Photo gallery

Hungarian cider winery won a prestigious prize! – PHOTOS

The magnificent building of the BudaPrés Hungarian cider winery won a prestigious Architecture 2024 DNA Paris Award. The news was shared on the LinkedIn site of the BORD Architectural Studio, the designer and creator of the cider winery. Below are some photos of the magnificent building. Congratulations!

Hungarian cider winery on the top

According to Lelépő, a Hungarian tourism news outlet, the award jury found that the building is aesthetically astonishing and considers environmental and functional viewpoints outstandingly.

Cider is a relatively new spirit in Hungary, but in Europe, its past spans centuries. The BORD Architectural Studio wanted to show the cider-making traditions and the autumn atmosphere in its building in Etyek. Drinking cider reminds us of the colours and aromas of the autumn harvest with a social experience.

The atmosphere of the building follows that impression and incorporates elements from the environment of the Etyek Öreghegy. Like old cellars, the buildings lie vertically on the hill slope, following its natural gradient.

The 2024 DNA Paris Award for Hungarian architecture

In the buildings, the functionality of industrial production meets the elegance of guest acceptance. As a result, the building is modern and dynamic, fitting into its environment harmonically.

Beneath the ground, you may find the “industrial work zone”. On the first level, you may discover guest spaces with a panoramic view of the nearby hills and settlements. On the third level, service areas and engineering took place.

The 2024 DNA Paris Award shows the high international quality the Hungarian architecture is capable of. The building presents how you can integrate modern architecture into a natural environment while meeting all functional and aesthetical requirements.

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July 16, 2024

Peru’s “Pisco Night” shines bright again in Budapest: photo gallery

On July 11^th, the highly anticipated “Pisco Night” was brought again to Budapest at the Múzsa Bar in Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest, in collaboration with the Embassy of Peru

Pisco Night in Budapest

This “Pisco Night” event allowed Hungarians to experience Peru’s magic in every sip and enjoy this captivating Peruvian grape spirit as it happens in other main capitals of the world. On this occasion, the attendees indulged in the finest Pisco-based cocktails. They learned the taste and aromas of these beautiful drinks, crafted by the talented Peruvian guest bartender Giancarlo Nazario, who traveled to Budapest especially for this event.

In addition to the traditional “Pisco Sour” and “Chilcano” cocktails, the Pisco-based cocktails called “Amazonic colada” and “Anglo Peruvian” were presented, which also enjoyed overwhelming acceptance by the attendees.

Pisco, Peru’s finest and most emblematic distillate, produced from the vines on its southern coast since the 17^th century, was again presented in an unforgettable night of exotic flavors and vibrant cocktails. The event was further enriched by the performance of a Latin music band to the public’s delight, further elevating the audience’s spirit. Among the attendees, there were also local press and influencers covering the event.

Pisco Night in Budapest. Source: Peru Embassy in Budapest, Hungary

This second edition, organized in collaboration with Múzsa Bar of the Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest, is a follow-up of the project of the Embassy of Peru in Hungary, aimed at consolidating the presence of Peru’s flagship drink in the taste of Hungarians. The first edition of the “Pisco Night” took place on April 5 at the Blue Fox The Bar of the Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest, with resounding success and acceptance by the public, which followed the “Pisco Masterclass” event held in last December, where the versatility of our national drink was presented to the bartenders and managers of the main bars, hotels, and restaurants, as well as the press and liquor distributors in the city.

The Embassy of Peru in Hungary will hold more editions of “Pisco Night” in the main Budapest hotels, bars, and restaurants, presenting Peru’s favorites, “Pisco Sour” and “Chilcano,” among other Pisco-based cocktails.

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Pisco Night at Hotel Kempinski Corvinus: The spirit of Peru takes Budapest by storm – Exclusive PHOTO REPORT
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July 16, 2024

Wizz Air marks 20th anniversary with festive aircraft paint scheme: photo gallery

Wizz Air unveiled the 132nd member of its fleet at an event at the Airbus factory in Hamburg. The Airbus A321neo, registration number 9H-WNM, has been given a unique livery to mark the airline’s 20th anniversary and will be operated as part of the Wizz Air Malta fleet, flying to nearly 200 destinations.

Unique graphics on the Wizz Air aircraft

The new livery features the company’s iconic colors while also symbolizing the airline’s commitment to sustainability. The intertwining leaves in the graphic are painted in the classic WIZZ pink and blue, with a more vibrant green hue, creating a dynamic visual that embodies the airline’s spirit. This integration of imagery and color reinforces the airline’s brand identity and highlights its environmental consciousness so that the company’s commitment is visible above the clouds.

Éva Kerényi, who won the airline’s competition last year, designed the unique graphics on the aircraft.

“I was inspired by Wizz Air‘s sustainability logo, which depicts the aircraft as the veins of a leaf. Keeping with the leaf motif, my idea was to combine the ever-growing leaves with more subdued lines and the airline’s signature pink and blue colors. I think I have envisioned a subtle and elegant motif with leaves and vines wrapping around the fuselage. It all reflects my beloved contemporary style, Art Nouveau,” said Éva Kerényi, the winning graphic designer.

20 years of Wizz Air

Since its first flight on 19 May 2004 between Katowice in Poland and London in the UK, it has experienced significant growth. The airline has an extensive international network of 800 routes to nearly 200 destinations in Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa and has carried nearly 400 million passengers globally.

