Budapest Zoo buildings celebrate their 110th birthdays

The Budapest Zoo once used to be one of the first of its kind. 1866 marks the year when our Zoo first opened its gate. Back then it was quite different from the state it is in today, as most of the unique buildings were not built until the 1910s. After several years of being closed, on 20 May 1912, this famous Budapest sight reopened again.

source: zoobudapest.com

The initial years

The Budapest City Park, located in District XIV, had always been a beloved place for the residents of the capital. According to PestBuda, it was only logical, that when in the 1850s the founding fathers were looking for a location where the Budapest Zoo could be built, they opted for the Budapest City Park. It took many years of planning, and of course, the 1848-49 revolution delayed the process, but the Budapest Zoo finally opened in 1866. 

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The Elephant House with its own minaret, source: zoobudapest.com

The rebirth of the Budapest Zoo

After the Millenium, the 1000th year jubilee of Hungary, the Budapest Zoo experienced many hard years. It was a miracle that it did not close down permanently. Eventually, the capital brought the Zoo from a private organisation and they decided to do a revamp. Thanks to the modernisation processes, iconic buildings such as the minaret of the elephant house, the main gate and the giraffe house had been built. Interestingly enough, all the buildings follow a particular pattern: 

Together they resemble the classic structure of a Hungarian town.

There is the church, the town square and other iconic architectural designs that truly make the Budapest Zoo a town inside a city. There is even a “castle ruin”, which is solely a decoration element, and the architect duo designed the bins too. The two main architects behind this impressive architectural layout design are Károly Kós and Dezső Zrumecky who both made a name for themselves with this project. 

Old Map of the Zoo, source: zoobudapest.com

The Budapest Zoo has survived two world wars and its popularity remains intact across Europe. Tourists and Hungarians alike frequently pay visits to enjoy the exotic and modern Budapest Zoo. It has a very strategic location, close to such important sights as the Hero’s Square, various museums, the City Park and the Andrássy Avenue. 

Read more about the story of the Budapest Zoo HERE.

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Source: pestbuda.hu, zoobudapest.com