Budapest has always been the city of history, culture and art. Thousands of pages could be written on the masterpieces of Budapest. Culture Trip assembled the 5 most amazing architectural masterpieces that can only be found in Hungary’s capital.
Budapest, the city of historic architecture.
1. Gresham Palace
The Gresham Palace is located in Széchenyi István square. The Art Nouveau building of the Gresham Palace has a really unique architectural style. Today, the Four Seasons Hotel can be found in this beautiful and historic building. The building was designed by two Hungarian architects: Zsigmond Quittner and Jószef Vágó, in 1906. During the 1990s, the whole building was completely refurbished. Luckily, the building’s original Art Nouveau architecture was retained.
Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org By Sarah Stierch
2. The buildings of Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden
The Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden is one of the oldest zoos in Europe that was founded in 1866. The zoo’s building was designed by Hungarian architect Károly Kós.
The Elephant House in the Budapest Zoo
The building has an Art Nouveau design. The zoo’s building is a real masterpiece of architecture located a little further away from the capital’s downtown.
[button link=”https://dailynewshungary.com/4-iconic-buildings-heart-budapest/” type=”big” newwindow=”yes”] 4 iconic buildings in the heart of Budapest[/button]
3. Dohány Street Synagogue
The Dohány Street Synagogue (also known as The Great Synagogue or Tabakgasse Synagogue) is a historical building situated in Erzsébetváros, in District 7. The Dohány Street Synagogue is Europe’s largest synagogue, and it is the second largest in the whole world.
Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org by M3peti
The building was constructed in 1859. The synagogue was designed by Viennese architect Ludwig Förster, and it has a Moorish style. According to Culture Trip:
“This impressive building in Budapest’s Jewish District gains a place on this list for its intricately decorated exterior, stunning interior, and the sheer scale of the building.”
4. The Chain Bridge
If you have ever seen a post card from Budapest, you most likely saw the Chain Bridge as well. The bridge has become one of the many symbols of Budapest, connecting the two parts of the capital: Buda and Pest. The Chain Bridge was the first permanent bridge across the Danube in Budapest, and it is regarded as a masterpiece of engineering.
The Chain Bridge was finished in 1849. Unfortunately, the bridge was seriously damaged during the Second World War as it was blown up. The whole bridge had to be rebuilt after the war, so the pillars are the only original parts of the bridge.
5. Hungarian Parliament Building
The Hungarian Parliament Building is probably the most iconic and most well-known architectural masterpiece in Budapest. It is one of the largest parliament buildings in the world. The Parliament of Budapest was designed by Hungarian architect Imre Steindl in 1885. The building has a Gothic style.
Featured image: Facebook.com/FourSeasonsHotelBudapest
Budapest is full of beautiful historical buildings that never cease to amaze the capital’s visitors. A whole series of books could be written about the unique buildings of Budapest, but Life of Budapest assembled a list of the four most iconic ones found in the heart of the city, District V.
1. Pesti Vigadó
Pesti Vigadó is not only a monument/tourist attraction, but it plays an important role in the cultural life of Budapest. The Vigadó’s building was finished in 1865, and it has served many purposes since then. Events of all sorts have been organised here, such as charity events, festive galas, receptions and concerts. The main purpose of Pesti Vigadó is to preserve cultural diversity, and represent high-culture in the heart of Budapest.
Photo: www.vigado.hu – Haris László
2. Hungarian Academy of Sciences
The Hungarian Academy of Sciences is a prestigious learnt society in Hungary which has been working since the 1830’s. Today, the academy has 12 main sections: 8 sections within the realm of natural sciences and 3 within the social sciences and humanities. The Library and Information Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences is the biggest reference library in the country, in possession of almost two million books. It was founded in 1826.
3. St. Stephen’s Basilica
St. Stephen’s Basilica is one of the favourite Hungarian sights of tourists from all over the world, and it is also one of the main attractions of Hungary’s capital.
This monument is an incredible piece of art in the heart of Budapest. If one is willing to climb the 364 stairs (or “cheat” and use the lift) the view of the surrounding area is beautiful from the Basilica’s dome. The Basilica was blessed by Péter Erdő cardinal in 2003.
The Parliament is also one of the main attractions of Budapest, and the sight tourists love the most. The Parliament is also the most well-known building of Hungary’s capital worldwide.
The building was designed by Imre Steindl. The Parliament of Budapest is a marvellous Baroque building with neo-Gothic elements. You can watch 10 really interesting videos about the Hungarian Parliament Building in a two-piece article here: Part1 and Part2.
According to origo.hu, the Gránit Pólus Group plans on executing a development in the most valuable and frequented area of Budapest. It will be the biggest private estate development in the upcoming years. Offices, commercial units, apartments and hotels will be built in the new city quarter.
The Gránit Pólus Group designed a 320-450 thousand m2 quarter on the property found in the neighbourhood of WestEnd City Center. The development aims to create a modern, diverse, inspiring urban environment, which will offer a new living standard to its dwellers.
Considering the generation of the turn of the century, the plans were designed based on the most modern “smart city” concept.
The development also includes a two-hectare park, where services, catering and entertainment will play a significant role. The new quarter won’t only be the most attractive and valuable living and working environment in Budapest, but it will also be a new touristic sight and destination.
Photo: Gránit Pólus Group
According to the plans, the laying of the foundation stone could even happen in the last quarter year of 2018.
Gyula Ágházi, the managing director of the Gránit Pólus Group said that location and accessibility have become determining factors on the estate market. But the sustainable and environmentally friendly approach is just as important when it comes to developments and new constructions.
Did you know that the hippo in the Pest Zoo receives the water for its pool from Széchenyi Bath’s thermal water? It is just one of the many interesting facts magyarorszagkul.nlcafe.hu reveals about Széchenyi Bath!
The first and biggest
Széchenyi Thermal Bath and Swimming Pool, also known as “Szecska”, is
not only the biggest bathing complex in Budapest, but in whole Europe.
14 years after its opening ceremony, by the August of 1927, the expansion of its common bath was done and a swimming pool was established. It was the first swimming pool on the Pest side. The expansion came to reality on an area 6900 square meters big. Thanks to the continuous developments, at the moment there are 21 pools for visitors to choose from.