“Wizz Air’s success over the past 20 years has been built on an exceptional fleet strategy. From day one, we have been operating aircraft from the state-of-the-art Airbus A320 family. The arrival of Airbus A321neo aircraft since 2019 has ensured that we are the fastest growing European airline, as well as the pioneer of the post-global recovery and the market player flying the highest proportion of new technology. We are delighted to continue our fruitful, lifelong partnership with Airbus. Thanks to their contribution, we will operate a fleet of 500 aircraft by the end of the decade, ” said Owain Jones, Wizz Air’s Director of Corporate Relations.

Wizz Air 20th anniversary livery_5 — Source: Wizz Air

Key to the airline’s long-term development and sustainability strategy is the renewal of the fleet with Airbus A321neo aircraft. The model brings the most advanced aviation technologies currently available, while also offering significant environmental benefits. Compared to the previous model, noise and nitrogen oxide emissions are reduced by almost 50 percent and fuel consumption by 20 percent. The ultra-low-cost airline’s fleet now comprises 220 aircraft, the vast majority of which, more than 60 per cent, are ‘neo’.

“We are delighted to welcome this unique symbol of our 20-year history and sustainability achievements. In addition to the continuous renewal of our technology, we are implementing several initiatives to improve our operational efficiency, including a major investment in sustainable jet fuel. We recently invested £ 5 million in the green fuel company Firefly as part of our medium-term strategy to reduce carbon emissions further. We aim to operate 10 percent of our flights on sustainable fuel by 2030. However, the key to achieving net zero emissions is industry collaboration and strategic investment in low-carbon technologies, backed by the necessary legislation and incentives from governments and policy makers. We are focused on joining forces with all partners in the industry on the path to net zero, ” said Yvonne Moynihan, Wizz Air’s Director of Sustainability.

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July 15, 2024

PHOTO GALLERY: Stunning visual plans of Budapest’s newest university campus

The Hungarian Reformed Church organised an open architectural competition to design the new university campus in Ferencváros for Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church (KRE). 42 architectural firms submitted valid proposals, and the jury selected the design by Archikon Architects, a Budapest-based studio celebrating its 35th anniversary.

New university campus in the heart of Budapest

The jury included professionals delegated by the Reformed Church, Budapest’s chief architect Zoltán Erő, Ferencváros mayor Krisztina Baranyi, vice president of the Hungarian Chamber of Architects Tihamér Szalay, and KRE chancellor Gyula Balázs Csáki-Hatalovics. The jury was chaired by national chief architect Regő Lánszki, with university development leader Balázs Fürjes as co-chair. The results were announced yesterday evening, our sibling site, HellóMagyar reports.

Project Details

The new university campus will be built in the traditional Reformed district between Ráday Street and Üllői Road in Ferencváros, utilising the former Kaltenberg Brewery building and a vacant lot on Üllői Road. Funded by state support and church resources, the campus will house the Faculty of Law and Political Sciences and the Institute of Psychology, accommodating nearly 2,500 students. The competition saw record participation, with submissions from firms across Hungary and the EU.

Winning design

Archikon Architects, known for winning multiple prestigious awards such as the Budapest Architectural Excellence Award and the Mies Award, secured first place. The jury’s recommendations emphasised preserving and developing leisure functions at Markusovszky Square and collaborating closely with the Ferencváros Municipality for planning parking and public spaces.

Design goals

The competition aimed to blend tradition and innovation, with designs reflecting the church’s mission and openness. The university campus should integrate well into the Ferencváros district and align with local urban plans, serving both the university community and local residents. The design prioritises high architectural quality, sustainability, environmental consciousness, and Reformed simplicity.

Jury recommendations

The jury highlighted the importance of maintaining public leisure spaces at Markusovszky Square and ensuring the new development does not overly burden public areas. Ferencváros Mayor Krisztina Baranyi stressed the need for unified planning with Markusovszky Square, the district’s only public park. She noted that while the winning design is promising, it must preserve the park’s current functions and green spaces.

Architectural vision

Budapest’s chief architect Zoltán Erő emphasised the challenge of integrating large-scale projects into the densely built urban fabric while maintaining public spaces. The winning design proposes a “city within a city” concept, with buildings reflecting urban diversity and sustainability. The preservation and intelligent use of existing structures are key aspects.

Historical integration

National chief architect Regő Lánszki remarked that the Reformed Church has historically prioritised education. The winning design by Archikon Architects integrates KRE both globally and locally, preserving the structure of the historic Dohánygyár factory and enhancing connections with the surrounding environment.

Future collaboration

Balázs Fürjes, co-chair of the jury and university development leader, highlighted the collaborative effort required for the project. The goal is to dream boldly, plan responsibly, and build with discipline, ensuring the new university campus benefits the city and honours God.

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July 9, 2024

Red Bull Soapbox returns to Budapest – PHOTOS

Red Bull Soapbox returns to Budapest -Ládaderbi 2024

After 16 years, the Red Bull Soapbox (in Hungarian: Ládaderbi) returned to Budapest, and on Sunday, more than 20,000 people came to see the crazy cars and the self-driven, tuned cars. We show you the best moments.

Red Bull Soapbox in Budapest

On 30 June, a five-man jury judged the performances and the drivers’ achievements. Among the finalists were actress Evelin Dobos and Olympic kayaker Sándor Tótka, as well as Csaba Kajdi, Alexandra Stana and Zoltán Szujó. Points were also awarded for the aesthetics of the vehicle, the performance before the race and the time it took the vehicle to roll down the race course on the slope of Tabán.

First place went to the Purman team, which raced an igloo around the track. The Paper Dogs were the second fastest team over the distance, with TeamEmergencyRacing in third place with a car made from a hospital bed.

“It was interesting that there were as many judges as there were judges, each with a different opinion. It was unusual for me to be in the judging seat, but I will remember it as a great experience. I really enjoyed scoring the creative tasks, but the performance and the choreography were the most important for me ,” said Alexandra Stana.

