After 123 years, Budapest’s iconic statue from the top of Heroes’ Square removed

The artistic masterpiece of György Zala was placed on the highest point of the iconic Heroes’ Square in 1901. The statue of Archangel Gabriel is five metres tall and will be removed for restoration.

Archangel Gabriel’s statue watching over Heroes’ Square

The Millenium Monument of the Heroes’ Square is one of the emblematic places in Hungary where many tourists pay a visit and take some selfies. The monument depicts some of the turning points of the Hungarian history in the Carpathian basin, from its conquest to the 1848-1849 freedom fight.

Watching over the square from the top of a Corinthian column is the artistic masterpiece of György Zala, the statue of Archangel Gabriel. Gabriel holds in its right hand the Holy Crown of Hungary while in the left, there is the Patriarchal cross, just as in the legendary dream of Saint Stephen, the first Christian king of Hungary who – based on the legend – received the Holy Crown from the pope.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The restoration of the iconic statue will last months

According to hirado.hu, the restoration of the 123-year-old sculpture will start on 22 July. The 5-metre-tall statue has deteriorated in the last few decades significantly. As a result, its restoration is a must. The statue will be transported to the restorer’s workshop. The work is planned to last for 6-12 months, depending on the internal state of the sculpture. The statue will occupy its original place again in 2025.

Photo: Creative Commons

The Corinthian column is 36 meters tall, the archangel statue was placed on the top on 24 October 1901. Between 1995 and 1996, preparing for the millecentenary (Conquest of the Carpathian Basin – 896), the government repaired the statue’s surface but lacked the money to carry out structural restorations.

In 2021, before the International Eucharistic Congress, the statue was cleaned. That is when experts found the damage to the copper sculpture.

Read also:

• The symbolic meaning of the Heroes’ Square in Budapest – PHOTOS and more HERE
• Did you know?! – 5 interesting facts about Budapest’s iconic spot, the Heroes’ Square

Featured image: depositphotos.com