Photo: Wikicommony by Marc Ryckaert
Artesian Bath
Vilmos Zsigmondy, the famous mining engineer of the age, after a previous examination figured out that an artesian well in Budapest could be drilled most possibly in the Városliget. His concept was accepted on a general meeting on the 4th of March in 1868. The place for the drilling of the well was appointed: the part in front of the equestrian statue of Árpád on present day Hősök tere (Heroes Square). The drilling started in the November of 1868 and was finished in January, 1878. The building of the bath called Artesian Bath at the time was started in 1909 based on the plans of Győző Czigler, and it was opened on the 13th of June, 1913, under the name of Széchenyi Bath.
Soviet soldiers to the right, everyone else to the left
Turnover was increasing from the opening until the war, until 1944. During the Second World War the building was damaged. Reparation works started almost right after the war and it was ready for use in March. The separated parts were utilised in a way that Soviet soldiers were using the bathtubs on the right, the one on the left and the one for women was also open for the public.
Water motifs
Széchenyi Bath is also called a “Bath Palace”, because the architecture on the inside is subordinated by the bathing culture and the use of motifs connected to water got an important role on the inside just as much as on the outside of the building. Water monsters, shells, fishes, mermaids can be found in the candelabras and the outside decorations of the building. These elements were used on the capitals, the ornamental vessels and the tiles as well. Inside you might feel like finding yourself in an enchanted water realm.
Photo: Wikicommons by Pierre Bona
Medical water for drinking and sinking
The first artesian well, providing water for the bath, was drilled by Vilmos Zsigmondy between 1868 and 1878, the water gushing out of the 970 m deep well was 74.5 Celsius degrees hot. The second well was drilled with the leading of Ferenc Pávai Vajna: from the 1240 m deep well the hottest thermal water in Europe gushed out: 77°C.
The medicinal water is recommended for those suffering from joint diseases, chronic arthritis and it can be used as a completion for after-cure of accidents and orthopedic problems.
There is also a drinking hall in the bath, where one can drink water suitable for treating different internal medical problems. So people can cure themselves on the inside and the outside at the same time.
+1 the hippo baths in thermal water too
The hippo in the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden gets its water from one of the springs used by Széchenyi Bath as well, since its chemical composition is similar to that of the Nile.
Despite it being cold, a bit of sightseeing is still possible, isn’t it? Especially if you choose a city where there is a thermal bath to warm up your cold bones after a long day of roaming the city, hunting for beautiful sights. Termalfurdo.hu has collected the best suggestions for you.
Debrecen
There are numerous things in Debrecen that make the city worth a trip, along with the nearby Hortobágy National Park, no matter if you opt for sightseeing in the city or taking a hike close by.
The Great Reformed Church of Debrecen, the Déry Museum (where you will find the Munkácsy-trilogy), the Modem Centre for Modern and Contemporary Arts are recommended for all ages.
These are very educational and pleasant programs. After this, take a walk in the Nagyerdő (Great Forest), if the weather allows it. Here you can visit the zoo as well. If you still have time and energy, then hop in your car and drive down to the Hortobágy National Park.
Feeling tired already, aching for a warm bath? Then don’t hesitate to visit the Aquaticum Mediterranean Spa, which will remind you of a warm Mediterranean island, with its authentic décor.
Debrecen’s main square with the Reformed Church in the background photo: www.hunguesthotels.hu
Miskolc
Miskolc and its surrounding area are full of promising hiking places if you’d like to connect with nature. For example, the Garadna valley, where one of the longest forest railways are found in Hungary, or the Lillafüred waterfall is a must for you. If you’d like to stay inside the city and wander there, then the recently renovated main street in the downtown of Miskolc is where you should head.
Although the weather is unpredictable lately, there is still one activity that you can opt for, let it be sunshine or rain: the Diósgyőr castle.
Diósgyőr is part of Miskolc today, looking like a small town inside a city. For centuries, it served as a wedding gift from the part of kings to their wives, the queens.
When the threat of the Turks arose, it was transformed into a fortress in the 16th century, has stood its ground against sieges. It soon started to decay, due to the fights, and after the threat was gone, the locals started to demolish it, using the stones to build houses. In 1953 works and plans began to save the Diósgyőr ruins, thanks to which, the old castle has been rebuilt nicely. Inside the walls, you will find the Castle Museum, and in the summertime, a theatre is operating there.
After a short trip outside in nature and in the history of the city, you can relax at the Cave Bath.
The Miskolctapolca cave bath photo: barlangfurdo.hu
Keszthely
If you have a soft spot for castles and dramatic, beautiful interior designs, then you should head to Keszthely, where the Helikon Castle Museum will clench your thirst.
You can get to know the castle itself very well through the exhibitions, get acquainted with its astonishing library, and in the further buildings explore the carriage exhibitions, the Palm House, the huge hunting gallery.
If the weather allows, you should definitely check out the castle’s park as well, where you can stroll under the shade of ancient trees and among rare plants.
After this, we recommend that you take a walk on the old streets of Keszthely, check out Lake Balaton at the port, and then conclude the day at Hévíz, where Central Europe’s biggest thermal water lake is found. Even if it’s very cold outside, the lake’s warm water will make you forget that you are actually outdoors.
The Helikon Park photo: www.facebook.com/Keszthely
Pécs
Are you planning on taking a holiday with just your significant other? Or with your kids? It doesn’t matter actually, as Pécs has a lot to offer in both cases. In the valleys of the Mecsek lies the lovely city of Pécs, which will enchant you with the narrow streets and the old old old buildings in the downtown. Numerous bistros, restaurants, and confectioneries await you in the Mediterranean atmosphere of the Hungarian city.
Pécs has a special atmosphere, thanks to the Turkish mosque in the city centre, facing the Christian church.
If you’re headed to the lavish and huge Sts. Peter and Paul’s Cathedral, or Basilica/Pécs Cathedral, make sure to check out the Csontváry and Vasarely museums. It is also recommended to visit the TV tower, about which we’ve already published not long ago, from where you can admire the town’s beautiful panoramic view. As we’ve mentioned in case of visiting Pécs with kids, we have a recommendation for them: the Pécs Zoo, which has a colourful park equipped with a playground.
