• Hungarian forint
  • Budapest
  • Police news
  • HelloMagyar
Buildings in Budapest cannot be higher than 96 metres, but why?Buildings in Budapest cannot be higher than 96 metres, but why?Buildings in Budapest cannot be higher than 96 metres, but why?Buildings in Budapest cannot be higher than 96 metres, but why?
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Society
  • Sport
  • Culture
  • Special Hungary
  • News To Go
  • World
  • Contact Us
  • About us
  • About us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
✕
Important
  • Do you want to get Hungarian castles for free? New bill makes that possible

Support us
Zsóka Kovács Zsóka Kovács · 10/03/2019
· Special Hungary

Buildings in Budapest cannot be higher than 96 metres, but why?

Budapest at early night

Budapest at early night, pixabay.com

Budapest is often admired for its historic charm, and this is thanks to the lack of skyscrapers. If you have ever been to Budapest, you know how no buildings are reaching the height of 96 metres – except for two. The reason for this? History.

Even though the Hungarian capital city is full of architectural wonders, where historic buildings live peacefully next to modern business centres, you will not see a skyscraper in sight. The Culture Trip has summarised why buildings in Budapest cannot be taller than 96 metres.

If you hike up the Gellért Hill or take a walk up to the Buda Castle and look over the city, you will notice that almost all buildings stand at the same height – at any rate, they do not reach 96 metres, let alone tower above it. There are no ultramodern skyscrapers on the skyline; thus the historic appearance of the city is preserved.

The two tallest buildings that you will spot are about eight-stories high, precisely 96 metres in height: the Parliament and St. Stephen’s Basilica.

 

Budapest parliament Hungary Hungarian

Photo by Zoltan Tasi on Unsplash

No other structures can overshadow these two symbolic buildings, which were finished almost at the same time. The Parliament was designed for celebrating the 1896 millennium of the Hungarian Conquest that took place in 896. This is the reason why 96 is such a magical and symbolic number in Hungarian history. Not only is the height of the parliament 96 metres, but this number appears at the main stairs leading to the cupola hall too, where the number of the steps is 96 sharp.

 

The Parliament was finally finished in 1904, and a year later St. Stephen’s Basilica too. This might be surprising as the Basilica has an ancient feel, tricking you into thinking that it was built in the 16th century. The Basilica stands at 96 metres too, this way these two iconic buildings, representing the government and religion, serve as a reminder for the nation that these entities are equal and it is important that they are respected similarly and that they respect each other as well.

St. Stephen's Basilica budapest

St. Stephen’s Basilica
photo: Daily News Hungary

The Culture Trip mentions that contemporary Hungarian society raised the question whether this regulation should be left in the past in the name of progress or should the uniformity of Budapest’s skyline, respecting the city’s and nation’s history be kept.

(Structures used for industrial purposes are allowed to be higher than 96 metres)

Source: theculturetrip.com

If you would like to support the work of the Daily News Hungary staff and independent journalism,
please make a donation here
architecture Budapest History Hungary
Share

Hot news

  • The world’s finest Pepsi, based on Hungarian mineral water

  • Hair-raising video: two electric scooter drivers nearly killed by a bus

  • Voters against foreign campaign financing?

  • The Pygmalion Effect by Boris Eifman is presented by the Hungarian National Ballet for the first time

  • Where to shop? These are the best discount chains in Hungary

  • Hungarian Speaker reacted on the tragic Indian train crash

Related posts

Trianon Hungarian
04/06/2023

The number of Hungarians has decreased shockingly since the Peace Treaty of Trianon


Read more
tourism budapest
30/05/2023

Hungary Revealed: A Tapestry of Culture, Nature, and Exquisite Cuisine


Read more
tihany balaton
24/05/2023

3 best holiday spots around Lake Balaton


Read more
polish hungarian friendship
18/05/2023

Polish-Hungarian friendship and brotherhood through history


Read more

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

SUPPORT US
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Must read

Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to receive daily updates, news & stories about Hungary!

Select your location below or enter your country so we can deliver our morning newsletters to you in time.


Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.


.

About us

Contact us

Copyright rules

Privacy policy

Advertise with us

© 2023 DailyNewsHungary. All rights reserved! | Server and development by Svigelj Levente E.V
The world’s finest Pepsi, based on Hungarian mineral water

The world’s finest Pepsi, based on Hungarian mineral water

Read More
Hair-raising video: two electric scooter drivers nearly killed by a bus

Hair-raising video: two electric scooter drivers nearly killed by a bus

Read More
Voters against foreign campaign financing?

Voters against foreign campaign financing?

Read More
The Pygmalion Effect by Boris Eifman is presented by the Hungarian National Ballet for the first time

The Pygmalion Effect by Boris Eifman is presented by the Hungarian National Ballet for the first time

Read More
Where to shop? These are the best discount chains in Hungary

Where to shop? These are the best discount chains in Hungary

Read More
Hungarian Speaker reacted on the tragic Indian train crash

Hungarian Speaker reacted on the tragic Indian train crash

Read More
Government: Hungarian nation has no boundaries

Government: Hungarian nation has no boundaries

Read More
What happened today in Hungary? – 4 June, 2023

What happened today in Hungary? – 4 June, 2023

Read More
The number of Hungarians has decreased shockingly since the Peace Treaty of Trianon

The number of Hungarians has decreased shockingly since the Peace Treaty of Trianon

Read More
Batumi, the four-season Georgian tourist destination, presented in Budapest

Batumi, the four-season Georgian tourist destination, presented in Budapest

Read More
  • 0
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
Have you read it?