nor Buda wanted a private company to build the first bridge in Budapest – the bridge law is 185 years old A law promulgated 185 years ago made it possible to build the first permanent Danube bridge connecting Buda and Pest. A long debate preceded the adoption of the bridge law because neither Pest nor Buda supported a private company building the bridge, as they did not want to waive their customs rights.

Next steps for a car-free City Park – Planning of the new Pest overpass begins Another milestone towards a car-free City Park has been made. The Budapest Development Center has signed a contract to design a new overpass in Pest over the Rákosrendező railway station. It has also announced a public procurement procedure for designing a P+R car park to be built at the Mexikói road underground station.

Artefacts found at 14th century castle wall The finds from the Anjou or Sigismund-era constructions were found near the castle walls of the Royal Palace of Buda Castle, in the New World Garden. Staff from the Budapest History Museum completed the excavations. The finds are of particular importance because little is known about the Anjou-era parts of the palace.

Tivadar Puskás built the first Hungarian telephone exchange 140 years ago The first telephone exchange started operating in Budapest on May 1, 1881. Tivadar Puskás and his brother Ferenc built the equipment. Initially, the phone centre had only 25 subscribers, but its popularity grew steadily. Based on the telephone network and the telephone exchange, Tivadar Puskás's truly great invention, the Telephone Herald (Telefonhírmondó), was born and presented at the Millennium Exhibition.

A jewel above Budapest - The Jókai Garden has retained its charm Although Mór Jókai was not born and raised in Budapest, he still gave something to the capital that is irreplaceable. The garden and park he created have retained their charm to this day, despite the vicissitudes of history. The institutions here, which try to preserve Jókai's heritage, play a major role in these efforts.

Celebrating the millennial past of the Hungarian nation The central event of the millennium celebrations of 1896, held on the anniversary of the Hungarian Conquest of the Carpathian Basin, was the National Millennium Exhibition held in City Park. The exhibition, which was open for half a year, offered insight into the past of Hungarians and provided an opportunity to present the results achieved during the extraordinary economic development after the Austro-Hungarian Compromise.

Royal Palace of Buda Castle reopens with new guided walk and Hauszmann exhibition Cultural life has returned to the Royal Palace. A new, free exhibition entitled The Hauszmann Story presents the rebirth of the Buda Castle District. Visitors are also invited on a spectacular, underground adventure walk as part of the Buda Castle Walks.

Missing inscription to return to the facade of Palace of Justice A Latin inscription once proclaimed the judicial role of the building that stands opposite the Parliament building on Kossuth Square. Until 1949 the Palace of Justice housed the Curia, Hungary's highest court of appeal. The inscription was removed in the 1950s. During the building's renovation and the relocation of the Curia, the original inscription will return after seventy years.

Second life for the bridges of Budapest? Recently, an announcement was published about reusing the pieces of the soon-to-be-demolished Southern Railway Bridge in Budapest for other, smaller bridges, such as connections to Hajógyári Island. At first glance, it sounds like a rather strange idea to create a new bridge from a used one, but it is not uncommon at all, even in Budapest. There are several bridges in the capital, the elements of which were once parts of other structures.

The last swamp in Buda may become an eternal forest A questionnaire is being used to assess people's position on the development of the last swampy area of Buda, the protected Mocsárosdűlő. The Budapest City Council hopes to create an eternal forest by planting native tree species in the area. The council is waiting for opinions primarily on the function of the area by 5 May.

The imposing palace of Vörösmarty Square – Headquarters of the world-famous Haas Fülöp & Sons Company Fülöp Haas founded the most high-quality carpet manufacturer in the age of dualism in Vienna. The company, which later became world-famous, had two factories in Hungary and a central department store and warehouse in Budapest: one of the most beautiful palaces of today's Vörösmarty Square. The company, which made the production of carpets an applied art, also made the ornate wall tapestry of Saint Stephen Hall in the Royal Palace of Buda Castle, which will soon be reborn in the reconstruction.

Work continues on Millenáris – Reconstruction of Reception Hall begins The renovation of the Reception Hall and the Main Hall of the former Ganz factory on Millenáris Park has begun. The buildings will host community venues and exhibition spaces. The park will host the Álmo Álmodói – Világraszóló magyarok 2.0 ('Dreamers of Dream – Internationally renowned Hungarians') exhibition to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the park's opening.