Once you’ve explored all the wonders of Pécs, you can sit back and relax in the thermal waters of Harkány, or try out their wellness services.
www.facebook.comharkanygyogyfurdo
Budapest
Of course, we could not leave out the Hungarian capital. Budapest has a lot of new things to offer even to those who have been living there for quite some time, there is a lot to get lost in. Let’s have a quick overview of the major sights you should not miss in Budapest. You must’ve heard about the Buda Castle, the Parliament and the City Park. Well, you should also check out the surrounding narrow streets at Buda near the Castle. Or go to the Palace District behind the National Museum, where the old buildings will guide you through the city’s history. Not a single day passes by in Budapest, when a new exhibition opens, so you should look these up in advance.
If you’re with kids, then the City Zoo is a must, as well as the Palace of Wonders.
After a long day’s walk in the gorgeous capital city, you can pick one of the historic baths: relaxing in these waters is absolutely the cherry on the cake.
According to turizmusonline.hu, Condé Nast Traveler magazine creates a poll every year, asking their readers about their favourite places around the world.
It is not a surprise that this year Condé Nast Traveler magazine asked its readers again to vote for their favourite cities. On the list of 40 cities,
Budapest ranks the honourable 11th place,
outplacing cities like Prague, Venice, and London.
The Austrian capital, Vienna won the first place in the regional contest. It ended up in the 2nd place in the overall list.
In Budapest, voters highlighted the thermal baths, architecture, and the goulash soup, their favourite national dish.
The article highlights that thanks to its Art Nouveau architecture, Budapest is outstanding in Europe, it’s picturesque from any point of view. Its thermal baths were built in the 16-17th centuries. The New York kávéház is one of the best coffee places. A night’s walk on the Chain Bridge is recommended, as it is an unforgettable sight. And the three-level Central Market is an ideal place for trying the famous goulash.
According to the list, the best city is Tokyo, followed by Vienna, and another Japanese city, Kyoto in the third place. The fourth is Barcelona, but Paris, Sydney, Madrid, Vancouver, Rome and Munich also made the top 10.
The number of home building permits issued in Hungary in Q1-Q3 rose an annual 32.7 percent to 28,411, data released by the Central Statistical Office (KSH) on Friday show.
The number of home building permits issued in Budapest rose 103.5 percent to 10,952. In county seats and cities with over 50,000 residents, the number was down by 4.6 percent at 6,075.
Late in 2015, Hungarian lawmakers lowered the VAT rate on home construction from 27 percent to 5 percent and eased rules for obtaining building permits. Around the same time, the government launched a home purchase subsidy programme for families with children.
The number of completed homes rose 51.5 percent to 7,981 for the whole country and was up by 17.6 percent at 1,660 in Budapest.
Turizmus Online reports that over 5000 fashion and architecture journalists picked the most elegant cities in the world. As it happens, Budapest ranked 80th out of 400.
Zalando, the online fashion company, published a research regarding the most elegant cities in the world. The criteria involved history, architecture, high-expenditure tourism, the dominance of and access to fashion.
[button link=”https://dailynewshungary.com/budapest-second-best-hotel-central-europe/” type=”big” color=”red” newwindow=”yes”] The second-best Central European hotel is in Budapest[/button]
According to Kasia Luczak, the manager of Zalando Trendscouting,
style is different from fashion, as style is always a subject of choice.
Over 5000 fashion and architecture journalists were asked to choose the top 80 destinations out of 400 options. The top 80 were ranked from the point of view of the quality of infrastructure, how elegant the fashion companies in the given city are, and what would it take to lead an elegant lifestyle there.
[button link=”https://dailynewshungary.com/budapest-among-top-10-unesco-creative-cities/” type=”big” color=”red” newwindow=”yes”] Budapest also made it to the top 10 UNESCO creative cities of the world in the category of design[/button]
It comes as no surprise that the list is led by Italian cities: we will find Venice, Firenze, Milan and Rome among the top 10. Paris, the cradle of fashion – of course – came first, which is a given for the lovers of elegance. London occupies the second place, and our neighbour, Vienna, the third.
Although Budapest did not make it to the top 10, it is still among the best 80: it placed 60th.
Zalando – the top ten most elegant cities
featured image: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZYpHr1wDmY
Napi.hu reports – based on MTI – that the new sports complex of Haladás football club of Szombathely is finally finished. The centre was built from an EUR 50 million (HUF 15.6 billion) budget.
Although the official opening ceremony will take place on the 8th of November, journalists and press representatives got a tour in the new facility that meets all the requirements of the 21st century.
The central area is a football field, which has a roofed UEFA IV level viewing area, able to host 9000 people.
The football field
There are further facilities in the complex, such as gyms for wrestling, boxing and weightlifting. There is also a well-equipped fitness gym along with two handball courts.
Photo: MTIPhoto: MTI
Furthermore, a VIP section and 12 Skyboxes are located in the centre, which can be rented for business meetings.
All sections of the sports complex are accessible; several lifts were built to make it easier for mobility-impaired sports fans to get there.
Zsolt Bokor, the sports director of the football club Szombathelyi Haladás VSE said that anyone who sets foot inside the stadium – respectively of being a sportsman or woman, a games master, or a sports fan – will feel like he or she is in an entirely another world compared to what they are used to.
Béla Illés, part-owner of Swietelsky Haladás football club (who also played in the Hungarian National Team on 64 occasions), stated that
the circumstances are excellent, but still, the greatest joy is to be able to play in a stadium that is filled with excited fans.
Illés further added that there is a great interest in the sports complex at the moment, thus they expect a huge number of spectators. However, as to have a steady number of fans at each match, the Haladás club has to perform well – writes MTI.
The #Szombathelyi #Haladás football club’s stadium, photo: MTI
The complex was built by ZÁÉV Zrt. and Swietelsky Magyarország Kft, from a budget of EUR 50 million.
The Parliament of Hungary was built in 20 years, using 30,000 square meters of stone and 40 million bricks. The building was completed 115 years ago on 8 October 1902, according to Pestbuda.hu.
After the Ottoman Empire conquered the southern parts of Hungary — including Buda — the national assembly was relocated to Pozsony (Bratislava) for almost two centuries. The idea of moving it to Pest came up in 1843.
