If you go to Budapest and have your favourite four-legged friend with you, you will not have to stay hungry because the Hungarian capital has a lot of places where you can take your dog with you. In this article, we have collected four restaurants in Budapest where your dog is also welcome.
Mazel Tov is a clean, pleasant place in the seventh district of Budapest. The restaurant is located in the middle of the historic Jewish Quarter. In the evening, there is a real garden party atmosphere in Mazel Tov. For those looking to break away from the downtown environment, this garden full of herbs and trees can be an ideal place. The Middle Eastern restaurant is open every day of the week for those looking to relax, whether they are walking on two or four legs.
Hokedli is primarily known for its vegetable dishes. Their goal is to show that meals that often become hated in school canteens can also be special and delicious. Hokedli makes everything from fresh ingredients and seasonal vegetables. Flour- and lactose-free, as well as vegan alternatives are also available. They have a varied selection of soups, vegetable dishes, and desserts. Dogs will surely love this place as a gift bone awaits them. After your meal, you can take a walk along Andrássy Avenue.
The Tereza Mexican Restaurant is also close to Andrássy Avenue and the Hungarian State Opera House. Tereza is not only a great dog-friendly place but also one of the best Mexican restaurants in Budapest. The kitchen is run jointly by Jorge Martinez and Áron Kelemen. Locally-made, authentic Mexican food awaits visitors. Tereza pampers guests with a wide selection of tortillas, guacamole, tacos, mezcal, and margarita.
We left a place full of desserts to the end. Naspolya Nassolda is home to healthy desserts. Hungary’s first raw vegan patisserie makes sweets made from fruits and seeds. Desserts are made without baking, cooking, or steaming, so the ingredients are put into the food raw. The end result is not only healthy but also delicious. The salty caramel cupcake and the glassy lemonade are a must. Fun fact: the founders of the restaurant were included in the Hungarian version of Shark Tank.
Sometimes, there is nothing better than a lazy day. When, instead of making breakfast for yourself in the morning, you would rather look for a cosy place and go have brunch.
As everyone knows, brunch came from combining the words breakfast and lunch. A meaty brunch is not only a super starter of the day but its effects can last even until the evening. You can also make brunch at home, but if you want to save time, we will show you some places that will not disappoint.
Á la Maison is available in Buda and Pest as well. The owner, Andrea Zöldhegyi, and her brother Nándor opened their first restaurant in 2014. This restaurant with 20-25 seats was soon outgrown, as there was a great demand for a comfortable breakfast place in Budapest. After that, they moved to Szervita Square, close to Vörösmarty Square and the Danube Bank. The menu features real brunch classics such as eggs benedict, croque madame, and croque monsieur. We can also get a taste of the Goose Liver Benedict. Breakfast options include Viennese, English, French, Vegetarian, Los Angeles, and fitness breakfasts.
Located in the first district of Budapest, Déryné is a real cosmopolitan place. A warm breakfast, espresso, and fresh, homemade pastries have been available since 1914. You can choose from delicious food from morning to late afternoon. The menu includes benedicts, overnight oats, brioche, French toast, and even salmon.
Franziska is also located in Buda, in the first district close to the Danube bank. Franziska offers a solution to all food allergies. Vegans and gluten-sensitive people do not stay hungry either. In addition to egg variations, you will also find croissant, waffle, and homemade granola. One of their most popular products is the avocado toast and the smoothie bowl.
The BITE bakery café is now available in three locations in the city centre of the Hungarian capital. Breakfast and brunch are available there all day. There are several types of omelettes, bagels, croissants, rolls, and pretzels available in BITE. I ate the most delicious cinnamon roll of my life in BITE, so I would definitely recommend it if someone goes there.
Törökméz is a restaurant specialising in breakfast and brunch. It is located not far from Margaret Island in Buda, so we can work off the calories afterwards. Quality French-Italian-Hungarian ingredients, fresh juices, homemade cakes, daily soups, and coffee are all on the menu.
Anyám szerint (According to my mom) is located in the centre of Budapest on Wesselényi Street. We can also get a taste of American, French, English and Hungarian flavours. The restaurant’s strength is the family atmosphere and environment. If you visit here, you do not even have to leave your dog at home.
Before you set out, be aware of current epidemiological measures. At some places, you should book a table so you are guaranteed to not stay hungry.
Apart from the fact that his photos were chosen as the Nat Geo Photo of the Day on eleven occasions, one of his films on Hungary were included in the channel’s series called Europe from above.
This is not the first time that our dear readers can come across the name of András Kószó. We recently wrote about the Hungarian artist who makes flags for Hollywood productions. András considers this his primary job as he designed and made flags for famous American movies that were shot in Hungary. As he says, he had the luck to personally attend shootings which motivated him to continue photography and make films and take it to the next level to reach a higher standard.
He made it to such a high standard and level that apart from it becoming part of his life, it may be transforming into a real profession.
András says he is filled with joy and is very proud that
an English production company that also produces the films of National Geographic reached out to him and asked for permission to present one of his films about Hungary
included in the channel’s series Europe from above.
It is a tremendous achievement for the whole country that
several other foreign TV channels also reached out to him with a similar goal, to present his films on their own channels.
