Budapest’s iconic Keleti Railway Station turns 140 – here are 8 fascinating facts
Budapest’s Keleti Railway Station, an iconic example of Eclectic architecture, first opened to passengers on 16th August 1884. Renowned Hungarian painters Károly Lotz and Mór Than created the station’s stunning frescoes, but here are eight more intriguing facts about this historic Hungarian transport hub.
According to Lelépő, the Keleti Railway Station is built on three thousand piles. Due to the high water levels discovered during construction, the building required significant reinforcement. The station was designed by architects Gyula Rochlitz and János Feketeházy.
The first train departed from Keleti Railway Station on 16th August, bound for Miskolc, pulled by a steam engine. Remarkably, the station was equipped with electric lighting from the start, with 644 bulbs illuminating both the interior and exterior for passengers.
Keleti’s original name was ‘Budapest Central Station’, but it was renamed in 1892. During the Second World War, Allied bombings by American and British forces caused severe damage to the station, hitting the waiting rooms and main halls.
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- Photo: FB/MÁV
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- Photo: FB/MÁV
Keleti Railway Station still shines
In front of the station, on today’s Baross Square, a pool served the bathers built for protection purposes as a firewater tank.
The station’s façade stands 43 metres tall, crowned with an allegorical figure sculpted by Gyula Bezerédi (1858-1925), a celebrated Hungarian artist. Bezerédi’s works can also be seen in Pannonhalma and Budapest’s City Park, including his notable statue of George Washington, unveiled in 1906. Interestingly, Budapest features statues of three American presidents: Washington, Ronald Reagan, and George Bush.
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- Photo: FB/MÁV
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- Photo: FB/MÁV
Interestingly, the original Bezerédi sculpture on Keleti’s façade had to be replaced in the 1990s.
Lastly, beneath the station lies an extensive network of cellars, which served as a shelter during the war.
Photo: FB/MÁV
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2 Comments
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
The end effect(s) in the building of the Metro, what now is the frontal view of Keleti Railway Station, leaves, takes away the “Strength” – when you look closely at Keleti’s facade, it’s architectural beauty.
It’s a building, that has by it’s location, it’s facade, what is contained within “its face” that is a symbolic message of “Past” times.
It, triumphant in it’s message, in the impressiveness of it’s frontal view.
The metro construction, my opinion, it Bastardized this emblematic building – Keleti Railway Station.
Pictures presented in this article, the trees in front of, trams operating and the placement of the statue, those times, those pictures, removed by the Metro project, that saw, left us with the VILE frontal presentation of Keleti Railway Station as it is to-day.
It could HAVE – should HAVE at the time of the Metro project, been re-developed – re-born, with a GREATER thought process application, to BRING out – COMPLIEMENT – this “Iconic” place in Budapest, Hungary.
SOLUTION ; cover 90% of exposed that is the front of Keleti Railway Station, and make it a Green like place.
No i am not a “Greenie” but – similar to the “aged” photo-graphs in this DNH article.
The Arena Mall side of Keleti Station – is a DISGRACE.
It’s well past it’s due date to be RENOVATED right up to the CLOSED Chinese Restaurant , that has not operated since 2014-2015 and the adjoining building.
Don’t do things in HALF as this part of Keleti Railway Station is an “Eyesore” and detracts from the front vision and “other” side and internally, the recent time RENOVATIONS that have taken place at Keleti Railway Station.
We travel 90% of our time by train.
Zurich, Switzerland (2) twice yearly exampled.
The recently finished renovation work at Hauptbahnhof Zurich – magnificent.
A JOB of 100% – not in part, that is a massive detraction, from it’s Magnificence and VITAL role it plays for the General Public & Tourism.
YES, we have a Government – the Orban – Fidesz Hungarian Government – who have NO Money to invest, place into projects like the completion of renovations at Keleti Railway Station.
They built a new Football arena though just up the “utca” – when they still had a little Money – tax payers MONEY.
PRIORITIZATION, the gargantuan FAILINGS of a Government, that have DESPATCHED us into this financial & economic CHAOS.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
The “undercrofh” standing at ground level at Keleti Railway Station, looking into the Vile, un-attractive hole, is not of architectural appeal.
Its a wasted UGLY space.
Agree with Concerned -Troubled, the forecourt front of the station, should have been of greater compliment to the facade of the station.