The city was situated in the middle of the country and it was also an intersection of trade routes, so it was a splendid spot for establishing a true capital.
When the assembly agreed on the location of the building, they appointed József Lechner and Lajos Zerger as respondents of constructing the Parliament. 42 entries were submitted for the competition. The plans were not evaluated by the deadline for a mysterious reason, so they were sent to the National Archive, where they suffered some damages during the Revolution of 1848-’49.
The blueprint of upstairs. Photo: Lechner Tudásközpont
The construction of the building was decided in 1880, and an embodiment was established to conclude the plans. Master architects Antal Weber and Miklós Ybl were among the members. Prime minister Kálmán Tisza got his hands on the designs of two other European parliaments that were under construction at that time: the one in London and the other in Vienna.
The new competition was announced in April 1882, and by February 1883, 19 entries were submitted. Four plans were awarded: Imre Steindl, Alajos Hauszmann, Albert Schikedanz and Vilmos Freund, and Otto Wagner were the winner contenders.
The embodiment decided to build the National Assembly’s headquarters in Neo-Gothic style like the English Parliament.
This meant that Steindl’s design came true, and Milkós Ybl also participated in the progress.
The plans were developed for almost one year before introducing them to the embodiment in 1884. The new designs put the building 72 meters North and the structure became narrower but taller.
The blueprint of the hunters’ room. Photo: Lechner Tudásközpont
After the council accepted the plans, the maquette of the Parliament was revealed to the public. Critics did not wait long. Most of the controversy originated from the Gothic style which many considered German and anti-Hungarian. But not only the commoners criticized the plans: the National Embassy was also divided by the question whether this building was worth the high expenses or not.
The construction was finally authorized. Though Steindl lead the execution, he was constantly intimidated and ordered around by Lajos Tisza.
The progress involved several hundred workers for almost 20 years.
The execution began on 12 October 1885. The grounding took much longer than expected, as the whole aqueduct system had to be moved elsewhere. It meant one year of delay.
The stonemason works began in December 1887. The progress used a vast amount of resources: 40 million bricks and 30,000 square meters of stone. They were finished with the stonemasonry by the spring of 1894. Then the construction of the roof began, for which the architects used the most modern technologies: the whole structure was made of riveted and rolled iron holders. The dome was completed by May 1895.
(The whole process was reconstructed in a video recently).
The first assembly in the building was held on 8 June 1896. However, the building became fully functional only six years later, and the inner development was in progress until the end of 1904. Steindl, unfortunately, did not live to see the completion of his work, as he died in 1902.
The length of the Parliament is 268 meters, its greatest width is 123 meters, the height of the dome is 96 meters.
It was one of the largest buildings of its time.
The interior design does not accommodate to the Gothic design of the outside, as it mostly resembled to Baroque. The delegation room, which was used for discussing the common matters of Austria and Hungary during the time of the Monarchy, reflects Renaissance style.
The 88 ceramic statues that depict different professions were sent by Vilmos Zsolnay. The statue of the architect is based on Steindl himself.
The result, of course, did not awake only positive feedbacks. The opposition accused the government of using the long and expensive construction as a cover for embezzlement. The accusation lead not only to a media war, but István Tisza’s uncle called for a duel against the accuser.
The stlye of the building divided the public. Some people admired the enormous complex, while some others criticized its mixed styles of architecture. Some even said that the building went out of style by the end of its two decades of construction.
However, the building is in immaculate shape even today, 115 years after its opening.
According to szeretlekmagyarorszag.hu, the results of the world’s biggest open photo competition were announced this week. A Hungarian photographer, Ágnes Dudás won one of the categories of the competition out of 22 thousand participants and 183 thousand artworks.
The CEWE “Our world is beautiful” tender looked for photos that presented the beauty of our world from different aspects. Photographers could enter their creations in the categories of sport, people, nature, traffic and infrastructure, architecture and landscapes.
“The photo was taken in a swimming pool before the swimmers arrived. It was the symmetry of the view that caught my attention” said Ágnes Dudás, the winner of the architecture category.
The overall winner of the CEWE Photo Awards was the Finnish Janne Kahila, who captured a beautiful moment on the Faroe Islands. The chapel standing alone on top of the hill symbolises how human presence affects intact nature. “We all have a favourite spot where we like to spend time. For me this is the top of the Kalsoy Island: the 360° panorama and the vertical cliffs are breath-taking” said the photographer.
Photo: www.palyazat.fotokonyv.hu
For that matter, more than 3500 Hungarian participants entered the CEWE “Our world is beautiful” photo contest with more than 31 thousand photos.
Hungary was the third most active country, and the most active nation regarding the population.
The company plans to organise a free exhibition presenting the winner artworks in Duna Pláza in the second half of October.
Világjáró Magazintells us the story of Sámuel Goldberger, who dared to dream big and opened the Paris Department Store at Andrássy street 39. However, he could not enjoy his creation for too long, as WWI broke out a couple of years later.
The Paris Department Store’s name is Párisi Nagy Áruház in Hungarian but was previously known as Divatcsarnok. It is a well-known shop on Andrássy street, but its story actually began at Rákóczi street, which was known back then as Kerepesi street. The famous textile mill owner, Sámuel Goldberger opened his first shop in 1898, which became the first shop in Budapest, where both the lower middle class and the better-waged workers could afford to buy pins, hats and even stationery.
Losses followed by great success
Goldberger sold his merchandise at a low price, the news of which spread like wildfire and in the next couple of years he had to open more and more shops in the apartment block. In the meantime, he clumsily ignored the safety regulations, and due to a blow-out, his famous Paris Department Store – which already employed 150 people at the time –
burnt down in August 1903.
Fourteen people died in the fire, among them the wife of Henrik Goldberger, who was one of the owners.
The early Andrássy street days photo: egykor.hu
The entrepreneur recovered quickly from this huge moral and material loss and ventured even further. He’s been dreaming about opening a department store since he visited the shopping complexes in Vienna, Berlin and Paris in his youth. He found the perfect place for his new shop at Andrássy street 39. The Neo-Renaissance palace, built in 1885, was home to the Terézváros Casino until then. Sámuel and his brother took up the task of renovating the Casino in 1909. He acquired the money for the grandiose plans from selling the remainder of the shops. Zsigmond Sziklai was in charge of drawing up the design plans and Gusztáv Petschacher (the designer architect of the original Casino) with the execution of the plans.