András told szeretlekmagyarország.hu how nature stole his heart, how he started to take photos on an amateur basis, and how he got connected to one of the most famous magazines.
“Ever since a kid, I was fascinated by visual representation, especially all the beauty of nature seen from above: landscapes and special places all made a huge impression on me, already at a young age. My father, being a pilot, took me several times to fly with him; I had the chance to see the world from above from a bird’s-eye view.”
He was delighted when drones equipped with a camera were finally available in Hungary as well. He says he was one of the firsts to acquire such a device, and it has been his favourite for photography ever since.
“I feel like I made the right decision as
11 of my photos have been chosen so far as National Geographic’s photo of the day. Moreover, I also won Photo of the Month, which was published in the magazine.”
Facebook – Kószó AndrásFacebook – Kószó AndrásFacebook – Kószó András
Beyond photography, making films also became a favourite for him. This technique allowed him to capture the most beautiful landscapes, buildings and natural phenomena in the wonderful country of Hungary. He particularly enjoys presenting the least known places hidden from the big audience. Every time he has the chance to travel abroad, he always has his camera with rim, ready to capture all local beauties later to present them in the form of a mesmerizing film.
A country is characterised not only by its coat of arms, anthem and language but also by its money. The illustrations on coins and banknotes can tell a lot about a particular country. In our article, we present the Forint banknotes in Hungary and the pictures on them.
In Hungary, the banknote paper is produced Diósgyőr Papírgyár Zrt. and printed by Pénzjegynyomda Zrt. Graphic artist György Pálinkás created the graphic designs of the banknote series in circulation. You can read about the symbols on the coins here, and now let’s look at the symbols on the banknotes.
500 Forint
Photo: www.mnb.hu
On one side of the least-value Hungarian banknote is Ádám Mányoki Baroque portrait painter’s II. Ferenc Rákóczi picture, while on the other side you can see the Sárospatak castle owned by Rákóczi and named after him at the beginning of the 18th century. His war of freedom against Habsburg oppression failed militarily, but the Habsburg revoked provisions harmful to Hungary. The Sárospatak Castle is part of the Hungarian National heritage, one of the most valuable Renaissance architectural works in the country.
1000 Forint
Photo: www.mnb.hu
The 1000 Forint banknote depicts King Matthias Hunyadi and the fountain of Hercules in the Visegrád Castle. King Matthias was the king of Hungary and Croatia in the 15th century for almost 50 years. Nicknamed Matthias, the Native played a considerable role in establishing Renaissance and Humanism in Hungary. The legendary fountain of King Matthias was destroyed during the Turkish occupation, and its remains were found in 1941. Hercules, the invincible, referred to the extramarital child of Matthias, János Corvin, for whom Matthias hoped for a serious future.
2000 Forint
Photo: www.mnb.hu
This banknote shows Gábor Bethlen, Prince of Transylvania, a significant figure in 17th-century Hungarian history. His reign is considered to be the golden age of Transylvania, as both economic and cultural recovery was observed. The other side of the paper money is decorated with a work by the Hungarian Historical painter Viktor Madarász. The title of his work on the banknote is “Among the Scientists of Gábor Bethlen”.
5000 Forint
Photo: www.mnb.hu
On one side of the 5,000 Forint, you can see the Széchenyi Castle in Nagycenk, while on the other side is a portrait of István Széchenyi. Austrian artist Friedrich Amerling made the picture for the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. István Széchenyi was a Hungarian politician, writer and economist who lived in the 19th century. Many consider him the “greatest Hungarian”. Among other things, the construction of the Chain Bridge and the establishment of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences can be linked to his name. The home of the Széchenyi family in Nagycenk, the classicist-style Széchenyi Castle became a national monument in 2016.
10000 Forint
Photo: www.mnb.hu
The 10,000 Forint banknote features the first king of Hungary, St. Stephen, and a view of the city of Esztergom. King Stephen is the founder of the Hungarian state, the most outstanding figure in Hungarian history. He became the saint of the Catholic Church due to its church-organising activities, and he also became the chief patron saint of Hungary.
20000 Forint
Photo: www.mnb.hu
On the largest banknote in circulation, Ferenc Deák can be seen, a Hungarian politician, lawyer, statesman and Minister of Justice. He played a huge role in reaching a compromise after the 1848-49 Revolution and the War of Independence. He created the legal framework for the transformation and development of Hungary. The two sides of the banknote are in line, as the old House of Representatives in Pest can be seen on the back.
Next time you buy something with Hungarian Forint or pay with coins or banknotes, you may remember who is visible for each amount and why.
Hungary has been a member of the European Union since 2004, but its currency is still the Hungarian Forint and not the Euro. Hungarian Forint coins have been the official currency in Hungary since August 1, 1946. Only one side of the coins shows its value; the other side has an image, a symbol.
We use it every day, we hold it in our hands, but we may not be able to list which coin has which symbol. Especially few people know why some signs are on coins. The coins are produced by Magyar Pénzverő Zrt. on behalf of the Hungarian National Bank.
