Breathtaking PICTURES: Reviving Buda Castle Palace to become accessible

Thanks to the National Hauszmann Programme (Nemzeti Hauszmann Program), the Buda Castle Palace (Budavári Palota) will soon shine in its former glory. As part of the programme, the palace will soon be restored to its original appearance, most of its interior will be rebuilt and parts of the building will soon be accessible.

The Buda Castle Palace suffered extensive damage in WWII

Buda Castle Palace. Source: Facebook/Nemzeti Hauszmann Program

The Buda Castle Palace, designed by Alajos Hauszmann in the neo-Baroque-Art Nouveau style, was completed at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Its ornate exterior and interior, its vastness and its unrivalled location made it one of the most ornate royal residences in Europe, the National Hauszmann Programme wrote on its Facebook page.

During the Second World War, the building suffered extensive damage. The remaining decorations were stripped and the palace was rebuilt in a simplified form from the 1960s onwards. All over Europe, the trauma of WWII was almost immediately compensated for by replacing the destroyed architecture. However, the communist leadership in Hungary wanted to erase the past for good, the post writes.

Buda Castle Palace. Source: Facebook/Nemzeti Hauszmann Program

Accordingly, the Buda Castle Palace was given new functions later. It became the home of the Hungarian Labour Movement Museum (Magyar Munkásmozgalmi Múzeum), the Hungarian National Gallery (Magyar Nemzeti Galéria), the Budapest History Museum (Budapesti Történeti Múzeum) and the National Széchényi Library (Országos Széchényi Könyvtár).

The previously unified building complex had been split into several small, independent wings, each with its own entrances and internal infrastructure. The individual buildings are still marked with letters, but these do not indicate any internal content.

Reconstructed interiors, re-accessible parts of the building

Buda Castle Palace. Source: Facebook/Nemzeti Hauszmann Program

As part of the National Hauszmann Programme, the palace will soon be restored to its original appearance, and much of its interior will be rebuilt. The enfilade, a series of halls that run around the first floor and interconnect for several hundred metres, will also be reborn.

This will make the dismantled parts of the building passable and accessible again.

In addition to the restored historic and sacred spaces, the Buda Castle Palace will offer an exciting programme of temporary exhibitions, art galleries, cafés, gift and book shops, a children’s world, a family centre and educational spaces.

The reconstruction work continues from Szent György Square, after the southern connecting wing was opened in August 2021. Work is already underway on the reconstruction of the north wing on Szent György Square, from where it will progress steadily southwards.

Work will soon begin on the Ballroom Wing, and plans are already underway to renovate the Dome Wing, the Baroque Wing and the South Wing. The latter will become the Palace’s education centre. The historic renovation will eventually be completed with the wing in Krisztinaváros (a part of Budapest in districts I and XII).

Buda Castle Palace. Source: Facebook/Nemzeti Hauszmann Program

Read also:

• PHOTOS: A glimpse into the restoration of Hungary’s historic hall at Buda Castle
• Buda Castle voted one of the most beautiful castles in Europe!