Tracing the French imprint on Budapest’s architecture, art, and culture

Budapest is often celebrated for its grandeur, dating back to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Ottoman relics can be seen throughout the city as well as Gothic marvels. However, what receives much less attention is the influence of Paris and France on the city’s architecture and culture. It is not always clear to see, but there is a nuanced imprint of French influence that, once spotted, can’t be ignored, so let’s take a look to see what’s there.

Cour d’Honneur: French-Style Courtyards in Residential Blocks

One of the most intriguing aspects of the city when it comes to French style is the influence we can see in their residential blocks. These tenement houses, or Franciaudvaros bérházak, were built with French-style courtyards and floor plans. They were designed by Hungarian architects who adapted French residential designs around the time of the world wars. Their layouts are, for this reason, reminiscent of Parisian hotels. It shows the power and influence of French architecture that the ideas were transplanted to a city nearly 1,500 km away.

The Avant-Garde Brush: “The Eight” and French Modernism

During the 1900s, the French influence could be seen on the art scene in Hungary and particularly in Budapest. Renowned painters, commonly known as The Eight, like Róbert Berény and Ödön Márffy, amongst others, were profoundly influenced by France. In their works, we can see styles drawn from French post-Impressionism and Fauvism, and these painters innovated the Hungarian art scene. The period was celebrated in 2012, highlighting the importance of the influence of French creatives.

Contemporary Echoes

Of course, it’s no surprise that we see French influence in a major European city. Bucharest, Romania’s capital, is called “Little Paris” due to extensive influence on language and architecture inspired by Art Nouveau styles. In fact, French influence is seen across industries in general. French music, art, and theater continue to influence international work across the entertainment sector.

In gaming, we can see how this influence extends to the digital world too. For example, companies such as Betfair offer a French and a European roulette table game that reference French and European roulette traditions and terms such as voisins du zéro and tiers du cylindre. These games mix the heritage of European and French roulette with the latest technology in online gaming. In modern Budapest we see French influence in the W Hotel with its Renaissance interior, a subtle nod to French history.

Unsurprisingly, we can also see its impact on the architecture of the French Institute of Budapest. Finished in 1992, the deconstructivist architecture houses a library and café, another example of the French influence on the city.

Although overshadowed by Ottoman and Germanic influence, there is no doubt that French culture has influenced Budapest in several ways. From the unique tenement housing to the artistic evolution sparked by the Eight artists, the French footprint persists throughout many areas of the culture of Budapest. Budapest is one of the most architecturally stunning cities in Europe, and the French nuance is one that enriches the beauty of the city.