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Motorways through the city – Fifty years ago prioritising cars was a modern choice A few decades ago, a highway network was planned to criss-cross the city centre. Motorists could have passed through the city centre without hindrance and reached the motorways leading out of the city, which would also have been connected by a two-level ring motorway. Today, when the goal is to have as few cars as possible in the city centre, the plans from 50 years ago are interesting.

How have the bridges of Budapest changed after their construction? Pestbuda's summary presenting the reconstruction of the Chain Bridge in 1914 received many comments about the bridges of Budapest, their modifications and redesigns. Please join us on a glance through which bridge has changed in the decades since its construction.

A Day of Memorials will be held on 12 sites around Budapest Fans of history and culture are invited to 70 locations around the country on 29 August. Guided walks, performances, concerts and many other attractions are being organised at national and historical memorials.

In the footsteps of Kölcsey – The poet who wrote the national anthem of Hungary was born 230 years ago Ferenc Kölcsey, born 230 years ago, was one of the greatest figures of Hungarian literature and public life in the Reform Period. His poem, Himnusz ('hymn'), which became the Hungarian national anthem, elevated him among the immortals of Hungarian culture. Despite this, his memory was not marked in Budapest by any public statue or plaque for a long time. Pestbuda examines the current memorial to the great poet in Budapest.

The Gothic-Revival wonders of Budapest The image of Budapest today is defined by a prolific period, the architecture of dualism. The most famous buildings of the capital, such as the Fisherman's Bastion, the Opera House, the Parliament and Saint Stephen's Basilica, were built in the second half of the 19th century. This period is characterized by a high degree of stylistic pluralism. Join PestBuda on a walk through the most stunning buildings in Budapest.

Lajos Batthyány's public reburial took place 150 years ago – The 42-year-old Prime Ministers was buried in secret after being executed The execution of Count Lajos Batthyány, the first elected Hungarian prime minister, remains an indescribable act of retaliation after the war of independence. The prime minister was buried in secret and then reburied publicly 21 years later, in 1870, with great pomp. The nation laid him to rest in a funeral fitting the difficult diplomatic solution worthy of a great politician.

The dream of connecting Buda and Pest – Creator of the first Hungarian steamboat designed a bridge between the cities Antal Bernhard, the creator of Carolina, the first Hungarian steamboat, also designed a bridge design to connect the cities of Pest and Buda. Before the construction of the Chain Bridge, nearly two dozen proposals were made on how to bridge the river, and among these, Bernhard’s plan was an important idea because it could actually have worked.

The highest point of Budapest – Elizabeth Lookout turns 110 One of Sisi's favourite places to visit in Budapest. The highest point of the city houses one of Budapest's most popular lookout towers, the Elizabeth Lookout. The building, designed by Pál Kluzinger and Frigyes Schulek, was opened 110 years ago. Pestbuda climbed János Hill to honour the anniversary.

The Chain Bridge, a symbol of the country completely demolished in 1914 During the renovation of the Chain Bridge, it will be necessary to go back to the plans of 1914. But why will they follow the 1914 version when the bridge was built between 1839-1849?

Jenő Cholnoky, one of the greatest Hungarian geographers, born 150 years ago Every day we walk past buildings whose past we know nothing about. The block of flats delimited by 29 Rákóczi Road - 1 Gyulai Pál Street - 4 Stáhly Street are similar. Today Pestbuda the site because the famous geographer Jenő Cholnoky was born 150 years ago and 100 years ago, in 1920, he moved here. His work is immense, yet he is mostly associated with the study of China and Lake Balaton. Look at his connections in Budapest with Pestbuda.

How did cars get into the City Park which has also been suggested as a site for a Formula 1 track? The City Park will be car-free, and the Kós Károly Promenade will be closed. But how did cars get into the City Park at all? Why does a busy main road lead through City Park, and how did it become a car park?

A little Genoa on Gellért Hill The Hegedüs Villa or originally the Schoch Villa is well known in Budapest, although few people know by its name. The mass of the building rises above the statue depicting Saint Gerard and the waterfall, so it is immediately noticeable when people drive from Pest to Buda across Erzsébet Bridge. Its medieval forms are less typical of early 20th century Hungarian architecture, according to urban legend, it is a copy of an Italian building. Pestbuda now reveals if the legend is true.

Pasarét Franciscan Church to be renovated and expanded The Franciscan Church of St. Anthony of Padua in Pasarét is to be renovated alongside the attached monastic buildings and library. Modernisation works will also include the creation of new community spaces. Plans are to renovate the parish in the autumn, and complete work on the Church and monastic structures in June 2021.

The Székely national anthem was first played in Budapest – Memorial plaque unveiled on the lyricist's home While many Hungarians know the lyrics to the Székely national anthem, while the work written soon after the Treaty of Trianon was signed quickly became symbolic of Hungarian unity, few know the name of the writer who originally wrote the lyrics: György Csanády. To honour the writer's memory, born 125 years ago, a memorial plaque has been unveiled on the 12th-district house he lived in.