5 Forint— Great egret
Photo: www.mnb.hu
On the back of the five Forint coin is the great egret bird. This 80 to 100-centimetre bird is about a pound. Besides Europe, it can also be found in North America, Africa, Asia and Australia. In Europe, it is most common in the Carpathian Basin in Hungary. This is partly why the great egret is on the coat of arms of Hungarian nature conservation. It is interesting that when the Forint was introduced, the five Forints were the largest denomination. Now, since there is neither 1 nor 2 Forints, it has been the smallest valid payment. The great egret is also on the New Zealand $2 coin.
10 Forint, 100 Forint— Coat of arms of Hungary
Photo: www.mnb.huPhoto: www.mnb.hu
At this point, I have to cheat a bit with the order, as the Hungarian coat of arms can be found on the back of both the 10 Forint and the 100 Forint coins. The Hungarian coat of arms is one of the main symbols of Hungary. The coat of arms contains several symbols, most of which date back to medieval Hungarian history. The banding on the left side of the coat of arms can be connected to the Árpád house, while at the top of the coat of arms is the sacred crown. The unique feature of the 100 Forint coin is the outer silver-white ring. While it is interesting about the 10 Forint, its shape and weight are similar to the Croatian 2 Kunas coin. The head of a Croatian parking company admitted that 10 Forint coins were found in the vending machines several times.
20 Forint— Steppe iris
Photo: www.mnb.hu
It is located on dry steppes and forest edges. In addition to Hungary, it can also be found in Romania, Moldova, Italy, Slovakia and Ukraine. The 10-30 centimetre flower opens in April and May. Its flowers come in shades of purple, dark purple, or violet-blue. This is a rare and protected plant. Its nature conservation value is HUF 100,000 (€ 280).
50 Forint— Saker falcon
Photo: www.mnb.hu
The saker falcon is a large bird of prey. It is native to Europe and Asia. The 50-centimetre bird has played an important role in the Hungarian religion. Some believe that the Turul in the legend was probably a saker falcon. This bird is nesting in the Carpathian Basin and is a highly protected and endangered species.
200 Forint— Chain Bridge
Photo: www.mnb.hu
The highest value Hungarian coin currently in circulation is the 200 Forint. On the back of the coin can be seen the most iconic bridge of the Hungarian capital, Budapest. This is Hungary newest coin, as it has been in circulation for just over 10 years. The Széchenyi Chain Bridge was named after István Széchenyi, who initiated the construction of the bridge. This was the first bridge that connected the two parts of Budapest, Buda and Pest. The Chain Bridge is one of the most defining symbols of Budapest and the whole of Hungary. By the vote of the Hungarian National Bank in 2008, more than half of the voters chose the Chain Bridge to be at the back of the new coin.
The Hungarian National Bank creates individual coins on certain occasions. These unique commemorative symbols are most frequently put on the 50 Forint coin. However, there are 10 Forint coins with the portrait of Attila József, 20 Forint coins with the image of Ferenc Deák and 100 Forint coins with Lajos Kossuth’s picture on the back.
Of the 50 Forint coin, however, there are several types. A particular coin was issued on the anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution and the War of Independence, on the occasion of the Hungarian Division 1/A Hockey World Championship, on the occasion of the Hungarian FINA World Championship, as well as on the occasion of the Hungarian Wrestling and Fencing World Championships. It was also made in memory of the organised fire department, in honour of the Year of the Families and on the occasion of the anniversary of the Hungarian Red Cross. These unique commemorative coins are typically produced in a maximum of 1-2 million copies.
The list of sights in Hungary is endless. We cannot even begin to list all of them, but we want to introduce some exceptionally beautiful Hungarian churches.
You can read the first part of our subjective list here.
Church of the Holy Spirit in Hévíz
Top of Holy Spirit Catholic ChurchPhoto: https://www.facebook.com/111107236982531/
Hévíz is one of the outstanding tourist destinations in Hungary. Here is the world’s second-largest thermal lake. For this reason, Hévíz is a real tourist paradise and spa town, which is the reason why European Destinations of Excellence ranked Hévíz the 12th best place to visit. However, it is worth visiting not only because of the lake but also because of the Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit. The building was designed by János Bocskai and completed with the support of the city and its citizens. The exterior of the church is characterised by the seven towers, which symbolise the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit. The interior of the church combines modern and traditional architecture.
Dome of Szeged
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Officially known as the Cathedral of Our Lady of Hungary, this Neo-Romanesque building is one of the most iconic buildings of Szeged. The Dome’s towers are 81 metres high, making the dome the 5th tallest church in Hungary. The building, which can accommodate 5,000 people, is 80.8 metres long and 51 metres wide. It was made between 1913 and 1930, according to the plans of Frigyes Schulek, the creator of the Buda Fisherman’s Bastion, and Ernő Foerk. It is the only cathedral in Hungary built in the 20th century. The largest tower clock in Hungary is also located in the Dome of Szeged.
Goat Church in Sopron
The altar of the Goat church Photo: Országalbum / BABUSCSILLAGBenedictine Church at Sopron’s Main Square (it is usually referred to as ‘Kecske-templom’ (Goat church)) Photo: Országalbum / ISTVÁN 1949
The Benedictine Church or Church of the Assumption is often called Goat Church by folk tradition. It is located on the main square of Sopron. It was built by Franciscan monks at the end of the 13th century. This is one of the most outstanding Gothic works in Hungary. The church has a 47-metre high tower. The building is decorated in Baroque style.