The side of the building looking on Andrássy street was demolished and in its place, a ferroconcrete structure was built. This structure was still new back in those days.
Thus, the first Hungarian modern store was brought to life in 1911.
photo: hazai.kozep.bme.hu
The building had a gallery, a single-area organisation, six stories and a roofed glass aula. The guests were amazed by the marble pillars, the gilded stairwell, the colourful glasses of the windows, and the glass walls and mirrors of the elevators. From the roof garden of the building, one could admire the view of Budapest, and in wintertime, the area was used as a skating rink. Still, the jewel of the store was the ballroom from the Casino days, the walls of which were lavishly decorated by painters Károly Lotz and Árpád Feszty.
This was a tremendous improvement in quality compared to the previous Paris Department Store. The inventory changed according to this, now aiming for upper-middle-class customers.
photo: epiteszforum.hu
The ruins after the war
Goldberger’s dreams of a luxury store were quickly torn apart by the onset of the war. However, even before WWI broke out, solvent customers were becoming much harder to find, while
the economic crisis following the war was threatening with bankruptcy.
To prevent this from happening, the Goldberg brothers transformed the family business into a joint-stock company in 1924. The store was parcelled out for renters and it started to resemble a bazaar, where dirt-cheap items were sold. It was like Goldberger was shoved back in time, to the early days of his Kerepesi street shop.
The Paris Department Store became cheap and notorious in the inter-war years and could not escape nationalisation either. For a while, it was used as a book depository, then in 1956, it was reopened as a department store, now named Divatcsarnok (loosely translated as Fashion Hall). The building was declared a national monument in 1967 and operated as part of the Centrum chain until 1999.
The Lotz room photo: YouTube / Alexandra Kiadó
The uncertainties in the new century
With the appearance of shopping malls, Divatcsarnok had to be closed down in 1999. Centrum Rt., the then-owner of the establishment, wanted desperately to sell the empty building, and after a long hunt for a buyer, agreed to sell it to the French Orco Property Group in 2001. However, the government suddenly made claims to the property and the national treasury bought the building. A lot of monumental and great plans were discussed, but
there was no money to reopen the building for public functions.
First, there were talks about opening an IT centre there, then of establishing the Budapest section of the world-wide famous contemporary Guggenheim Museum. Architects and conservationists would have rather had it as the home of a museum of architecture, while the city leadership and the representatives of contemporary music wanted it to have musical functions. Other plans involved the establishing of a House of Humour or a Central European cultural centre. The government grew worried because of the billion forints budget that could have been needed in case of any of these plans, so the building was put on sale.
Ironically, the building eventually landed in the hands of the Orco Group.
After detailed art history research, the French company got permission to renovate the Divatcsarnok in August 2007. Thanks to this, the atrium lit by sunlight and its gorgeous stairwell was restored to their original glory, and the Lotz room was reopened to guests. However, the function of the building changed, as only the ground level and the first floor were open to customers.
The shelves of the Alexandra book house photo: cultura.hu
The beautifully renovated building operated by Orco Property Group was first rented to the Alexandra book house. The two-story Alexandra book house, which was of European standard, was decorated following a unique conception, with special furniture, and with cafés and wine shops that were unlike those in the shopping malls. The Lotz room was used for book launches, balls and cultural events. Sadly, the new golden age of the Paris Department Store only lasted until this March: the book house chain went bankrupt and the Lotz Café was closed down due to technical reasons.
As of now, the future of the building and the splendid ballroom is uncertain.
featured image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nora-meszoly/
According to hvg.hu, the building of MOL’s new headquarters at the Kopaszi dam will be Budapest’s first skyscraper. The plans of the office building called MOL Campus were presented on Monday.
“The building of the headquarters of MOL has been in the neighbourhood for fifty years, so we don’t need to change our identity” said Zsolt Hernádi, the president-managing director of the company. He added that he thinks that the office building will be “very cool” and that they want to have the best headquarters on a regional level.
Photo: www.facebook.com/MOL
This is how he justified that the company commissioned Finta Studio, the Hungarian partner of one of the world’s most illustrious architectural companies, Foster + Partners, with the designing. “It was a compromise for us that we had to work in an office that was built fifty years ago, now we want to create the new headquarters without compromises.” The president added that the more than 2,000 workers of MOL currently work in 11 buildings in 5 districts, which makes things difficult.
Regarding the expenses, Zsolt Hernádi emphasized that the project will be financed by MOL. Based on the plans, the laying of the foundation stone will happen in 2018, and the building will be done by 2020.
“If quick pace is important for anyone, then it’s us, trust me” joked the president.
For that matter, it’s quite interesting that Minister of Prime Minister’s Office János Lázár once said at a conference that if something is taller than the Parliament, it is the symbol of greed. Moreover, he said that buildings taller than the Parliament and the Saint Stephen’s Basilica shouldn’t be built in the capital.
Photo: www.facebook.com/MOL
The new headquarters will also be open to the public. The country’s highest lookout terrace will be built on the top floor, from where anyone can admire the panorama of Budapest. There’s also going to be an open hall with shops and cafés on the ground floor.
The plans are connected to the London-based company, which was founded by Sir Norman Foster fifty years ago. Their most famous work is probably the Swiss Re Tower, commonly known as the “Gherkin”, but they were also the ones who designed the Wembley Stadium, the new building of the Reichstag and the Steve Jobs Theatre.
Foster and Partners only had one unrealized project in Budapest so far: businessman Péter Csipák wanted to build an office at Vörösmarty Square with a top that looked like a zeppelin. The 40 billion forint worth project was swept away by the crisis in the end.
A 12.5-metre tall statue depicting a Hungarian hussar, the largest statue of a soldier in the world, was inaugurated in Pákozd in central Hungary with military honours on Friday.
The work of Dunaújváros-based painter and sculptor István Rohonczi, the giant statue dubbed Miska Hussar is expected to be included in the Guinness Book of World Records, overtaking a 9.75-metre tall tin soldier inspired by Andersen’s tale erected near Vancouver in Canada.
