BREAKING: Black cordons around Hungary’s main tourist hotspot, Fisherman’s Bastion, dismantled – PHOTOS

Many were shocked to see that one of Hungary’s main tourist hotspots, the Fisherman’s Bastion, was cordoned off in January. Moreover, the cordons were covered in black draperies as if there was ongoing forensics or something even worse behind them. The reason behind the measure was that the local government made even visiting the central part of the lower level of the Fisherman’s Bastion chargeable and raised entrance fees. The controversial decision sparked the first public debate of the new year.

Higher fees, chargeable area extension on Fisherman’s Bastion

The local government of Budavár, Budapest’s 1st district, accepted the extension of the chargeable area and increased entrance fees in their December session. The mayor, Fidesz-backed László Böröcz, said that the initiative came from the company responsible for the utilisation of the Fisherman’s Bastion area. The local government-owned firm proposed the extension of the chargeable area and initiated the increase of the entrance fees in line with inflation because their task is to propose measures for the local government that can increase revenues.

The original cordons:

The upper level of the Fisherman’s Bastion terrace has not been free to enter for years. The full entrance fee until 31 December was HUF 1,200 (EUR 3), while the discounted price was HUF 600 (EUR 1.5). In December, the local government raised those prices to HUF 1,500 (EUR 3.62) and HUF 750 (EUR 1.81) from January. Even the local opposition backed the initiative.

A restaurant occupies most of the terrace

In winter, the entire lower level of the Fisherman’s Bastion is available for tourists. However, in the tourist season (spring-autumn), a restaurant occupies two sides of the lower level of the Fisherman’s Bastion, due to a contract they signed with the local government in 2020, which is valid until 2025.

Therefore, only the bastion’s central part is available for tourists or Hungarians to enjoy the panoramic view of the Danube and Budapest. Of course, if you buy something at the restaurant and find a seat there, you can enjoy the wonders of Budapest from there. Thanks to that view, Budapest has been chosen as one of the world’s most Instagrammable places. Therefore, it is not surprising that the central part of the Fisherman’s Bastion is a tourist hotspot, and millions of tourists visit it yearly.

In January, the local government extended the chargeable area even to that section, which sparked public outcry. The entrance fee there is the same from 1 January, EUR 3.6 or EUR 1.8. Moreover, you can only pay electronically, as cash is not accepted.

Strange cordons removed after public outcry

What’s more, the local government placed cordons covered with black draperies there, which made the scene’s outlook unworthy of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Even Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony slammed the decision, calling it absurd. The newly-elected, Fidesz-backed mayor of the district, who came into power on 1 October, László Böröcz, realised the problem and ordered the dismantling of the cordon this morning.

He said the extension of the chargeable area was a pilot project lasting this month. The decision of the local government allows the extension of that period for another month, but it seems Böröcz is committed to doing that without cordons.

Will the Fisherman’s Bastion remain accessible only to foreign tourists?

Some Hungarian media outlets lamented why Hungarians should pay to see the Danube and Budapest in their own capital. Some said such a measure should only apply to foreign tourists, meaning that Hungarians presenting an ID could enter freely, while foreigners could only do so after paying the entrance fee. However, without suitable fences, such a measure is unimaginable.

In the December session of the local government, the opposition accepted the fee increase in line with inflation but criticised the extension of the chargeable area. They said the local government should instead enforce the resolutions of the contract they signed with the restaurant operating on the two sides of the Fisherman’s Bastion. The contract involved a crucial obligation for the restaurant owner: the catering place had to allow tourists to enter even their rented areas to see the city.

However, based on experience, the restaurant (renting the place from the local government) failed to meet that obligation. The previous, opposition-backed mayor, Márta V. Naszályi, said even she was asked to leave by the restaurant crew when she wanted to go to the lower terrace of the bastion.

Read also:

• 12 interesting facts about the Fisherman’s Bastion that you might not have known – check out all of them in THIS article
• The big Hungarian fisherman’s soup guide

Featured image: depositphotos.com