PHOTOS: Iconic winged Iron Gate of Buda Castle to be rebuilt soon after 100 years

The former centrepiece of Buda Castle, Gyula Jungfer’s Art Nouveau wrought-iron main gate, is set to shine once again in its original splendour. As part of the National Hauszmann Program, the reconstruction is proceeding according to plan. Restoration experts are working from period photos, original drawings and models preserved at the Museum of Applied Arts.

Iconic winged Iron Gate of Buda Castle to be rebuilt

Historical documents were digitised by the Hungarian National Archives. Ensuring historical authenticity is a top priority: the goal is not just to recreate a magnificent artefact, but also to honour Gyula Jungfer and the golden age of Hungarian applied arts.

Gyula Jungfer, Hungary’s most renowned ornamental blacksmith of the 19th century, was born on 9 January 1841, in Budapest, into a family of metalworkers. In 1872, he founded his own workshop, which soon became the country’s leading decorative ironworks, according to a Facebook post by the National Hauszmann Program. His work earned acclaim both at home and abroad, with exhibitions in London, Paris, and New York. Jungfer significantly shaped the traditions of ornamental ironwork in both historicist and Art Nouveau architecture.

Royal visit to Jungfer’s workshop

Architect Alajos Hauszmann, who oversaw the rebuilding of the Royal Palace, held Jungfer’s work in the highest regard and insisted that the palace’s new main entrance be adorned with his creations. The resulting gate—decorated with folk floral motifs and a replica of the Holy Crown—became not only an architectural but also an artistic masterpiece. It won the prestigious Grand Prix at the 1900 Paris World’s Fair, while Jungfer was honoured with the Knight’s Cross of the French Legion of Honour.

Before the exposition, Emperor Franz Joseph personally visited Jungfer’s workshop in Budapest’s Józsefváros district to see the work in progress. The gate’s final finish came from master painter György Drobnitsch, who applied an aluminium-glaze coating to the main gate and pedestrian doors.

WWII damages

Although the main gate sustained only minor damage during World War II, it was later dismantled and eventually disappeared. Thanks to the National Hauszmann Program, it is now being brought back to life. The northern main entrance of Buda Castle, which once faced Sándor Palace and had been removed, will be reconstructed, featuring the Jungfer Gate, the Hungária statuary group, the southern exit, and the Hunyadi Courtyard ramp.

The completed reconstruction will restore barrier-free access between the northern wing of the palace and both St. George Square and Hunyadi Courtyard. The recreated main gate will once again open up the palace’s ceremonial first-floor rooms to visitors. The antechamber to the cloakroom and the Munkácsy Hall will be the first areas to be restored. The ultimate goal is to return Buda Castle to its former grandeur and allow Hungarians to once again take pride in this exceptional piece of national heritage.

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