Calvinist Church in Szilágyi Dezső Square
Photo: Wikimedia CommonsPhoto: Wikimedia Commons
The Reformed Church in Szilágyi Dezső Square is located in the 1st district of Budapest. It is the second-largest Reformed church in Budapest. The Neo-Gothic-style church was designed by Samu Pecz. It was built between 1893 and 1896. The Calvinist Church has 3 steel bells. Previously, it had 4, but one was given away as it was not in harmony with the others. The characteristic feature of the church is that it was decorated with brown, yellow, and green Zsolnay tiles. Endre Ady married here in 1915.
Great Protestant Church of Debrecen
Photo: www.facebook.com/DebreceniViragkarneval
The most iconic building in Debrecen is the largest Reformed church in Hungary. It covers an area of more than 1,500 square metres. The church already had a predecessor in the 14th century. The construction of the current church started in 1803, according to the plans of Mihály Péchy. The church has a total capacity of 5,000, and it has 3,000 seats. The building also has historical significance, as the government that fled to Debrecen during the War of Independence in 1848-49 declared the dethronement of the Habsburg House here on April 14, 1849.
Although movies and movie productions have gone through quite a transformation and many aspects of movies nowadays are made using computers, there are still some people who swear by practical effects and true craftsmanship.
András Kószó is one such person. According to the interview of Blikk, he was around 4-5 years old when his father started making flags and he was curious even at such a young age. He has acquired everything he could from his father around the ‘80s and this unique profession has become very close to him since, not to mention that he is very good at it.
András has created many flags since his young age and some of them you could have even seen in great Hollywood movies such as Terminator: Dark Fate, Red Sparrow as well as in a few Netflix productions. He has also worked with many other companies and is in contact with about 1,500 municipalities, public institutions and churches. You can browse his works HERE.
Painted flag
Photo: zaszlokeszites.hu
Painted flag
Photo: zaszlokeszites.hu
Embroidered flag
Photo: zaszlokeszites.hu
Embroidered flag
Photo: zaszlokeszites.hu
As András recalls his childhood, he says that he was around his father all the time and have seen every trick of the trade. As Blikk writes, he liked to draw and paint when he was young and his father would often ask András to help him design some of the flags.
András immediately fell in love with the traditional way of making flags and according to his own claim he would “never fully switch to digital technologies as he wants to follow the family tradition and he believes in handicraft”.
He told Blikk, that he is currently working for an Austrian firemen team. He can also restore or recreate flags and he especially likes to make intricate designs. His most famous recreation is the Bocskai-zászló (Bocskai flag) which he only copied using a single piece of photograph that was provided by a museum.
His most memorable moment was when he was asked to place the American and Texas flags he made onto the movie set during the shoot of one of the Terminator movies in Komárom, he said to the news portal.
This is not everything you need to know about this Hungarian artist, however. András Kószó is quite talented in multiple areas. He is a really good hobby photographer. So much so that many of his photos are often published by National Geographic online and a few times even in the printed magazine. If you are interested in his photography skills, here are some examples you can check out, as well as one of the many of his drone footages.
There are many wonderful things to see in Hungary. There are beautiful landscapes, waters, and natural attractions throughout the country. However, not only is nature stunning, but the cities also have some amazing buildings to offer. Some churches are the top attractions in a city as well as a must-see stop for tourists. We collected 5 such beautiful churches.
Before our collection, it is important to emphasise that the list is subjective – there are so many beautiful churches in Hungary that it would be impossible to collect them all, but these churches are deservedly famous.
Abbey of Tihany
The Benedictine Abbey, Tihany Photo: Dávid PéterPhoto: www.facebook.com/BalatonFelvidek.hu/
The Benedictine Abbey of Tihany is located in an exceptionally beautiful landscape on the Tihany Peninsula on the shores of Lake Balaton. It was founded by King Andrew I in 1055 in honour of Saint Anne and the Virgin Mary. In the nearly 1,000 years since then, it has been renovated many times. The buildings that can still be seen today were designed by Márton Wittwer. In the northwest tower is the largest bell of the church, which weighs 1,670 kg. The church’s ceiling is decorated with frescoes by Károly Lotz, depicting Faith, Hope, and Love.
The Matthias Church, also known as the Church of the Assumption of the Buda Castle, is a building with a long history, in the first district of Budapest. Two ruling couples were crowned here: Ferenc József and Erzsébet, as well as Charles IV and Zita. According to the church tradition, the building was founded by Saint Stephen in 1015. Béla IV re-founded it after the Tatár invasion. In 2006, it was declared a World Heritage Site. The Gothic Matthias Church makes the panorama of the Danube even more perfect.
Pécs Cathedral
Pécs Cathedral. Source: Wiki Commons
It is one of the most symbolic buildings of the city of Pécs. There used to be a church in front of the cathedral, but it has been destroyed several times throughout history due to, among other things, fire and the Turkish occupation. Its foundations date back to the 11th century. After several renovations and expansions, it reached its present form in the 19th century. The plans were made by Friedrich von Schmidt. The organ was made in the organ factory of József Angster in 1887 and was renovated in 2008. Characteristic of the neo-Romanesque building are the 4 towers at the corners of the building, 60 metres high each.