Photo: MTI
The concrete statue is covered in special weather-proof paint and it stands near the site of the Battle of Pákozd, one of the most important battles in the Hungarian Revolution of 1848 in which the Hungarian revolutionary army defeated the troops of the Croatian Ban Josip Jelacic on 29 September 1848. The statue weighing 80 tonnes has been completed in 12 years at total costs of 100 million forints (EUR 320,000).
Lately there has been a growing interest in Hungarian academic education on part of foreign students, most of them choosing universities sited in Budapest. In the following series, we will present some of the best Hungarian universities, hoping that during your summer trip to one of our exciting festivals, you’ve taken a deep interest in our culture and history.
We’ve met several exchange students during our courses, and there were even some, let’s say, Italian or Scottish course mates, who were full-term students. One would think that their choice was based on the fact that they wish to learn more about Hungarian culture or customs and are taking courses in this field. In some cases, this is the truth indeed.
In others, they are simply smitten by the capital city, the Hungarian landscape
and came to Hungary to continue their studies in microbiology, English literature, electrical engineering, or economics.
Given that the number of foreign students (either visiting with Erasmus, or being full-term students) has quickly grown in the recent years, we’ve decided to give a short overview of why you should study at one of those Hungarian universities that are among the top and also offer courses in English or other widely spoken languages. The first stop of our trip is the Budapest University of Technology and Economics.
The main building photo: bme.hu
Budapest University of Technology and Economics
The Budapest University of Technology and Economics is officially abbreviated as ‘BME’, deriving from the Hungarian name, Budapesti Műszaki és Gazdaságtudományi Egyetem. It was founded in 1782, and after a couple of centuries’ worth of name changing, merging and unmerging with other faculties and universities, a couple location changes, it finally settled on the official name Budapest University of Technology and Economics in 2000.
Location
The BME campus is mainly situated at the Buda-side, between the Liberty- and Petőfi Bridges, stretching a bit over to Rákóczi Bridge. This means that the campus is long and fairly narrow, and if you’d take a walk from one end of the campus to the other, it will take around 20 minutes. Its location is very fortunate, as
the city centre (at the Pest side) is a 10 minutes walk away,
no matter which bridge you take. Plus, the most famous sights of Buda are very close, as the Citadel is right at the Liberty Bridge end of the campus.
First, most, best
It is not only the oldest Institute of Technology in the world with university rank and structure, but also the first in Europe to train engineers at a university level. It is also considered to be the most innovative university in Hungary.
BME placed well at international rankings on many instances. Just considering the latest lists and data, the technological university of Budapest ranked somewhere between 700 and 800 out of all the universities in the world in 2017, and among the best 400 universities offering courses in engineering and technology it placed 322nd.
QS World University Rankings photo: www.topuniversities.com
Nobel-prize winners and Olympic medallists
As the Budapest University of Technology and Economics is the most respected university in Hungary to train in the field of technology, there are numerous world-wide famous scientists and Olympic winners among the alumni. They have four Nobel-prize winners: Dénes Gábor, the inventor of holography, George Oláh, Jenő Wigner and Fülöp von Lénárd. Other scientists and architects are Alajos Hauszmann, the architect of the Buda Castle, Kós Károly, the architect of the Budapest Zoo, Samu Pecz, the architect of the Great Market Hall, Ernő Rubik, Frigyes Schulek, the architect of the Fisherman’s Bastion, Imre Steindl, the architect of the Parliament, or Leó Szilárd, the father of the atomic bomb and the nuclear bomb.
Eighteen Olympic medallists attended the BME, including Alfréd Hajós and László Cseh.
The Fisherman’s Bastion Photo by Guavin Pictures
Sports
Since we’re on the subject of sports, we have to mention that it is compulsory to take a Physical Education course at BME and you can take many other courses (for credits even) if you’d like to. The university offers a variety of sports to take up, such as tennis, beach volley, football, athletics, wall climbing, squash, aerobic, but if you feel like, you can even go to their gym. You can learn more about fees and sports options here and here.
photo: bmesport.hu
What to study?
Altogether 1100 lecturers and 400 researchers are employed here, ready to share their knowledge with you. BME has over 110 departments and institutes, and eight faculties, such as the
– Faculty of Civil Engineering (founded in 1782)
– Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (1871)
– Faculty of Architecture (1873)
– Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology (1873)
– Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics (1949)
– Faculty of Transportation Engineering and Vehicle Engineering (1955)
– Faculty of Natural Sciences
– Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences.
The latter two were founded in 1987 but were separated in 1998.
English courses and international students
The first courses in English were launched in 1984.
Today, courses are offered in Hungarian, English, German, French and Russian.
Courses are offered in English in all programmes, this means that you can do your Preparatory Year, your Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degree, Master of Sciences degree or even a Doctor of Philosophy there if you speak and understand English well enough.
When it comes to foreign students, almost 1400 students (about 21200 students are enrolled at the university) represent 50 countries. The majority of international students are from Turkey, China and Yemen.
For both national and international students, the admission process is quite simple: you have to pass the International Baccalaureate, or the Matura, or even your A-level exams (depending on where you’re from) with enough points. At some faculties and departments, it is also required to pass a Hungarian Matura. The admission fee is 100 EUR for international students.
However, BME is not an exception to Hungarian universities, where a tuition fee has to be paid. If you are a non-scholarship holder and non-Hungarian, your tuition fee per semester will vary from 2000 to 4500 EUR, depending on which programme you wish to enrol in and at which department, and also if you are an EU citizen or not. If your Hungarian language skills are great enough, then you can even enroll in the Hungarian programme, which will cost about 830 EUR (if you are a Hungarian citizen, then you do not have to pay in the case that this is your first university-level training).
Budapest is admired for its historical buildings and architecture that preserved the past one or two centuries, but despite it having undergone a lot of change, some structures or squares have not aged. The following ten places were collected by femina.hu.
Hungary has developed dynamically and gradually between the Austro-Hungarian compromise of 1867 and 1914. The urbanisation process of Budapest was relatively fast, thanks to the changes in the social layers, trade, infrastructure and industry.
