PestBuda

Excavation of the Great Synagogue in Buda Castle to begin Preparations for the excavation of the Great Synagogue of Buda Castle are underway near 21–23 Táncsics Street. A synagogue was among Europe's largest Jewish halls of worship and was built during the reign of King Matthias and stood until 1686. Beyond preservation, the excavation hopes to ensure visitation to the runes.

Lost to war – Domes and ornaments lost during or after World War II to be restored throughout Hungary Three major Budapest buildings will be the first to have their domes and decorations reconstructed within a pilot project. Following in its footsteps, the government hopes to begin a national initiative to restore the domes and ornaments lost in the Second World War or torn down during earlier reconstruction efforts. Plans also include provisions to provide incentives for the restoration of privately owned buildings as well.

A new Margit Boulevard in the works – Cultural district planned in 2nd District The 2nd District local council is looking to redefine Margit Boulevard as a cultural centre to repopularise the one lively area of the city. Architects and local businesses are involved in the planning process.

A glance into the past – Budapest in 1990 For those who have always lived in Budapest, the changes of the last thirty years may not be obvious, the buildings lost and built every little change. Some may not even remember what was on people's minds during the fall of communism, or even just how everyday life happened. On the thirtieth anniversary after the creation of the democratic Budapest Local Council take a glance back in time with PestBuda.

Imre Francsek – Lesser known architect behind City Park Skating Rink died 100 years ago The architect behind the ice skating rink in City Park, the colonnade of the Saint Gerard statue, the Buda Civic Casino and several residential buildings. If all his plans had been carried out, Calvin Square and Szabadság Square would be very different. At one point in his career, he even proposed pushing the entire Dreher Palace a few metres to the side. Imre Francsek died one hundred years ago.

The memento of a World Fair never held – Rákóczi Bridge turns 25 Budapest's first permanent urban bridge built since the end of World War II was completed 25 years ago after 30 different plans were drawn up and 20 years of preparation. It was not welcomed unanimously by Budapest's residents, and the world fair that had been the reason behind its location was never held.

Public survey being conducted regarding souther railway development Two new tracks will be built alongside the existing two lines between Népliget and Kelenföld. The development of the southern ring railway would allow trains to run three times more frequently and provide a great connection to three metro lines (M3, M4, and M5 which will be created by connecting suburban railway lines). Residents of the area are requested to respond to the survey and can find more information on a new website dedicated to the project.

A forerunner of modern Hungarian architecture – Remembering Béla Lajta Lajta Béla was one of the most influential Hungarian architects of the first decades of the 20th century. Starting in the footsteps of Ödön Lechner, his art nouveau style grew into a new form and became a forerunner of Hungarian modern architecture. He represented a new approach to the formation of mass while retaining folk-based decorations and the ornamentation of art nouveau, and he connected it to new materials and designed buildings which were monumental in their simplicity. Buildings that have remained beautiful examples of modern urban architecture to the present day.

Statue of George Bush unveiled on Szabadság Square Statue of George H. W. Bush., 41st President of the United States of America, has been unveiled on Szabadság Square. The bronze full-length work was erected alongside a statue of Ronald Reagan.

Pest to Buda, from Buda to Pest – 150 years of the Hungarian Supreme Audit Office The Supreme Audit Office of Hungary (SAO) operates in a special building. Its headquarters are among the few buildings on the bank of the Danube that were not destroyed in the Second World War. However, the building displayed on the commemorative coin on the 150th anniversary is not its current headquarters. The institution's former building was constructed before World War I on the Buda side of the River and designed by Lajos Jámbor and Zoltán Bálint.

Tram line along the Danube – Tracks on Pest embankment opened 120 years ago The section of the tram tracks between the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Erzsébet Bridge was opened on 20 October 1900, 120 years ago.

Jump over to Sugár – Forty years of an iconic shopping centre The socialist shopping centre opened on örs Vezér Square forty years ago. While Terminal originally one the contest announced to find a name, the city council eventually named the 29-thousand square metre shopping centre Sugár. Filled with the state-owned shops of the era the store brought several novelties. Home delivery could be requested on certain items, pre-orders could be placed, and the upper floors were wheel-chair accessible. The hit slogan, Csak egy ugrás a Sugár (loosely, 'jump over to Sugár') became the iconic phrase of a generation.

Szent Angéla School on Rózsadomb to be expanded Szent Angéla School in the 2nd District is being renovated and expanded. A new community room, a science wing, and a new library are being created.

First renovated spire of Western Railway Station completed Renovation of the 8,200 square metre roof of Nyugati Pályaudvar, the Western Railway Station has reached a spectacular stage. The first of the spires for the towers on the rear facade has been raised into place. Meanwhile, the new glass panels of the roof are being installed, and the roof structures of the towers on the main facade toward Teréz Boulevard are being removed.