Budapest is home to one of the oldest veterinary training institutions in Europe The building complex of the University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest has been serving Hungarian veterinary training for exactly 140 years. The building complex in Erzsébetváros, located between today's Rottenbiller and Bethlen Streets, was designed by Imre Steindl, decorated with Zsolnay majolica and stained glass by Miksa Róth. On the World Day of Veterinarians, 28 April, PestBuda presents the history and building complex of the University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest.

The statue of Marx and Engels inaugurated fifty years ago The theoretical foundations of communism were laid by a German philosopher and a wealthy German merchant. Neither of them were workers, yet they hatched plans for a perfect state of workers. In addition to Lenin, socialism considered Marx and Engels to be the “apostles” of the system. Their portraits hang in all the most notable places and events, yet a statue of the two founders was only erected in Budapest relatively late, in 1971 on Jászai Mari Square.

Nagyvásártelep reborn – Winning plans announced A Hungarian architectural firm won the international tender announced for the reconstruction of the Nagyvásártelep area in the 9th District. Designed by Aladár Münnich and built in 1932, the 247-meter-long and 42-meter-wide hall will be reborn as event spaces, sports halls, cafes and clubrooms on three levels, according to the plans of BIVAK Stúdió, as part of the Budapest Diákváros (Student City) development.

Foundations gain ownership of Váry Szabó Mansion and Csillebérc Camp Today, the Parliament passed a bill on the transfer of state real estate. The Foundation for Educational, Cultural and Scientific Education (Polgári Művelődésért, Oktatási, Kulturális és Tudományos Alapítvány) will receive the Váry Szabó Mansion, while the organisers of the Erzsébet Camps will receive the 46 hectare plot of the former Csillebérc Pinoeer Camp.

Reconstruction of the Charity Hospital continues – The new towers are almost ready Reconstruction works underway since 2019 in the Mazsihisz Charity Hospital (Szeretetkórház) have continued with the renovation of block no. 2. The future central building will house outpatient care and a 60-bed rehabilitation department. Work is expected to be finished next year. The new tower of the unique building on Amerikai Road is already visible and will be completed within weeks.

The home of 5 lakes - Ten interesting pictures of the 250-year-old Füvészkert It has been operating in its current location for 174 years, its oldest trees, the fern pines, have lived through 200 springs, and its fairy roses were admired by members of the royal family. In its area, which once was the park of Festetics Palace, there were once 5 lakes, and its glasshouse was known to generations from The Paul Street Boys. Take an imaginary walk in the 250-year-old Füvészkert (ELTE Botanical Garden; 'herb garden') with ten carefully selected pictures.

Trees replanted in Csepel The replacement trees in the Csepel Open-Air Baths in underway. The aged, diseased willow trees are being cut down, but have been replaced beforehand. In recent years, Csepeli Városgazda Közhasznú Nonprofit Zrt. has planted forty trees and is planning further afforestation.

Renovated gymnasium to be returned to Árpád Secondary School in Óbuda The renovation of Óbuda Árpád Secondary School's gymnasium is progressing well. Through the investment, the school will regain its former large gymnasium, which was given to the Ottó Bláthy Polytechnic in 1965 and converted into a lecture hall. The school was left with a smaller gymnasium.

Outdoor exhibition at the Military History Museum War correspondent units were established in the Hungarian Royal Army in 1941 to document the war. The Military History Institute and Museum has organised an exhibition of their photographs.

Széchenyi cycled for the first time on the banks of the Danube - the postal servants rode velocipedes The first velocipedes on the streets of Pest-Buda caused a great sensation in the late 1860s. By the 1880s, the bicycle had conquered Budapest: associations, cycling schools were formed, social trips, parades and competitions were organized. The capital's postal servants rode velocipedes, and the army also used the vehicles. A World Cycling Championship was also held in the capital. In 1928 the Millenáris Velodrome was the most modern and fastest cycling track in Europe.

A new Citadel rises – Parks and terraces for visitors After the archaeological excavations, the reconstruction of the Citadel and its immediate surroundings has begun. Design renders show that the walls of the former fortress are to be opened in several places. New lookout terraces and will be created in the fortress and courtyard. The investment will be completed by 2023.

Visitor centre planned for Jókai kert – Steindl Villa to host exhibitions The Jókai Garden and the Steindl Villa on Sváb Hill are to be renovated. The investment is planned to be completed by 2022, and the developers hope that Budapest will be enriched with a popular resting place.

Meggyfa Street playground completed The pavements of the playground on Meggyfa Street have been renovated, the missing elements of the fence replaced, new benches and a drinking fountain have been installed, while new trees and plants were planted in the area.