It was only a matter of time for Buda and Pest to unite and become one strong city, which actually took place in 1873.
At that point, Budapest was considered a metropolis, which became a modern city in just a blink of an eye. The companies dedicated to constant development and improvement appeared one-by-one, contributing to the quick advancement of Budapest. Thus the Hungarian capital could become the rival of not only western-European but also American cities in several aspects. A lot of the iconic places in Budapest are from this era.
The organisation of Budapest is thanks to the city’s development branch, which was called into being in the 1870s. The inspiration came from the circle-like road organisation of Paris. The subway and the tram lines were part of the preparation process for the millennial celebrations. At the same time, the piers and squares were established, new bridges were built, along with buildings that are considered monuments today. The buildings were designed by such geniuses as Imre Steindl, Frigyes Schulek, Alajos Hauszmann, Ödön Lechner and many others.
Even foreign architects submitted their city-development plans.
Join us for a journey back in time, where you can check out for yourself how much has changed since the 1900s.
Tabán – Photo: fortepan.hu/Saly Noémi
View of Tabán (area in district I) from the Gellért Hill. There are two elements missing from this photo that are key sights in Budapest today.
The Parliament – Photo: fortepan.hu/Schoch Frigyes
First is that the Neo-Gothic Parliament was not yet built.
The 1902 realisation of Imre Steindl’s plans was very costly, but also very much worth it. The other one is that the city’s second bridge is missing too: the Margaret bridge was finished in 1876.
The Fisherman’s Bastion – Photo: fortepan.hu/Schoch Frigyes
Frigyes Schulek did not only re-design the Matthias church (the beauty of which was praised by The Huffington Post), but the Fisherman’s bastion’s plans were drawn up by him. A fraction of the brand-new monument – finished in 1902 – can be seen here: the Schulek stairs.
Deák square – Photo: fortepan.hu/Budapest Főváros Levéltára
Deák square is Deák square since 1866. From the numerous sights of the square, the Anker Palace was finished in 1910. Deák square was a very important interchange even back then as
the tram and Metro 1 lines are running since 1896.
The Kodály Körönd – Photo: fortepan.hu/Schoch Frigyes
The Kodály Körönd was only Körönd back then. At first glance, it seems that only the pavement has changed since 1903, but in reality, the buildings in the area were still new at the time this photo was taken: they were barely 20 years old.
Szabadság square – Photo: fortepan.hu/Fortepan
Szabadság square’s name is the same since 1900, its most important buildings were constructed at the turn-of-the-century. Ignác Alpár’s 1907 Tőzsdepalota (built in Eclectic-Art Nouveau style) is being renovated at the moment.
Heroes’ Square – Photo: fortepan.hu/Magyar Földrajzi Múzeum
The statues of kings did not yet occupy their places among the pillars of the Millennial monument at the Heroes’ Square.
The Millennial Underground Railway reached the surface here but was terminated in 1973.
Baross square – Photo: fortepan.hu/Saly Noémi
Baross square, 1903. Keleti railway station – originally Központi Indóház (Central Railway Station) – was opened in 1884, and the small houses with gardens were gradually replaced by MÁV (Hungarian State Railway) offices and hotels.
Elisabeth bridge – Photo: fortepan.hu/Magyar Földrajzi Múzeum
The Elisabeth bridge is hiding behind and under the scaffolding, before its official opening in 1903.
The bridge was blown up by the retreating Germans in 1945,
and its reconstruction was finished only in 1964. For the renovation, the original pillars were used.
Photo: fortepan.hu/Schoch Frigyes
Budapest was lit up by oil- and gas lamps originally, with the modern, electric public lighting making its grand appearance in 1909. New York was 18 years ahead, and the German big cities had only a couple years on Budapest.
It can easily be said that there is a historically important building around each corner in Budapest. One of these is the Dohány Street Synagogue, which has become a popular touristic destination and attraction, but there is much more to it than just pretty windows and gloomy history. The following is a collection of some of the most interesting and important facts about the Synagogue.
1) The Dohány Street Synagogue is the largest synagogue in Europe and the second largest in the world. The building is 75 metres long and 27 metres wide. It seats almost 3000 people: 1492 men and 1472 women, plus there are standing places. Tourists are allowed to visit ceremonies as well, given that they respect the traditions.
2) Even before the construction of the Dohány Street Synagogue began, people could pre-order seats. This meant that some seats were reserved for them and only they could use those places. Later, these could be sold.
3) During the early days of the Second World War, the Dohány Street Synagogue was used as the German Radio’s base and as a stable.
4) The most dominant stylistic elements are in Moorish style, but we can notice Byzantine, Romantic and even Gothic design features. The designer of the Synagogue was Ludwig Förster, who designed the Synagoge Tempelgasse in Vienna (it has been demolished since) and the Synagogue of Miskolc. Since the designers and architects of the synagogue were not Jewish people, it resembles Christian basilicas, almost looking like an adaptation of early Christian basilicas.
5) Above the front gate, there is a rose-window, which is the church’s main source of light. The windows on each side of this resemble the two tables on which Moses has written the Ten Commandments.
photo: M3peti / wikipedia
6) The Central Synagogue in Manhattan, New York City, is almost a true and exact copy of the Dohány Street Synagogue.
7) Interestingly, the Dohány Street Synagogue was built in five years, while its 1991 renovation alone took five years to finish.
8) As it is a Jewish custom to keep Torah scrolls in the ark of the synagogue, the Dohány Street Synagogue contains some as well. A lot of these are from synagogues that were destroyed during the Holocaust.
The Torah scrolls inside the Ark
9) The Dohány Street Synagogue differs from other synagogues in the fact that it has pipe organs (Franz Liszt once played the 5000 pipe organ) and a cemetery. It is not customary to have a cemetery next to a synagogue, but the circumstances during WWII asked for the establishment of one. Between 1944 and 1945 January, approximately 8000-10000 people have died in the ghetto where the Synagogue is found. Two thousand of the deceased were buried there.
10) A peculiarity of the Dohány Street Synagogue is that it is not aligned with the street. According to religious laws, all synagogues must face east, where Jerusalem is, so that is why the front of the Dohány Street Synagogue is not lined up with the street.
