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Secrets of Budapest: The Grand Boulevard
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According to funzine.hu, the Grand Boulevard, between Jászai Mari Square and Boráros Square, is Budapest’s busiest and most well-known road. Most of us cross the path of tram 4 and 6 almost every day, but only a few of us know that originally a canal system was planned to be constructed between Saint Stephen and Francis Boulevard.
Let’s start with some numbers. The Grand Boulevard is 4.1 kilometres long, its average width is 45 metres and the size of its paved surface is 186,345 square metres. Its lowest point can be found at Boráros Square, while its highest point is at the Nyugati railway station.
Budapest, East Europe’s Venice (almost)
A law was made about the construction of the Grand Boulevard in 1871, and it was executed between 1872 and 1896. (At least officially, the actual works were only finished in 1906.) The main goal of the city leaders was to connect the city’s swampy, unexploited region into the circulation of the city. One of Danube’s anabranches, the Rákos Branch used to be in the place of today’s boulevard.
Engineer Ferenc Reitter wanted to reconstruct the deep lying region in a surprising way. He imagined a passable canal in the region with 12 bridges and cargo areas, imposing mansions along the coast. Reitter planned to close off the water of the canal from Danube at Boráros and Jászai Mari Square.
As crazy as this plan might seem in the 21st century, the only reason it wasn’t executed in the 19th century was due to the lack of money. If Reitter’s plans had been performed, we would be going from one side of Király Street to the other with ships and would cover the distance between Oktogon and Corvin Quarter with boats. Just like in Venice, right?
From plans to reality
So the plans for a canal were dismissed early on due to financial reasons. This is how the construction of the boulevard started in 1872. It was the time when the Andrássy Avenue was almost ready, however, the Grand Boulevard’s construction wasn’t as smooth and trouble-free as in the case of the avenue.
You have a rich history with beautiful old pictures of Budapest. Is it possible for you to inform me about a street along (at that time) Voroshadsereg u. It had no name, but only a number. As I remember well it started with 60X or 50X and it was located in district XVIII.
The house there was a one-family house with a garden. I can’t find that good old house/street/place anymore. What I do know was that a family Kemeny was living there and they had a very beautiful daughter. I know that because I was there in August 1966 and the letters between Tunde (the daughter) and me were not delivered. And that still gives me a sad feeling. I hope that you can do something for me.