Basilica of Esztergom
Photo: www.facebook.com/ZoltanGaborPhotographyWikimedia Commons by Hansz
The full name is Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption and St. Adalbert. The ancient Egyptian and Classicist-style basilica is the main attraction of Komárom-Esztergom County. It is also the largest church and building in Hungary: the top of the dome reaches a height of 100 metres. In its place, the founder of the Hungarian state, King St. Stephen, built a church, which was destroyed by fire. The new building was completed between 1822 and 1869. It covers an area of 5,660 square metres; it is 118 metres long and 49 metres wide. The largest altarpiece painted on canvas, the only one in the world, was finished in 1856, measuring 13.5*6.6 metres.
St. Stephen’s Basilica is located in the fifth district of Budapest. It is the co-cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Esztergom-Budapest. With a height of 96 metres, it is the second-tallest building in the capital of Hungary, after the Parliament. The Holy Right Hand, the mummified right hand of the first Hungarian king, St. Stephen, is kept in this building. Among others, the world-famous Hungarian football player, Ferenc Puskás, lies here, as the Basilica functions as a cemetery as well.
The Budapest International Foto Awards (BIFA), sister competition of Moscow & Tokyo International Foto Awards, has announced the opening of its Third Annual Photography Competition.
They call visionary photographers from around the world in all skill sets: professional, amateur and student, to share their unique perspectives on the world with the Hungarian and international creative circles.
Photographers will compete for international recognition as the first ”BIFA Photographer of the Year” and “BIFA Discovery of the Year”, receiving a $3,000 and $2,000 cash prize respectively, and having their work shown in Budapest at the annual BIFA exhibition later in the year. The category winners will each receive a $200 cash prize.
BIFA invites photographers from all corners of the globe to submit their outstanding works – the Regular Deadline of the competition is August 8th, 2021.
BIFA’s mission is to promote the work of professional and emerging international photographers to the fast-growing artistic community of Budapest and across the world, putting them in the spotlight and providing them with a great platform to showcase their work.
The full list of 1st and 2nd place Category Winners, and Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners in each of the competition’s categories, and Honorable Mentions from across both professional and amateur entries can be viewed on the BIFA website Winners Page.
A travelling exhibition showcasing images by young photo artists from the four Visegrad Group countries and Serbia will open in Vienna on March 18, the organisers said on Wednesday.
The show dubbed New Visegrad Photography will feature titles by 24 artists from nine universities in the Collegium Hungaricum cultural centre, they said in a statement.
The exhibition is to reflect what it means to be central European to a generation of young artists growing up in a world under new global influence, Hungarian photographer Gábor Arion Kudász, the event’s curator, said.
Several of the photos were published by international art platforms including LensCulture, Contemporary Lynx and Fotograf Magazine, and the Polish edition of Vogue.
The exhibition in Vienna will be opened and later shown in an online event but will also await visitors at the venue.
It is scheduled to travel on to Berlin, Brussels, Prague, Rome and Warsaw before arriving in Hungary’s Debrecen in the summer when Hungary takes over the V4’s rotating presidency.
The exhibition’s main sponsor is the International Visegrad Fund.
Budapest is a beloved destination for tourists who visit Hungary, but unfortunately, due to the current coronavirus pandemic, tourism has basically halted for almost an entire year now. There are some who would do anything just to travel somewhere. We cannot give you that, but thanks to the miracle of technology, we can show you around Budapest and how it looked like in the past. There were some buildings that you will never be able to see, things that have been rebuilt and things that, well, did not really change at all.
Lánchíd – Chain Bridge
Lánchíd during the World Eucharistic Congress in 1938
Source: Fortepan / Romák Éva
The Lánchíd or Chain Bridge is an iconic bridge on the Danube and one of the main and most well-known sights of Budapest. The bridge was originally built in the 19th century and was inaugurated in 1849. Since then, near the end of WWII, the Germans blew up and demolished the bridge to cover their retreat. The one you can see in the photo above is the original bridge from 1938, decorated with bright lights for the World Eucharistic Congress.
Air photo of the Heros’ Square from 1935
Source: Fortepan / Szent-Istvány Dezső
Usually, Heros’s Square is crowded with tourists taking photos and looking up mesmerised unto the giant figures on the columns and stones. The image below is a still from a campaign video in which they showed how empty Budapest was when the first wave of the pandemic reached Hungary. The main difference between the old square and its looks today is the two large green areas and fountains. To be honest, it was more like a park than a large mosaic of stone slabs. I think the old square looked much more welcoming and the trees could give you cover from the blazing rays of the sun during Summer.
Photo: video still from Budapest megvár! / Budapest awaits!
Just as a bonus, the photo below was taken in 1938 during the World Eucharistic Congress when a giant altar was built almost the whole monument’s size. The industrial and world exhibitions of the past century were monumental, to say the least.