Participant performs during the Red Bull Soapbox Race in Budapest, Hungary on June 30, 2024. // Balázs Pálfi / Red Bull Content Pool

Zoltán Szujó was also captivated by the competitive spirit and said that, in a sense, the Ládaderbi is comparable to all serious car races – obviously handled in the right way – because you have to make the most of a set of rules that apply to everyone and the best wins.

“There have been surprises and surprises. There was a car that I didn’t think would make it to the first corner, but it went quite nicely. The design of the center of gravity was very interesting, by the way – there were high structures, but at the same time, the center of gravity was very low. Which is an advantage of this form of racing. And there were some things that I would have expected a little bit more from, because there were technical things under the chassis that maybe could have done a little bit more,” added Szujó.

Historical moment: PM Orbán takes over EU’s rotating presidency – PHOTOS

PM Orbán takes over EU's rotating presidency (2)

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán formally took over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union for the next six months at a meeting with Belgian counterpart Alexander De Croo in Brussels on Monday, the government’s official site said.

After the meeting, Orbán and President Tamás Sulyok inspected the recently renovated Hungarian House building, which will be one of the main venues of the Hungarian presidency.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Charles Michel, President of the European Council, in Brussels on 1 July 2024:

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July 1, 2024

PHOTOS: Geszt Tisza Castle in East Hungary astonishingly renewed

The Geszt Tisza Castle was an epicentre of Hungarian politics in the second half of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries. Two of its owners became prime ministers of Hungary. One served for the longest in the position without interruption before PM Orbán won his fourth consecutive supermajority in 2022. Now, the castle is breathtaking and open to visitors.

Geszt Tisza Castle: a memento of Hungary’s history

PM Viktor Orbán “celebrated” the Day of National Cohesion (4 June) in the renewed castle this year with leaders of Hungary, including newly-elected President Tamás Sulyok. The venue choice was not accidental. The Geszt Tisza Castle was an epicentre of Hungarian politics between the 1870s and the 1910s, giving two prime ministers to Hungary. Now, János Lázár invited the press for a tour in the castle.

The first building in the territory was built by László Tisza I (? – 1771) in Baroque style. The two buildings he erected were joined later, creating the current shape of the Tisza Castle. The people of Geszt named the castle “Babylon” since it quickly became a centre of social and political life.

Kálmán Tisza, Hungary’s longest-serving prime minister without interruption (1875-1890), built the bathrooms, the prime minister’s study, and the illustrious terrace. Since Orbán won in 2022, he will become the longest-serving prime minister without interruption after 2025. Orbán also had a term as prime minister between 1998 and 2002.

Multiple functions in the Socialism

Tisza’s son, István Tisza (prime minister between 1903-1905 and 1913-1917) modernised the castle by introducing electricity, hot water and phone connection. The castle’s last owner was Kálmán Lajos Tisza, who fled the estate in October 1944 because of the Soviet troops, nöf.hu wrote.

Soviets lived in the illustrious buildings for months during WWII. Afterwards, the castle had many functions (students’ holiday place, library, school, theatre), but all deteriorated its state.

The renovation started in 2021 and cost EUR 34.4 million, and it presents the History of the Tisza Family and Hungary. It has four thematic areas: politics, church, family and culture. The Geszt Tisza Castle park was also revitalised on 20 hectares. There are lots of indigenous oak, maple and ash trees. Unfortunately, many of the park trees were cut and burnt in 1944-45. Interestingly, Geszt hosted Hungary’s oldest tennis court.

János Arany, one of Hungary’s greatest poets, spent there more than half a year in 1851. Soviets dismantled his original house, and its reconstruction was finished in 1971.

Adopt a castle programme

János Lázár, Hungary’s construction and transport minister, organised a press tour in the castle. MP Lázár submitted a proposal to the parliament in December about a so-called castle adoption programme. That meant companies or wealthy people could rent out castles and maintain them. Public outcry followed. Experts slammed it saying it does not protect Hungary’s built heritage. Katalin Novák, Hungary’s former president, rejected to sign the bill, which was followed by Lázár’s rage. He saw “cowardness and old Communist reflexes” behind the president’s decision.

However, Novák had to resign after the clemency scandal. In June, the Hungarian Parliament passed the bill but with significant modifications. Now, the new owner of the castles must maintain, renew and operate it. Furthermore, the state can reclaim the castles at any time. What’s more, the owners lose ownership the moment its ownership structure lacks transparency.

There are 47 Hungarian castles and fortresses one can “adopt”. The list includes e.g. the Fortress of Sárvár or the jaw-dropping Wenckheim Castle in Szabadkígyós.

Read also:

Journey through time: Discover the breathtaking castles of historical Hungary – Read more HERE
5 magical Hungarian castles you must visit- PHOTOS and more in THIS article

June 30, 2024

Miss World Hungary revealed: crowned as the country’s most beautiful woman – Photos

Once again this year, Miss World Hungary has been elected in a spectacular show, with the winner set to represent Hungary at the international competition.

Miss World Hungary 2024

Andrea Katzenbach has been crowned Hungary’s Beauty Queen after the jury’s votes were counted. She will represent Hungary at the international Miss World finals. Jázmin Cseh, 19, from Dunakeszi, was named first runner-up, while Alexandra Horváth, 25, from Mezőörs, was named second runner-up.

Kamilla Kiss won the Miss Charity sub-contest, where candidates had to implement and document a charity action, judged by a vote among themselves. Adele Grósz, who was deemed the most beautiful by the viewers, was awarded the Audience Award.

