Prize-winning buildings in Budapest you might walk past every day

Numerous buildings in Budapest, the capital of Hungary, have been awarded the prestigious Europa Nostra prize. The UN can award this form of recognition to both built heritage sites and valuable artwork collections. As Budapest is full of beautiful buildings, it is quite possible you regularly walk past these sites without realising their true value.

The Europa Nostra prize is awarded by the UN to cultural heritage sites in need of reconstruction that are significant to a city or country. It was created in 1978; the Council of Europe and other organisations can present this honour in six categories – reports Femina. The winner can be an architectural heritage, an archaeological find, a cultural landscape, an artwork collection, or even a study related to cultural heritage or the accomplishment of an individual or a community connected to the field of heritage protection.

Winners in Budapest

It is a shame to miss out on the full experience and to simply walk past certain buildings without realising their true beauty and unique qualities. A range of establishments received the prize in Budapest, from a library through a cinema to the airport, of all places.

1. New York Palace

A significant building on the Grand Boulevard, the New York Palace, received the prize in 2007. Apart from being an architectural masterpiece, its importance in literary and cultural history also contributed to the win.

2. Elephant house of the zoo

This building, as well as the main entrance, was designed by Kornél Neuschloss, Hungarian architect and art historian. It was awarded the prize in 2000, a year after its renovation.