Heros’ Square during the World Eucharistic Congress in 1938
Source: Fortepan / Sattler Katalin
Városliget – City Park
The Millenium Háza (Millenium House) was built for the 1885 industrial exhibition as an Art Gallery. The photo was taken in 1896.
Source: Fortepan / Fodor István
The same can be said about Városliget. Over the past couple of hundred years, it has gone through many changes. It was home to several exhibitions and even a bullfight. In the photo above, you can see the – formerly Olof Palme House – which is now called the Millenium House. It was built as an art gallery just for the exhibition. Since then, it served many purposes but has been neglected lately.
The Millenium Ház (Millenium House or Olof Palme House) neglected, before renovation in 2013
Source: Google Streetview
Luckily, as the Liget Project – a huge development plan to renew the City Park – moves forward, this beautiful, nearly 140 years old building has been renovated, and its surroundings cleaned up.
The Millenium Ház (Millenium House or Olof Palme House) under renovation as per the Liget Project
Source: facebook.com/VarosligetinfoThe Iparcsarnok (Industrial Hall) in Városliget (demolished) in 1936
Source: Fortepan / Fortepan
The building in the photo above, however, was not so lucky. It was destroyed during the Siege of Budapest and has not been rebuilt. They re-used the foundation and the ground floor of the old building when hastily creating a new one. The erected structure stood there and served many purposes, but was eventually entirely demolished in 2015. Unfortunately, you will not be able to see this building again.
Halászbástya – Fisherman’s Bastion
1903, the Halászbástya (Fisherman’s Bastion)
Source: Fortepan / Budapest Archive. Reference: HU.BFL.XV.19.d.1.08.123
The Fisherman’s Bastion was one of the defensive sections of the city wall of Buda. It has been part of the medieval city wall since the 15th century. There is some debate on where its name come from exactly. The Fisherman’s Bastion is a newer iteration of the defence section of the city wall of Buda, and it was built on the foundation of the previous bastion. As bastions should be, the building seems completely unaffected by time. The only difference is that the fence on the right has been changed and incorporated into the wall sometime during the past 100 years.
The Halászbástya (Fisherman’s Bastion)
Source: Google Streetview
Budavári sikló – Buda Castle Hill Funicular
Budavári Sikló (Buda Castle Funicular) in 1970, before rebuilding it in 1986
Source: Fortepan / UVATERV
This strange-looking transportation device just opposite the stone lions guarding the pillars of the Chain Bridge is actually a very interesting design, and it is a beloved “ride” for tourists, both foreign and domestic. It was inaugurated on March 2, 1870. Back then, it was the second funicular in Europe. It was working for 75 years when during WWII, it was destroyed by a bomb. It was not rebuilt until 1986, when it was finally restored. You can read more about it HERE.
Budavári sikló (Budapest Castle Hill Funicular)
Source: bkv.hu/siklo
Fővárosi Állat-és Növénykert – Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden
The old gate of the Budapest Zoo and botanical garden
Source: Fortepan / Budapest Archive. Reference: HU.BFL.XV.19.d.1.07.107
The Budapest Zoo and Botanical garden was the only zoo in Hungary from 1866 when it first opened up until 1950 when the first countryside zoo was inaugurated, which means that it was the only Hungarian zoo for almost a century. The Zoo is one of the most visited cultural public institutions in Hungary, with around 1-1.1 million visitors every year, and it is considered to be one of the best zoos in Europe.
Photo: Daily News Hungary
We hope you are safe and enjoyed this digital time-travelling tour. If you would like to know more about Hungary and Hungarians, browse from our Special Hungary articles.
Do you know the American phrase “Fake it till you make it”? Well, a Hungarian woman took it very seriously and decided to see whether it could be implemented in real life. She faked it, and she made it.
Have you ever heard about Harry Houdini, the famous Hungarian-born illusionist and magician? I am delighted if the answer is yes, but if it is a no, here is your chance to learn something about him. We are about to introduce a contemporary Hungarian magician who used a smart maneuver to achieve the opposite of what Houdini always did. She did not try to escape a place; she tried to get inside.
Andi Schmied, a Hungarian architect, had the chance to go through New York’s highest and most expensive and luxurious penthouses. Places that we, mortal humans, can only see thanks to celebrity photos posted on their social media websites.
This clever woman pretended to be an extremely wealthy billionaire in order to get into places in Manhattan we can only dream about.
Andi said to telex.hu she was amazed by the view over the city in 2016 when she went up to the top of the Empire State Building. That view and the experience she received that day gave her the idea to somehow make her way up to these tall and beautiful buildings and skyscrapers. The only problem was that it is practically impossible for ordinary people to do so, let alone a Hungarian tourist.
Manhattan penthouse – Andi Schmied/Facebook
She cooked up her extremely straightforward plan; she made up an alter ego and gave her her middle name, Gabriella Schmied. Thus the Hungarian billionaire, looking around for the most exclusive properties of Manhattan, was born.
She even created herself a non-existent assistant and a husband. He does exist in real life, even if he is not her husband.
Still, anyone can easily find him on Google: the story is credible thanks to relevant search hits. And voilá, she opened herself the billionaires’ boulevard.