The 15 Miss World Hungary contestants wore revamped jerseys of the legendary Golden Team during the fitness segment, while the creative segment featured wedding-inspired outfits by Hungarian designers. Richard Demeter showcased his designs in the evening gown parade, and a special edition of Winona Couture’s pieces, decorated with national motifs, was featured in the national segment.

.In the national competition, the future beauty queen had to be hard-working, dedicated, positive and open-minded. She also needed to speak English well, as she will present the charity project she has developed at the international finals.

The pageant’s slogan is “Beauty with a Purpose”. This signifies that one of Miss World Hungary’s primary missions is to focus attention on the importance of social responsibility. For one year, the winner will embark on an important mission: to travel the world, raise awareness of critical human rights and environmental issues, and promote various social causes as a Goodwill Ambassador.

As we reported earlier, 23-year-old Boglárka Hacsi represented Hungary in the Miss World beauty pageant, details and photos HERE.

June 24, 2024

Through Hungarian Eyes: exciting photo exhibition opened in Budapest

A photo competition dubbed Through Hungarian Eyes goes to show how national cohesion can be expressed through images, the state secretary of policies for Hungarian communities abroad said at an award ceremony held in the garden of the Hungarian National Museum on Thursday.

The competition attracted 1,500 submissions from countries including Australia, Japan, the United Arab Emirates and various areas throughout the Carpathian Basin, Árpád János Potápi noted.

Regardless of from where the images have been sent, and despite the great variety of subjects, it is clear from the material that the photographers are Hungarian, he added.

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June 22, 2024

La Estancia Polo Cup 2024 – Interview and photo gallery

La Estancia Polo Cup 2024, Etyek, Hungary.

The La Estancia Polo Cup 2024 was held on 9 June at the polo club that gives the cup its name, in Etyek. This exceptional event has a long history, and every year, a special group of guests comes to the ranch owned by the Zimmermann family. As we have written before, La Estancia is a family love affair, with the parents Krisztina and Uwe and the new generation, Philipp and Maximilian, also polo enthusiasts. Now you can read an interview with Uwe Zimmermann and see some wonderful pictures from the private event.

Daily News Hungary (DNH): Could you give us a little insight into why polo is considered an elite sport? What are the costs of running a polo club per year and what are the expenses in a competition season?

Uwe Zimmermann: As one can imagine, polo is a rather expensive sport that requires lots of work and management in addition to financial funds. It takes time to maintain, train, travel, and organize a polo team. Maintaining the infrastructure of a polo club is hard work and requires a certain enthusiasm. But it’s still the most beautiful sport you can pick.

La Estancia Polo Cup 2024, Etyek, Hungary.

Daily News Hungary (DNH): It also takes a lot of energy to prepare, train and compete.

Uwe Zimmermann: Yes, it does. You need to be physically and mentally prepared for the sport. You need good horses, devoted grooms, some friends and associates to play with, and, very importantly, a family who will deal with it. In our case, we have the pleasure of playing with our sons and passing on the „bug“ of polo to the next generation.

Daily News Hungary (DNH): A little insight into the world: which are the most famous polo cups, and is Hungary represented there in any way?

Some of the most important in polo are f.e. Hurlingham in Argentina, Cowdray Park, Ascot Park in the UK, Sotogrande Ayala, Santa Barbara, El Dorado in California, Careyes in Mexico, Jaipur in India, Plettenberg in South Africa …

We have been playing in most of them…, but you need to travel a lot. Polo is never a „one-way “ street. It’s probably the most international sport since there are only a limited number of players in each country.

In Hungary, there is not really a big polo crowd. We at La Estancia try to organize and play on a higher level and open the doors to interested people to learn about the sport. The combination of sport, culture, society, and friendship is probably unique in the country and appreciated by our guests and visitors.

Daily News Hungary (DNH): When was the first La Estancia Polo Cup held, and what was the basic purpose of the event?

Uwe Zimmermann: The first tournament held at La Estancia was in 2000. We established polo internationally, not only for the sporty side but, at least as important, for the social side. It’s an elegant sport with the image of being stylish and entertaining, providing the right frame for a certain part of society.

Daily News Hungary (DNH): The La Estancia Polo Cup 2024, held a few weeks ago, is one of the biggest events of its kind in Hungary. What is worth knowing about this year’s event?

Uwe Zimmermann: The 2024 edition of the La Estancia Polo Cup was again the biggest polo event of the year in Hungary. We are very proud to have received players from 7 different nations to compete. It took a lot of work and stress to have the Polo event organized at such a high level, entertaining the guests, satisfying the sponsors, and providing good polo (without accidents). It takes many years to build such an outstanding reputation that attracts international brands and companies such as Hublot, Defender, Marriott, Unicum, and Ganz KK, just to name a few.

Having several hundred guests from Hungary and abroad and hosting more than 40 ambassadors is quite a challenge. All this in a perfect, movie-like setting with great hospitality makes us the benchmark of polo in the country at La Estancia.

Daily News Hungary (DNH): The pictures clearly show a very special event, for example, in terms of outfits, hats, and white trousers.

Uwe Zimmermann: Yes, we try to reflect in our organization the history and style polo deserves. The dress code is an important element in paying respect to the organizers and teams and celebrating the sport within society. It’s part of our culture and understanding how it should be.
I must admit, the ladies love to dress up and wear their beautiful clothes and hats. This year, a big group from Gucci joined us.

Daily News Hungary (DNH): Let’s not forget the sporting performance. Which team lifted the trophy this year, and what was the order of finish? What other prizes were awarded?

