PHOTOS: Legendary Budapest beach for sale
The beach is located on the north-western edge of Újpest, at the same elevation as the southern tip of Szentendrei Island. The area next to the Danube River embankment was used as an outdoor beach from 1938 until 2006 when it became disused. The Tungsram, or “Tungi”, was a favourite spot for Újpest residents until the turn of the millennium. Many people remember it with nostalgia.
Charming beach for sale
As napi.hu wrote, after the regime change in Hungary, the beach lost its popularity. In 1990, the American company General Electric bought Tungsram and wanted to get rid of the beach and its redundant buildings for financial reasons. There was only one serious interested party, a Dutch company which wanted to create an aqua park on the site, but soil tests prevented this. The beach was closed in 2006 and has not been used ever since. The boathouse on the site is currently under the care of the Újpest Kayak Association. After-school sports lessons are held there for youngsters. More information on the beach for sale is available HERE.
Environmental remediation
The beach was built on an artificial island on the inside of the dam. The island was connected to the left bank of the Danube by a bridge. The construction of the dam resulted in a natural recharge process in the area enclosed by the dam. This area was gradually filled artificially from the 1950s onwards. It was completely filled in 1974. Industrial materials and waste from construction and demolition debris were also used for filling. It is assumed that the industrial and commercial enterprises along the Váci Street and the population were also involved in the filling process.
The authorities requested the owner to take soil and groundwater samples. The owner was required to share the results publicly. Based on the results of the investigation and by setting an individual pollution limit value, authorities declared the environmental remediation complete.
The history of Tungsram
The Tungsram beach, originally UTE Dunafürdő, or just “Tungi”, opened on the 10th of July in 1938. Officially, it closed for good on the 26th of August 2004. The beach covered an area of 30,000 square metres, including a 50×20 metre competition pool, a 50×25 metre guest pool and a children’s pool. The beach had a capacity of well over 10,000 people, it was a simple place, but people liked it for that reason. There was also a boathouse on the site, which could accommodate 200 boats, with boaters’ cabins and office spaces. The beach soon became a favourite place for the people of Újpest and was a hive of activity until the 1980s. Here are some photos of the beach during its golden age:
