The statue of Pope John Paul II, featuring a cross which has to be removed under a French court order, will stay in Ploermel, in north-western France, instead of being transported to Hungary or Poland, Patrick Diffon, the local mayor, told the Thursday issue of the daily Magyar Idők.
The mayor expressed thanks to the Hungarian and Polish authorities for their offer to grant safe haven to the statue but ruled out that it would be removed from the town.
Earlier this year the Council of State, France’s top administrative court, ruled that the statue was incompatible with the 1905 law on the separation of state and church.
Decisions restricting Christianity under the pretence of tolerance are “extremely harmful”, Szijjártó said of the ruling at that time.
A similar offer was made by Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo, who called the one-time pope an excellent Pole and an excellent European, a symbol of Christianity and the united Europe. For this reason, she said, the statue has to be “saved from censorship”.
Asked about the future of the statue, the mayor told the paper, “I have still to think about it. I wish to make a decision under calm conditions, far from howling and anger, so that the memorial be kept in its current form at its current place. As John Paul II was a man of peace, we should also resolve this problem peacefully.”
According to mno.hu, Hungary is the first country to mount a statue in honour of Bud Spencer. The 240 centimetres tall bronze work of sculptor Szandra Tasnádi was inaugurated on the Corvin walk over the weekend.
The statue depicts the actor with a saddle on his shoulders, which might be familiar if you saw the opening scene of They Call Me Trinity 2. The quote written on the pedestal of the statue reminds us of how lyric the scene is.
As Bud Spencer’s (Carlo Pedersoli) partner in crime, Terence Hill (Mario Girotti) said at the funeral, he is sure that he will be welcomed by his friend with a saddle on his shoulders when he goes to heaven.
The sculptor was born on the same day as Bud Spencer, so the statue was planned to be inaugurated on the very day. However, the event was postponed so that the children of the actor, Cristiana and Diamante could be present as guests of honour.
Photo: MTI
Szandra Tasnádi said that during the work-process, which lasted for six months, she felt like she got closer to Bud Spencer, as she re-watched his movies for the best portrayal possible. She also looked at dozens of photos so that she could depict the actor in the beginning of his 40s.
At the inauguration, Cristiana Pedersoli said that the statue reflected the real personality of her father: a big man with a big heart. She added that she was sure that her father was looking at the statue from heaven.
Photo: MTI
Diamante Pedersoli thanked everyone who went out to the inauguration. “We are honoured to be here, dad would be very happy.
It’s great to see how much people loved him, and we want you to know how important you were for him.”
The event was closed by the Spencer Hill Magic Band, who revived the atmosphere of the famous movies.
Australiantimes reports that Budapest, the Pearl of the Danube, is rightly placed among the most attractive European capitals. Besides its cultural and political centrality, it offers a lot more than tourists would expect. It is easily accessible by plane and it does not matter whether you stay only for a long weekend or for a whole week, there is a lot to explore in the romantic capital.
What is so romantic about Budapest? Here is the list:
Is is the river Danube?
Cutting Budapest into Buda and Pest, the Danube is a magnificient division line between the two banks that offers a stunning view with the bridges like the marvellous Széchenyi Chain Bridge that make visitors and locals alike stop and marvel at the amazing scenery.
Is it the light?
In the morning, it is the vapor covering the river that amazes the passers-by, while at night, the illuminated buildings and the sights offer something magical.
Is it the old touch?
The ancient buildings like the Parliament Building, the largest building in Hungary and the 2nd largest parliament in Europe, provides evidence for the incredible architecture that makes the image of Budapest similar to London with the Houses of Parliament over the Thames.
Is it the green areas?
Apart from the City Park around Vajdahunyad Castle, Margaret Island with its Music Fountain also makes you stop for a moment. Once you are already enchanted, you cannot let yourself not to be lost in your own thoughts.
Photo: YouTube John Feher – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBaoct6LizAk_8lhsx6It1Qhttps://www.facebook.com/bnyfesztival
Is it the Castle District?
Undoubtedly, it is the Castle District that is the most romantic part of Budapest. With the stunningly-decorated Matthias Church and the neo-Romanesque terrace of the Fisherman’s Bastion, a spectacular panoramic view is offered to the whole city.
Some important things to keep in mind:
Public transportation is an excellent means of discovering the city when your accomodation is not in the centre. However, the noisy and crowded metros, buses and trams can easily cause nuisance to a first-time traveller.
In fact, there is nothing better than going on foot and being amazed by the beauties in every corner of the city.