Uwe Zimmermann: Yes, there was again a very good and fast polo. Important, no accidents! Four international teams were competing, with the Austrian-Argentinian team from Dorothea Hotel winning the big trophy in the final against the Hungarian-German Ganz KK-Areus. Third place went to the Slovakian team from Defender in their match against the German-Italian-Mexican team of Hublot.

At La Estancia, all our players receive nice and valuable prizes and awards. Our sponsors and partners are so kind to support us and their teams, and our guests cheer for their favorite polo team.

Daily News Hungary (DNH): In addition to the polo matches, the guests enjoyed other experiences thanks to the support of renowned sponsors.

Uwe Zimmermann: Yes, the opening of Budapest´s first Polo Lounge (by WineHub) on the first night of the event is a milestone. The cocktail and dinner reception at the Dorothea Hotel was an extremely enjoyable and elegant part of the polo tournament. Generosity is the correct attribute for the hospitality all of our players and guests were able to enjoy during the three-day event.

Defender, Unicum, Fish Monger, Alpine, Hublot, Turkish Airlines, Areus, Dr Hazi, Herz Coffee, Agrolanc-Toro and many others were setting the frame for our guests at the polo club, all nestled in the „white village“ designed by Krisztina Zimmermann. With their outstanding products, services and fantastic catering (by Dorothea Hotel), you enter a world of class and harmony. Seeing all the happy and smiling faces of our guests and players pays back big time for all the work.

La Estancia Polo Cup 2024 zwack — La Estancia Polo Cup 2024, Etyek, Hungary.

Daily News Hungary (DNH): What are your plans for this year and next?

Uwe Zimmermann: We have more polo events scheduled this year, early October we invite for our traditional „Octoberfest Polo Cup“ were people are welcome to wear their „Dirndl and Lederhose“.

The next edition of our La Estancia Polo Cup will be held in 2025, and we already have new ideas and plans to surprise our guests.

In the meantime, our polo team travels during the season to various tournaments in Europe.

PHOTOS: Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan shined in Hungarian Nanushka dress

Hungarian Nanushka is among Europe’s fastest-growing fashion brands. So, unsurprisingly, even the Irish actress chose one of their coats to wear during the Washington Post shooting.

Nanushka wanted to dress up Nicola Coughlan

According to Bors, a Hungarian tabloid, the actress became world-known with the Bridgerton series. The third season started this May, and Coughlan is one of the main protagonists in the series centred around the family.

Bors says the Hungarian fashion brand aimed to dress up the Irish actress. Nanushka mixes sustainability with elegance in a modern style. We wrote in 2021 that they opened a new store in London, where Hungarian Foreign Minister Szijjártó cut the ribbon and talked about the importance of the success of such internationally successful initiatives. Before, they opened a store in New York.

Nanushka London Hungary — Nanushka store in London. Photo: FB/Szijjártó.

A brand-new material was born

Nanushka products are available at more than 500 resellers in 50 countries. The brand’s online sales extend to more than 100 countries, the Hungarian News Agency wrote then.

Szandra Sándor and her team offered Coughlan to make a unique dress for her. That is how the chocolate brown Okobor™ was born, made of Nanushka-developed vegan leather. Okobor™ is an innovative material made of 56% recycled polyester and 44% polyurethane. The material won the prestigious PETA Fashion Awards. It is produced with a dry process, reducing water consumption by 80%, and has a GRS certificate confirming its environment-friendly characteristics.

Coughlan’s fight against body shaming

According to Bors, the coat symbolises Nanushka’s commitment towards modern design and sustainability. Nicola Coughlan’s choice represents that sustainable fashion can be ethical and outstandingly stylish, as well.

A bejegyzés megtekintése az Instagramon

Bridgerton (@bridgertonnetflix) által megosztott bejegyzés

Coughlan portrays Penelope Featherington in the Bridgerton series which made her world-known. In the new season, she takes part in several dramatic and even erotic scenes, all boosting her popularity. Coughlan commits to fighting against body shaming on social media and in her interviews. She insisted on having naked scenes in the series to silence her critics and support women with curvy figures.

Here is the post:

A bejegyzés megtekintése az Instagramon

Nicola Coughlan (@nicolacoughlan) által megosztott bejegyzés

Nicola Coughlan is not the first celebrity to wear Nanusha. We wrote before that Kate and Oliver Hudson, Emma Watson and Jennifer Lawrence also chose to wear their clothes.

If you would like to discover the Budapest flagship store of the fashion brand, you do not have to go further than the 5th district of Budapest (3 Bécsi Street) where Nanushka Budapest Store & Café welcomes interested customers.

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These Hungarian attractive clothing brands conquered the world – Read more HERE
FT says Nanushka is Europe’s fastest-growing fashion company

June 20, 2024

Miss World Hungary: spectacular flash mob by beautiful Hungarian women at Heroes’ Square – VIDEO, PHOTOS

The finals of the Miss World Hungary competition will be held this weekend, and the organisers have drawn attention to the event with a spectacular showcase. On Sunday, the winner will be chosen from 16 ladies, who are currently spending the week before the final at a preparation camp in Siófok, which has just moved from Balatonfüred.

Hungary is taking part in the ongoing European Football Championship, and the organisers have said they will organise a flash mob to cheer on the team, delight tourists and, of course, create publicity for the pageant.

“The first aim of this flash mob is to mobilise as many people as possible, to get to know the girls and to show them a little bit of what they are like. They will perform a very cool dance, which they want to use to represent themselves and the competition,”

said Boglárka Hacsi, last year’s winner of the Miss World Hungary contest.

The spectacular show was watched with interest by passing tourists.