A modern cinema for Buda – Atrium Movie Theatre completed 85 years ago Átrium was a unique cinema in every respect. It differed from the others in Budapest not only because of its modern building but also in how it was operated. The elegant new auditorium seated 800 people and offered a new quality in both sound and elegance when opened in 1935.

Bust of Ilona Tóth unveiled in courtyard of Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Hospital Ilona Tóth was a final year medical student who was an extern during the 1956 revolution became a symbolic figure of the communist regime's retaliation for the revolution. A new bust commemorating her has been unveiled in the courtyard of the Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Clinic and Hospital in Kőbánya.

Budapest and love A small collection of poems from Hungarian poets was published recently. Naturally, it is connected to Budapest. The pages of the booklet are decorated with pictures of statues found around Budapest.

Renovated Bulgarian Orthodox Church of Ferencváros opened The renovated Bulgarian Orthodox Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius on Vágóhír Road in the 9th District has been inaugurated. During the ceremony a memorial to the Metropolitan Boris of Nevkropov who was martyred in Communist Bulgaria. The high priest of Bulgaria visited Budapest in 1931 and participated in laying the foundation stone of the church.

Fontana house to be torn down – New construction project begins in city centre Fontana House on the corner of Véáci Street and Régi Posta Street, built in 1984 is to be torn down to make way for a new modern building with commercial areas on its ground floor and housing above.

Southern section of M3 to open on Thursday – Full-line service for two weeks Trains will run the entire length of the M3 metro line for two weeks until 6 November. On 7 November renovation of the central section between Nagyvárad tér and Lehel tér stations will begin.

All Tátra trams now equipped to transport bicycles Cyclists will be able to board nearly one-third of all trams in Budapest with their bicycles from 17 October.

The future of Római Part – Suggestions welcome! The Budapest City Council is accepting opinions and ideas regarding the future of Római-part. Hospitality providers and sports clubs in the area are also being involved in the planning process.

Stunning decorations line the Renaissance-revival palace of the Main Customs House The Main Customs House building, which today houses Corvinus University is a major sight in Budapest. The façade is decorated by 22 statues of figures from Greek-Roman mythology and traditional Hungarian crafts. The main courtyards, staircases, the internal and external decorations all highlight just how great a masterpiece the building is. Construction of the building began 150 years ago in 1870, according to plans drawn up by one of the greatest Hungarian architects, Miklós Ybl.

After 77 years a new Secondary School of the Reformed Church is opened in Budapest The new building complex of the Rózsakerti Demjén István Reformed Primary and Secondary School in the 22nd District was inaugurated through a thanksgiving service, with Viktor Orbán, prime minister, attending. A belfry was also built alongside the school. The bell is decorated with a map of historical Hungary to symbolise the unity of the Hungarian people. The event is made al the more significant by the fact that the last new Reformed Secondary School built in the capital was opened in 1943, 77 years ago on Lónyay Street in the 9th District.

An old wooden cross made anew on 13th-district Diana Street The wooden cross at the intersection of Diana and Gyöngyvirág Streets in the 13th District has been renovated. The crucifix that originally stood here was demolished in the 1950s but rebuilt in 2008.

Green Liberty – The decision to repaint Szabadság Bridge to its original green was reached 35 years ago Following a tragedy in Vienna, abridge renovation project was launched in Budapest in 1979. Szabadság Bridge was slated for renovation in 1981, however, was eventually prioritised due to urgent work. Despite this, the bridge was closed again in 1985, as the original steel support columns had been corroded so significantly they became unstable. However, during this second renovation, the decision to repaint the bridge to its original green was also made.

New information boards to help visitors at the most crowded points of Buda Castle A total of ten new information boards have been set up in Buda Castle at locations such as the renovated Matthias Fountain, the Savoyai Terrace, the Raven Gate, and Szent György ('Saint Geroge') Square and the Maria lift.

Joyous I do's – 125 years of civil marriage in Budapest Laws on state registries and civil marriage were passed in 1894 but only entered into force a year later on 1 October 1895. The novelty of the now everyday ceremony caused such a rush that the three registrars in Budapest at the turn of the century could barely cope with the number of marriage requests. Where and how did the first civil marriage in Hungary unfold?

Government set to take over Budapest development efforts The government would prefer to take over development projects towards which the City Council has requested 55 billion HUF from the state. The plan was revealed as yesterday's sitting of the Budapest Public Works Council. The projects in question include the Biodome and the funicular planner for Gellért Hill. An agreement is yet to be reached regarding these plans. However, the government is already set to take over the development of the H2 suburban railway line to Gödöllő, and its connection to the M3 metro. The extension of the Buda tram network on Műegyetem Embankment is also to be funded by the state. The government has also blocked the city's plans to take a loan from the European Development Bank and the introduction of the so-called restart tax. The 6 billion HUF needed for the renovation of Chain Bridge will be transferred to the city when all other funds required for the project have been secured.