11) Originally, women could only sit in the upper galleries, but ever since WWII has ended, they are allowed to sit in the aisles too. However, when the synagogue is filled during big events and holiday celebrations, the old-fashioned seating order prevails.
12) During Sabbath, no work and no fire are allowed, which means that using electricity and operating heating systems is forbidden for Jews. This is why the caretaker of the Dohány Street Synagogue cannot be Jewish, nor can a Jew play the organ on Sabbath. Also, music cannot be played inside the synagogue, so this was solved the following way: the organ and the choir are separated from the ‘sacred’ sections, thus the music comes from ‘outside’.
+ 1 In the 18th century, one of the biggest marketplaces was the Rak-piac known otherwise as Kirakodó tér, which is the Széchenyi István tér today. This is where the Jews came to from Óbuda to engage in trade. Gradually, the square became the most important trade centre of Lipótváros, so the Jewish community moved the essential offices of trade here. The wealthier Jews decided to move into the surrounding streets from the 6th and 7th districts, but they still had to visit the Dohány Street Synagogue. However, the Synagogue was too far away, so the Jews there decided to build another synagogue nearby. For this purpose, the Jewish community got an empty lot near the Parliament for free from the city. The plan was to build a synagogue almost as big as the Saint Stephen Basilica, but it proved to be too expensive, so they gave up on it.
You can visit the prayers if you respect the traditions and your clothing is in accord with them. The prayer times during winter time are from 17:00 on Fridays and from 09:30 on Saturdays. In the summer, the Friday prayers start at 18:00 and the Saturday prayers start at 09:30.
The winner project for the construction of the Budapest Athletics Stadium has been chosen. According to pestbuda.hu, the Stadium, in its extended form, will be able to host 55,000 people.
Építészfórum reports that four proposals were awarded by the committee, regarding the plans for the construction of the Budapest Athletics Stadium. Altogether 20 million forints (~64,000 EUR) were divided among the four winner projects. The first prize was given to Marcel Ferencz DLA and his team, the Napur Architect architectural agency.
At the moment, there is no such establishment (nor roofed or outdoors) in Hungary that is dedicated to hosting athletic events. The government’s goal is to provide a better quality sports service, to ensure that the preparation for the Olympics is in a professionally adequate venue, to promote all sorts of sports, and to provide better accessibility to these sports. To achieve these goals, it is important to improve sports infrastructure.
The Kemény Ferenc Program proposes establishing an athletics centre in Budapest, which will consist of a central stadium, a roofed hall and outdoor training courts.
One of the requirements for the stadium is that there has to be space for 15,000 people and, when it is extended, it needs to have 55,000 seats. The most important requirement, however, is that the stadium has to be built in a way that the compact and efficient initial state can be extended into a grand stadium that would host world events. This extending and deconstructing process has to be economic and budget-friendly. Furthermore, the architectural design, the aesthetic values and the technological quality are all essential factors.
The committee found that most of the entries had smart, resourceful and interesting solutions, but not any of them could live up to the functional expectations. One of these issues is the entrance and the emptying of the stadium.
In the case of entry nr. 1, the entrance is too small, restricted, and the location of the parking lots is questionable
Entry nr. 2: the location of the running court is smart, the organisation of traffic uses is efficient too
Entry nr. 4: there are problems with security, wind protection, with the asymmetric design (owing to this, the scaffoldings are not roofed properly), the lighting (the arena is lit only from one side), but the functional contact system is great and thorough
Entry nr. 3: the vertical communication and traffic system located in the front is overcomplicated and, according to the committee, is farfetched.
NAPUR ARCHITECT Építészeti Iroda Kft’s plans
photo: kemenyferencprogram.org
István Károlyi’s plan
photo: kemenyferencprogram.org
Designers tried to meet the professional sports-related requirements, but it can be felt at each entry that they do not have experience at designing athletics stadiums. The plans were examined thoroughly from the point of view of the arena. Though the standards of the International Association of Athletics Federations were all respected, the professional rooms and catering establishments and equipment were not placed adequately.
The committee favoured projects that considered the environmental features when drawing up plans. These features – in the best case – should contribute to the functional services and needs of the stadium both in the initial and the extended state. Most of the applicants designed the environmental planning by taking into consideration the fact that when big events are taking place, it is not only the stadium that is used but also the surrounding area (think about food courts and tents for children). However, except for entry nr 2, no one thought about the sewage system. Except for two plans, all applicants paid attention to public transport, including the HÉV lines, and proposed such locations where no costly and significant clearings had to be done. Plans that included the destruction of green areas for the best of the surface parking lots, were not endorsed.
The committee had high expectations regarding the adequacy of the structure and the usage of realizable and sustainable frameworks. What they were looking for were such innovative ideas that are favourable from the point of view of the investment costs and the time needed for construction. Other expectations included energy efficiency and low-cost operation. Entry nr. 2 stood out from the rest with its sensitive and sensible siting and the smart temporary solution for the extended stadium. Entries 1, 3, 4 ignored the expectation of the budget-friendly and economic extension and deconstruction.
The winners and the sums they get for realising their plans: 1st prize: NAPUR ARCHITECT Építészeti Iroda Kft., 7.000.000,- Ft gross (~22,000 EUR)
Lead designer architects: Marcel Ferencz DLA, György Détári
Partner designers: László Gábor Szántó, Attila Lucz, Ferenc Rajkai, Klára Macsinka, Gábor Albert 2nd prize: Építészkohó Kft., 6.000.000.- Ft gross (~19,000 EUR)
Lead designer architect: Tamás Attila Tarnóczky
Partner designers: Ádám Rhorer, Gyula Zoárd Mangel, Ferenc Rajkai, Ákos Medek 3rd prize: BORD Építész Stúdió Kft., 5.500.000.- Ft gross (~18,000 EUR)
Lead designer architect: Péter Bordás
Partner designers: Zsigmond Dezső, Zoltán Hollókövi, Ádám Rhorer, Zoltán Üveges
In addition, István Károlyi’s plan is to be bought for 1.500.000.- Ft gross (~5,000 EUR). The lead architect designer is István Károlyi, the partner designers are István Sári, László Szlancsik, Béla Zöld, Tamás Piller, Ádám Rhorer.