“Hungary is famous for its beautiful women. And here we can see for ourselves,”

said a Mexican man, according to hirado.hu.

Among the spectators at the flash mob were family members, who were able to meet the competitors for the first time since the start of the preparation camp.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Miss World Hungary (@missworldhungary)

The finals will be broadcast live on the Duna channel on the evening of 23 June as part of the Miss World Hungary gala show.

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June 18, 2024

Euro 2024: the Hungarian national football team arrived in Germany to a huge crowd – PHOTOS

What Hungarian football fans have been waiting for has begun. The team has left for Germany to take part in the European Championship.

Until Monday morning, the players trained at the football training center in Telki, near Budapest, before having dinner at the weiler headquarters in the evening.

The team played their last preparation match on Saturday, where they beat Israel 3-0. Monday morning was still partly about regeneration, but there was also a ball training session in Telki led by national team captain Marco Rossi. Two players from the squad have not yet practiced with the rest of the team due to minor injuries, Callum Styles and Loic Nego.

After the training session, the team packed up, and the players shared photos and autographs with the children who had gathered to see them off, MLSZ said.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hungarian Football Federation (@mlsztv)

The team’s flight to the European Championships was slightly delayed due to the European thunderstorms. It landed at Friedrichshafen airport just after 6.30 pm, where a large group of children was waiting for the team.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hungarian Football Federation (@mlsztv)

Arriving in Weiler Simmersberg an hour later, the team was greeted by an even bigger crowd, meaning the locals had a way of welcoming the team.

On Tuesday afternoon, the national team will train in Weiler-Simmerberg, and the first press conference in Germany will be held at the team’s media centre.

Weiler-Simmerberg is a municipality of 6500 inhabitants in Bavaria, Germany. The national team will train and rest here between matches.

The Hungarian national team will play in Group A:

Switzerland on Saturday, 15 June at 15:00 in Cologne
Germany on Wednesday, 19 June at 18:00 in Stuttgart
Scotland on Sunday, 23 June at 21:00 in Stuttgart

Breathtaking PHOTOS: Hungarian Tisza Castle with rich history renovated

On Tuesday, the Tisza Castle in Geszt, Békés County, was inaugurated. It now boasts not only a rich history but also a stunning new exterior.

History of the Tisza Castle

The renovated Tisza Castle. Photo: Facebook/NÖF Nemzeti Örökségvédelmi Fejlesztési Nonprofit Kft.

The castle was built between 1761 and 1772 by the nobleman László Tisza. The last member of the family left the building in 1944, during the Second World War.

The castle has been home to two Hungarian prime ministers.

The castle has been home to two Hungarian prime ministers. Kálmán Tisza, who became its owner in 1860, led the country between 1875 and 1890. After his death, the building passed to his son, István Tisza, who was Prime Minister of Hungary from 1903 to 1905 and from 1913 to 1917, and also Speaker of the House on several occasions. István Tisza was assassinated in his home on 31 October 1918, during the Aster Revolution/Chrysanthemum Revolution (őszirózsás forradalom in Hungarian).

Over the past 250 years, the castle has been visited by many prominent figures, including János Arany, Kálmán Mikszáth and Mór Jókai, who modelled the protagonists of his novel “The Stonehearted Man’s Sons” (A kőszívű ember fiai) on the Tisza family.

tisza castle dusk — The renovated Tisza Castle. Photo: Facebook/Geszt, Tisza-kastély

Tisza castle facade — Photo: Facebook/Lázár János

The three-storey Baroque-style castle is said to have hosted government meetings and negotiations that influenced the fate of the country, according to the chronicles, writes turizmus.com.

During the time of Count István Tisza, the building underwent significant modernisation: electricity was introduced, hot and cold water tanks were installed in the attic and a telephone line was connected. At the end of the Second World War, the entire building was destroyed after it was looted by the Romanian-Soviet troops. Kálmán Lajos Tisza moved to the United States and during the socialist period, the building was used as a school and a house of education, later a library.

Renovation of the Tisza Castle

The renovation of the Tisza Castle started in 2016 and included the renovation of the János Arany Memorial House, the butler’s lodge, the guest house, the Tisza crypt and the road outside the settlement. The park of the Tisza Castle was also revitalised on 20 hectares. The renovation of the building cost a total of HUF 13.5 billion (EUR 34.4 million).

tisza castle exhibition geszt — The Tisza exhibition in the castle. Photo: Facebook/Lázár János

The newly designed permanent exhibition, covering an area of 1,000 square metres, presents the history of the Tisza family and contemporary Hungary in 25 venues, in four thematic areas: politics, church, family and culture.

Find the Hungarian version of this article on Daily News Hungary’s partner site, Helló Magyar.

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June 5, 2024

La Estancia: we visited a professional polo club in Hungary

On the outskirts of Etyek lies the La Estancia Polo Club, a private estate of the Zimmermann Family and one of the strongholds of the Hungarian polo sport. The owners breed and train Argentinian polo horses, and as the sport is not very common in Hungary, the professionals and their horses attend mostly international competitions.

Polo – from the beginnings to Hungary

Horse polo is a sport that is still rarely practised in Hungary but has a long tradition and history. Since not many people are really familiar with it, we thought we would introduce it briefly.

Its name comes from the Tibetan word pulu, meaning ball. The history of polo dates back to 600 BC, and Persia was its birthplace. It became a national sport in the Persian Empire and spread throughout the empire. Later, polo became popular in other areas, such as India, with the spread of Islam. The British cavalry officers stationed there quickly took a liking to it, and then it was introduced to Europe. From the latter half of the 19th century, the term polo was regularly used by Indians and Englishmen. It was even an Olympic sport before the Second World War, with a total of five Olympic Games (1900, 1908, 1920, 1924, 1936).