Madison Square Park Tower – Andi Schmied/Facebook
It is important to note that she did not get caught throughout this project of hers. This is not such a big surprise, as she says, real estate agents did not overdo their pre-security checks and only asked for her husband’s name. In case of other questions, she used her trump-card: the fact that she is Hungarian. Whenever they asked her about her jewelry, she dogged the bullet by saying they were from a Hungarian designer. They did not get suspicious by seeing her camera either.
Central Park – Andi Schmied/Facebook
She did not want to keep the experience only for herself; she wanted to share it with us. Her collection of pictures was published in the form of a book last December with the title Private Views: A High-Rise Panorama of Manhattan, thanks to the VI PER Gallery of Prague.
The luxurious places are shown by so many pictures after one another through the book that they practically become indistinguishable. Most of the interiors are not real homes; they are a showpiece for potential buyers: sterile and almost laboratory-like areas with standard furniture right out of a magazine. Schmied herself mentioned this, according to her, all apartments’ arrangement looked practically identical, rooms with the best and second-best views could be found precisely at the same place in all properties.
Manhattan penthouse – Andi Schmied/Facebook
The apartments might be very alike, all made of metal and glass in a concrete jungle where dreams are made in reality. But the view definitely makes them stand out; it is something you could not see anywhere else. And this is exactly what distinguishes them from any other apartment, the fact that very few can see them.
The name of Milán Radisics may sound familiar to some readers, as he is a well-known Hungarian photographer who regularly works for the National Geographic magazine, and last year, he was the winner of the 37th Hungarian Press Photo Competition.
But he is relatively new to the field of short films, which makes it all the more impressive that his very first short film titled Art of Pollution has won numerous awards at several prestigious film festivals, such as the Barcelona Film Festival, the Indie Short Awards in Seoul, the Berlin Flash Film Festival, Nature Without Borders in Nassau, Delaware, the Best Shorts Competition, the Indie Short Fest, and the Independent Short Awards in California.
“It’s a great honour to have received so much acclaim for my short film as a first-time filmmaker, but the real joy for me is that this way, the message that we all need to change our lifestyles very, very quickly reaches a lot of people,” the creator said, according to Femina.hu
The short film presents various contaminated areas across Europe through aerial photographs, in an abstract way from a unique perspective.
In just under 4 minutes, the work presents spectacularly, almost artistically, the tailings ponds, mines, and landfills, which are the result of increased demand and industrial overproduction.
By presenting these contaminated areas from this new, unique perspective, the creator wanted to shed light on how little attention we pay to protecting our environment and how much space there is on earth that most of us do not see, so we do not even know how drastically we are destroying our habitat.
However, there is a huge duality in the portrayal, so as we watch the film, we can feel that the areas shining in different colours are beautiful and, at the same time, provide a terribly frustrating sight.
The film is not only visually pleasing, the music of the Hungarian cellist Kalmus Felician, called “Agung”, perfectly resonates with the surprising visual world and plays a very important role in creating the atmosphere.
There’s no doubt the Covid pandemic has brought about a new appreciation for travel. With many around the globe eager to pack their bags and head to the next bucket-list destination, those Insta-worthy shots are sought after now more than ever. Whether you aim to capture the cultural allure, scenic beauty or mouthwatering food of a destination, this list has you in mind. Without further adieu, here are the most Instagrammable places in the world for 2021.
Global travel site Big 7 Travel has released its annual list of the ‘World’s Most Instagrammable Places 2021’
The final list destinations are are from a scoring system that analysed the amount of hashtags per destination, survey results from our social audience, and input from our editorial team.
Cities who made it into the Top 50 include vibrant, electric Hong Kong, with Paris, France also receiving high scores, thanks to its pastel-coloured streets, lively markets and famous photo spots. Other Instagrammable places in the Top 50 to add to your ‘must-visit’ include Istanbul in Turkey and Dublin, Ireland.
This is the third year that Big 7 Travel has revealed the world’s most Instagrammable destinations; Sydney came in at No.1 for both 2019 and 2020.
Budapest is listed in the 32nd place!
“Budapest is a stunning city for the gram in all seasons. With its relaxing thermal baths and world-class spas to jaw-dropping architecture and medieval quarters, there’s lots of photographic inspiration at every turn. Be sure to soak in one of the historic medicinal spas to capture the essence of the city’s ancient Szechenyi Spa Baths. Afterwards, become a regular at one of the city’s super insta-worthy ruin bars.”
Not much was predictable in 2020, but one thing did not change: perhaps it has never been clearer that there is no match for the city we live in – Budapest is wonderful, even in the midst of a pandemic.
For the photographer Tamás Rizsavi, the Hungarian capital is one of the biggest inspirations, and of course, he has not been idle this year either, he has delighted his followers with beautiful shots on many occasions. Funzine selected twelve pictures for the 12 months of the year to prove Budapest had plenty of beauty in store for 2020.
We love to use the pictures of the photographer as illustrations for our articles as well. The young artist works as a locomotive driver, and in his free time he photographs life in Budapest, usually from an unusual perspective. He climbs to the top of bridges, panel houses and domes to show the capital from an angle we’ve never seen before. He also strolls a lot on the streets of Budapest to capture special moments.