Mobile app of famous trees in Budapest updated The BP Fatár [Tree Store] app has been updated and now includes the description of 100 famous trees, 38 local natural conservation areas and natural treasures in Budapest with pictures. The addition to the application were announced by Főkert at a press conference on Friday.

"No one prepared us for the breathtaking experience" - The Riding Hall in Buda Castle Reborn People have admired the Lovarda ('riding hall') in Buda Castle, recently completed within the framework of the National Hauszmann Program, from the outside. They have not been able to look around inside yet, only see the beautiful interiors in photos. Pestbuda editors had the opportunity to visit the building as part of a guided tour. Alajos Hauszmann designed the riding hall, which was completed in 1901. Hence it is no surprise that the guided tour was called Hauszmann's Horses on the website of the National Hauszmann Program.

From Pest to Gellért Hill by funicular Reaching Buda from Pest downtown at the end of the 19th century was not easy. Climbing to the top of Gellért Hill had similar issues. These two problems would have been solved by the truly spectacular idea of János Ruppenthal, i.e., building a bridge and a funicular.

Renovation of Hall of Art to begin as Government confirm priority status The Government has declared the renovation of the Hall of Arts to be a project of national economic importance and investment of high public interest. The building was originally constructed in 1896 as part of the events to commemorate the millennium of Hungarians living in the Carpathian Basin. However, when work will begin on the building, designed by Albert Schickedanz and inaugurated by Franz Joseph, is currently unknown.

The first steamboat sailed from Pest to Buda two hundred years ago A bizarre machine started operating 200 years ago on the Danube between Buda and Pest. A 13-metre-long, small, smoking structure, with a large wheel on each side, splashed water and towed a passenger barge after it. Although the company lived for only a year, it started steam navigation on the Danube.

Obligatory Sunday shooting practice lead to the construction of the Pest Shooting« Range 180 years ago In the past, every citizen of Buda and Pest was required to know how to shoot. Not because they were expected to stand their ground in a dual, but because they had to be prepared to defend the cities should an enemy attack. The new Pest Shooting Range was completed 180 years ago on the present-day Lövölde Square.

Spectacular roof of the House of Hungarian Music completed – The building is structurally complete One of the most spectacular roofs in Europe has been completed within the Liget Budapest Project. The House of Hungarian Music is now structurally complete in the City Park. The institution to open at the end of 2021 will operate as an exhibition, and performance venue and centre for music education.

A bridge bears the name of the respected Hungarian engineer who designed a canal to go around Budapest Have you ever heard of Jenő Kvassay? The name may be familiar to those who know Budapest well, as the city houses a Kvassay Bridge, Kvassay Road and Kvassay Lock. These are all named after the Hungarian hydraulic engineers, who played a central part in regulating the Danube.

Born 125 years ago the architect Gedeon Gerlóczy is remembered as a saviour of Csontváry’s paintings Gedeon Gerlóczy was a leading figure of modern architecture in Hungary. Several of his buildings became landmarks in Budapest as it changed between the two world wars. As the designer of new hospitals, he became a pioneer for a modernist interpretation of these functional buildings. And as the saviour of several of Tivadar Csontváry Kosztka’s paintings, he is remembered as the “painting saving architect.”

New park opened near City Park A 13000-square-metre park has been created surrounding the Hungarian Museum Restoration and Storage Centre between Szabolcs Street and Vágány Street, not far from City Park (Városliget). The peaceful Bókay Garden is open to visitors.

Béla IV, died 750 years ago, founded Buda but does not even have a memorial plaque in the Castle District After the Tartar invasion, King Béla IV founded the city that is known today as Buda. He was looking for a place that would be impregnable during a next Mongol attack. He surrounded the plateau of Castle Hill with thick walls, parcelled and populated the area, and built monasteries and churches. Béla IV's Buda still exists today, the castle walls he built, the streets he walked on, the house walls and window frames he could see, the booths he could sit in, but not even a plaque preserves the name of the founder here.

Budapest to lease out the Embankment to Food Trucks City authorities to allow food trucks and movable food pavilions to be placed on the Lower Embankment on the Pest-side of the Danube between Margaret bridge and Eötvös Square between 18th July and 13th August. The majority of providers will be located at the foot of the Chain Bridge between the Danube and Széchenyi Square. The food trucks will serve foods, beverages and alcoholic drinks and must be open until midnight.

The Budapest Dream – A Footbridge over the Danube Many people believe that the Chain Bridge could be the footbridge of the future. However, the bridge was not designed to be one. It consists of three well-separated sections: the two footpaths and the road section. There is no way to move between the sections, and the view from the middle is lacklustre due to the nature of the design. Another solution is the only way forward to create a footbridge that so many in Budapest have wanted for years.

Renovation of the Cistercian Church to St. Emeric completed The renovated cross was raised onto the east tower of St Emeric Church. The multi-month restoration of the parish which include works on the facade and the interiro has been completed.

The Chain Bridge Purchase – 150 years ago the State bought the Chain Bridge What is now a famous Budapest landmark, the Chain Bridge, was originally constructed by a private company and opened in 1849. In return, the company received a range of financial benefits from the state, including the right to charge everyone for crossing.