Surprisingly enough, there used to be a dominant polo scene in Hungary before WWII. The regiments fielded 16 teams, and there was an intense competition scene. For instance, at the 1936 Olympics, the Hungarian team (Kálmán Bartalis, István Bethlen, Tivadar Dienes-Öhm, Dezső Kovács, Imre Szentpály) finished 4th. After the political changes, the sport was revived in the early 1990s, mainly by foreigners working and living in Hungary and some Hungarian enthusiasts.

Currently, there are 4 polo clubs in Hungary.

Polo in brief

Polo is a team sport, with teams of 4 to 4 riders competing against each other. Due to the high performance of the horses, the size of the field is much larger than, for example, a football pitch: a standard field is 300 yards (about 274 m) long and 200 yards (about 182 m) wide, with a goal at each end to hit a hard ball into. The ball can accelerate up to 150 km/h, making it dangerous for players. Thats why the sport has strict rules to avoid possible accidents and injuries for players and horses. The standard equipment is a helmet and knee pads. White trousers to play is a must! Each player uses several horses in a match and changes after each quarter. 1 or even 2 referees ensure the rules are respected during the game.

Social manners are expected from the players on and off the field!

La Estancia Polo Club

We accepted Uwe Zimmermann’s invitation to visit the La Estancia Polo Club. The Zimmermann Family purchased the then-grassy land in 1997. Since then, they have built and improved the stables, clubhouse, and fields, establishing the place as a meeting point for horse lovers, polo enthusiasts, and family and friends. Currently, 20 horses, all of Argentinian blood, and most mares call Etyek home. La Estancia is a kind of equestrian paradise, with expert staff looking after the animals, constantly training them for competition, and providing polo on an international standard level, attracting players and teams worldwide. Over the last 25 years, polo players from all continents visited the club and competed in famous tournaments. We were able to personally experience how well-organised and family-friendly the club is.

It is safe to say that horse polo is an elite sport requiring mental and physical fitness. The sport provides an unbelievable network around the world. The players take their own horses to European competitions, but they usually hire horses overseas. The polo season is only six months long in Europe, so the horses can enjoy a rather long holiday after a busy season in Hungary and Europe.

The polo ground also needs constant maintenance despite being used relatively scarcely. The 2 fields at the Etyek premises are nestled in a park-like, manicured ambiance surrounded by trees. They allow spectators to follow the game from a higher position while sitting in the shade.

Polo Cup in Etyek

La Estancia holds several competitions yearly, with competitors and spectators only arriving by invitation. The early summer and autumn tournaments, organised by the Zimmermann family, bring together a crowd of 400-500 guests and enjoy the support of many high-class sponsors and international brands. They attract the local and expat society of Hungary and the neighboring countries.

The generational change at the polo club and family polo team is also well underway, as both sons of the family are already playing at a high level. Thus, we can be sure that the Etyek-based La Estancia will continue to enrich the Hungarian sporting scene for many years to come. The Zimmermann family is all driven by the love of polo, and there’s no question about it—it’s felt in every square meter of La Estancia.

You can read this article in Hungarian on HellóMagyar – La Estancia: meglátogattunk egy profi magyarországi lovaspóló klubot

read also: Discovery in Hungary provides evidence for world’s first horse riders

June 4, 2024

PHOTOS: Grotesque decorations placed on Buda Castle’s iconic building

Grotesque decorations were placed on the magnificent dome of the Headquarters of the Hungarian Red Cross in Buda Castle.

Grotesque ornaments decorate this Buda Castle building

According to the official Facebook page of the National Hauszmann Programme, putting the grotesque masks back to their original places this week was the final phase of rebuilding the headquarters’ roof. Four ornaments decorate the dome structure from the outside, and each was created from 32 Rheinzink plates squeezed. It might sound incredible, but it took six months to produce one 140 cm wide and 170 cm high ornament.

Recreating these unique tin plates required exceptional accuracy since they had to fit perfectly with the dome structure. Furthermore, it was a challenge that nobody had a detailed plan for the original decoration masks. But an old photo helped the designers. Using that, they could recreate all four elements in their original beauty.

Grotesque ornaments were popular in ancient cultures. They aimed to scare evil spirits and non-desired guests. Therefore, such structures were placed on the building facades. The Renaissance and the Historic styles used these kinds of decorations again but without the original meaning, only due to their aesthetics.

Soviet siege damaged the original building

The Headquarters of the Hungarian Red Cross’ designers were Alajos Hauszmann and his son-in-law, Dezső Hültl. The magnificent building was damaged during the brutal Soviet siege of Budapest between December 1944 and February 1945. Only a few people know that the siege was the third biggest after Leningrad (Saint Petersburg) and Stalingrad (Volgograd) in WWII and destroyed the original lookout of the Hungarian capital.

Originally, Budapest was much more decorated, but the Soviet-imposed Communist leadership did not spend money to reestablish the bridges, buildings, and streets to their original form. Instead, they used cheaper materials. For example, they rebuilt the Buda Castle. However, the recreation followed a minimalist style compared to the richly-decorated original.

war castle budapest destruction — *The destroyed Buda Castle in February 1945. Photo: Fortepan*

Original exterior, modern interior

The Headquarters of the Hungarian Red Cross had an even more tragic story. Despite the damages it suffered from the Soviet and American bombs, it could have been preserved. However, the political leadership dominated by the Communists decided to dismantle it.