When we hear the 1920s, one of the first things that probably comes to mind for almost everyone is the crazy decade of jazz, the prohibition of alcohol, and short dresses. The so-called “Roaring ’20s“ was a unique feature of the United States, whereas the rest of the world, mainly Eastern Europe and Hungary, of course, were much more reserved.
Although even today, we do not talk about this subject openly every day with anyone we meet, sexuality is practically everywhere around us. Just think about most of the advertisements for clothes, perfumes, or even make-up. With the help of the internet, we can find this kind of content and even stronger themes in a second, and sometimes, due to the accessibility of the internet, accidents happen. Like it did in a Hungarian museum, showing hardcore porn. 100 years ago, of course, all this was much different.
In the Christian culture of Europe, sexuality was something to hide, not to talk about, and even to persecute.
What happens when a religion or a government (a kingdom, in Hungary’s case, at the time) forbids something? It finds a secret or not-so-obvious way anyway. The turn of the century on its own brought a big change, especially in Budapest, with public spaces becoming more important for entertainment. The capital was called the ‘city of cafés‘ while mass media was starting out, and the two got linked very quickly. Forget the picture of families with kids sipping a coffee or tea or people quietly reading newspapers at a café, as reality was much different from this. Cafés were much closer to today’s bars or clubs and were not only about culture but boosting the sex industry as well. Apart from newspapers and magazines, nude pictures of women coming all the way from France were sold, which were later on copied by Hungarian photographers.
Erotic picture from the 1910s – Fortepan / Hetényi Zsuzsa
Regular customers of cafés included a big number of prostitutes, and often even the waitresses sold their bodies.
The new century brought women’s bodies to the streets, but not quite literally.
The advertising capacity of women was recognised and quickly taken advantage of. Huge posters of beautiful women appeared in big cities, never naked, of course, but with a carefully masked sexuality.
Erotic picture from the 1920s – Fortepan / Jurányi Attila
The technological development of the mass production of photos made pictures easily producible and very cheap at the same time. Even though the subject of these pictures – and a little later, with the appearance of the first motion pictures, the subject of these videos – were women, their sexuality still had to be kept hidden. It was absolutely prohibited for noblewomen to even think about such things,
especially since a proper lady was not even allowed, up until the 1930s, to enter a public space all alone, only if accompanied.
Getting married as a virgin remained the norm for girls and women with a lack of sexual education. This meant that they lived their lives under constant control, they always had to be accompanied, and men were only able to see them from a distance. This, of course, meant that the aforementioned cafés were a popular place to go only for men.
Men in a café in Budapest around 1915 – Fortepan / Kurutz Máté
Just like almost anywhere around the world at this time, brothels were a privilege of men. However, they were not publicly allowed either, so much so that in 1926, these places were prohibited and forced to close. Which did not mean the complete shutdown of brothels, of course; they just needed to be more careful. Not only men who were their customers but also women who were working there. They used a sort of code word or expression referring to their metier. A popular one was being a hairdresser or going to a house to comb a lady’s hair.
Have you seen any films or series depicting a sexual relationship between a nobleman and a young girl from the personnel? It was extremely common that the young boy of the family acquired his first sexual experience with the help of the handmaid, often with his mother knowing all about it. The body of the handmaid was not a taboo; it was an instrument for the head of the house and for all masculine members of the family. These handmaids were much more experienced than the young ladies living under the same roof, so very often, they passed on their knowledge.
Do you know anything about sexuality and the intimate life of your country from this decade or the first part of the last century? Was it much different from Hungary’s and Budapest’s? Let us know in the comments and compare different countries to get to know more about the world.
The winners of the Budapest International Foto Awards 2020 edition have been announced. Even though this year was a tumultuous one, the jury panel has seen exceptional creativity and a truly stunning representation of personal stories. Through their work, the photography community shows the power of images in shaping how we see the world. BIFA is once again proud to support and honour these photographers who have such important stories to share through their images, giving us a window to the world through their lenses.
Photographer of the Year, Eduardo Lopez Moreno let viewers take a glimpse into a small town in Mexico where a clash between two drug gangs resulted in an accidental murder. In The Wrong Place At The Wrong Time – Accidental Victim of Drug Gangs is the photograph series that grasps the shocking fact that just sitting on a bench peacefully can be dangerous in some areas of the world.
Sabrina Komár’s Monologue series captures the inner conflicts that everyone has within themselves:
“My monologue seems to have a lot of characters, and yet it doesn’t. Because it’s all me, and yet it’s not. I am in constant conflict and struggle with myself. But which character is the real one, where am I, which one am I? I am looking for the answer to this with my cyanotypes.”
Photo: Sabrina Komár, Hungary
Category Winners of BIFA 2020
Professional Photography
– Advertising – Swoonluxe Sway With Me! by Amyn Nasser
– Science: Microcosmic Portraits of The Little Earthlings by Irina Petrova
BIFA’s mission is to promote the work of professional and emerging international photographers to the fast-growing artistic community of Budapest and across the world, putting them in the spotlight and providing them with a great platform to showcase their work.
The full list of 1st and 2nd place Category Winners, and Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners in each of the competition’s categories, and Honorable Mentions from across both professional and amateur entries can be viewed on the BIFA website Winners Page.