The new headquarters building will serve as an office building. It will appear as the original, but inside (interior design, engineering), it will have the latest solution. The exterior will be ready this year.

Read also:

Buda Royal Palace renovation in spectacular phase, entire walls being rebuilt – PHOTOS and details in THIS article
This Budapest street is one of the world’s 20 most beautiful – Details in THIS article

June 2, 2024

PM Orbán shed tears on stage, his Peace March ruled Budapest – PHOTO GALLERY, VIDEO

PM Orbán shed tears on Peace March (Copy)

But for how long? Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán could summon his supporters again in Budapest for a grande rally and announced his program for the last eight days of the 2024 EP election campaign: a door-to-door campaign enabling them to get in touch with every Fidesz sympathiser to gain the biggest victory in Europe. Will he be successful?

Grand demonstration for peace?

Péter Magyar, the ex-husband of former Justice Minister Judit Varga, regularly speaks to thousands of people in small villages on his election tour. His schedule is published in advance. Thus, his supporters (or adversaries) can prepare for the events. Meanwhile, PM Orbán pops up unexpectedly in different settlements to support local strongmen in the upcoming municipal elections and garner support for his ruling Fidesz-KDNP coalition.

PM Orbán Peace March Budapest — Photo: MTI

The two different strategies met this weekend in Budapest. A Peace March, organised by the Civic Union (CÖF) and its foundation CÖKA, arrived at a meadow on Margaret Island a little before 3 o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday while the end of the march was still on the Pest embankment of the Danube. Independent sources have not yet shared the estimated number of the partakers, but the government-close media talks about hundreds of thousands of people. On Friday, Magyar called together a demonstration in front of the Várkert Bazaar, where the 11 EP list heads took part in an organised “debate” broadcasted by the public media.

As the first Peace March participants arrived at the meadow, the end of the procession was still in front of the parliament building, stretching along the Danube embankment road to Jászai Mari Square and across Margaret Bridge, MTI wrote.

Celebrities, politicians and tears shed

The participants marched behind a “NO WAR” banner. At the front of the procession were Tamás Deutsch, who heads the European Parliament list of ruling Fidesz-KDNP, Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén, National Agriculture Chamber head Balázs Győrffy, CÖF-CÖKA spokesman Zoltán Lomnici, editor-in-chief of weekly Demokrata András Bencsik, publicist Zsolt Bayer, political scientist Tamás Fricz, CÖF founder László Csizmadia, journalist István Stefka, businessman Gábor Széles, presenter Ádám Fásy and frontman of band Edda Attila Pataky.

Many of the participants carried signs reading “Go Hungary!”, “Fidesz”, “Vote! June 9.” , “No war, No gender and No migration” as well as ones with the names of cities and towns. There was also a European Union Civil Cooperation Council flag in the crowd.

The crowd sang the national anthem and the Kossuth Nóta, a patriotic song, during the march. They also chanted “Go Hungary! Go Hungarians!” and “Go Fidesz!”

The national flag, the Szekler flag, the German flag and the Swiss flag also appeared in the crowd.

Mobilisation is the key

HERE you can read what PM Orbán talked about yesterday. In short, he said those not voting for Fidesz would send millions of Hungarians to the Ukrainian front to fight against the Russians. Orbán added that they would like to mobilise all their supporters in the last seven days until the 9 June elections. He assured his fans that provided everybody did their job, they would win a vast majority in the elections.

Interestingly, he shed some tears after appearing on stage, probably due to the unquestionable love his supporters welcomed him with. HERE is the video (from 1:15).

Here are some more photos:

Read also:

PM Orbán: “We do not want to shed blood for Ukraine” – Read more HERE
PM Orbán: ‘Others making decisions on Hungarians’ blood unacceptable’ – interview

June 2, 2024

Amrita Sher-Gil Cultural Centre celebrates the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development – Photos

Amrita Sher-Gil Cultural Centre (ASCC), Embassy of India, Budapest, organized a special cultural evening titled “अनेकता में एकता-Unity in Diversity” to commemorate the ‘World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development’.

The celebrations, held at the ASCC premises, commenced with a warm welcome by the Director of ASCC, Dr Mukesh Kumar Srivastava. The event was inaugurated by the Ambassador of India, His Excellency Partha Satpathy, who emphasized the importance of “Cultural Unity”. He highlighted that ‘one facet of diplomacy is that it is like an orchestra, which has different instruments with different tuning, yet when they are synchronized, we hear the symphony’. He further added, ‘In the context of diplomacy, culture is a conductor as it is not transient; it does not change with politics or economics. It defines the character of the country, and it identifies the countries. Therefore, culture when it is used as a plank in diplomacy can yield wonderful results.’ A notable highlight of the program was his recorded song, “Mile Sur Mera Tumhara, To Sur Bane Hamara” (When our music merges, it becomes a melody), which was played during his speech, symbolizing harmony and unity through music.

Following the inauguration, ASCC presented a captivating cultural program. The program began with the performance by two times Guinness World Record Holder, Pianist Mr. Thurzó Zoltán, who also played the National Anthem of India. The performances, which included a variety of Indian music and dance, showcased the vibrant essence of Indian cultural heritage.

The program was not only a testament to ASCC’s efforts to display the beauty and diversity of Indian culture, but a unique blend of intercultural performances, including Hungarian Folk dance and fusion of Indian dance form, Bharatanatyam and Spanish Flamenco, demonstrating how cultural diversity enriches relations between and among countries.

The cultural evening was attended by several Ambassadors, Cultural Directors representing different countries, senior officials of the Hungarian Government, former diplomats, journalists, artists, members of Indian Diaspora, and India lovers.

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May 31, 2024