There is, for instance, the Liberty Statue up on the hill holding a palm. Then, right in front of the Parliament, on the Pest bank, you can bump into dozens of pairs of shoes that are in remembrance for the Hungarian Jews who were shot into the Danube by the Nazis leaving their shoes behind. Some further walk will take you to the Gresham Palace Hotel, the example of Art Nouveau architecture or to the St. Stephen’s Basilica. If you are ready for a longer journey, walk through Andrássy Avenue that leads you to the Heroes’ Square where the statues of some outstanding Hungarian figures can be seen. And if you are already there, don’t forget to go to the beautiful City Park or try the thermal facilities of Széchenyi Thermal Bath.
commons.wikimedia.org by Csörföly D user
This list is only a brief desrciption of what is going to wait for you if you are planning a trip to Hungary. With its impressive architecture and affordable facilities, Budapest has a lot to offer irrespectively of age and interest 🙂
“Erecting a monument to the Reformation is a brave venture in a period when the star and the cross fall into the dust at more and more places all over the world, including Europe,” Minister of Human Resources Zoltán Balog said at the unveiling ceremony.
“Now it is up to our generation to raise the cross and [Calvin’s] star high so that they can be seen in Debrecen, in Hungary, in Europe and throughout the world,” he said.
Minister without portfolio Lajos Kósa, former mayor of the city, said that “there were times when faith divided people. Now, amidst the challenges and struggles of our era, there is much more to connect Catholics, Calvinists and the followers of the Gospel than to divide them.”
Photo: MTI
Reformed Bishop Károly Fekete called Debrecen the “cradle of Reformation”, the city that founded the Reformed Church in Hungary by adopting the Second Helvetian Confession 450 years ago.
The sculpture depicts St. Andrew Church, the predecessor to the city’s famous Reformed Great Church, and the Lord’s table.
A 12.5-metre tall statue depicting a Hungarian hussar, the largest statue of a soldier in the world, was inaugurated in Pákozd in central Hungary with military honours on Friday.
The work of Dunaújváros-based painter and sculptor István Rohonczi, the giant statue dubbed Miska Hussar is expected to be included in the Guinness Book of World Records, overtaking a 9.75-metre tall tin soldier inspired by Andersen’s tale erected near Vancouver in Canada.
Photo: MTI
The concrete statue is covered in special weather-proof paint and it stands near the site of the Battle of Pákozd, one of the most important battles in the Hungarian Revolution of 1848 in which the Hungarian revolutionary army defeated the troops of the Croatian Ban Josip Jelacic on 29 September 1848. The statue weighing 80 tonnes has been completed in 12 years at total costs of 100 million forints (EUR 320,000).
Budapest’s municipal assembly on Wednesday voted to donate a bust of Hungarian-born composer and pianist Franz Liszt to Buenos Aires.
City councillors voted unanimously to task the Budapest History Museum with casting the bust and shipping it to the Argentine capital.
The donation will cost the city a total of 3.3 million forints (EUR 10,600).
According to the proposal approved by the assembly, the donation is meant to be a symbol of strengthening cooperation between the two capitals and to contribute to promoting Budapest and Hungary as a tourist destination.
The bust to be donated is a copy of a work by sculptor Katalin Gerő
which was sculpted in 2011 to mark the legendary composer’s 200th birth anniversary. The original bust was donated then to Warsaw.
19th July 2017, Budapest- the animated animal sculptures known from the popular video spot of the 17th FINA World Championships were set up and designed by one of the biggest Hungarian contemporary artists, the internationally acknowledged, Miklós Gábor Szőke. The different pieces of the Water Legends sculpture series can be seen on more venues of the championships in the capital.
The central idea of the video spot of the 17th FINA World Championships, directed by Péter Juhász, was to embody the six disciplines of the Aquatic World Championships by using water creatures. These legendary animals show similarity both in their abilities and features to the characteristics of certain sports: swimming is symbolized by the most fearsome animal of the seas, the shark, open water swimming is presented by the “wanderer” of the seas, the whale. With its characteristic movements dolphin became the symbol of acrobatic diving, while orca in high diving, synchronized schools of fish in synchronized swimming and octopus in water polo became the emblems.
Designed by Miklós Gábor SzőkeDesigned by Miklós Gábor SzőkeDesigned by Miklós Gábor Szőke
Alexandra Szalay-Bobrovniczky, deputy lord mayor, expressed her conviction that people visiting Budapest for the time of the FINA World Championships would enjoy the exceptional cultural values of Budapest. “As deputy lord mayor responsible for culture I believe it is very important that everybody who visits Budapest should be part of this unforgettable cultural experience regardless the purpose of their visit. I believe that by the newly implemented investments the Municipality of Budapest made our capital homier for the inhabitants. As host of the event, Budapest has been renewed in more aspects, the mascots created of Miklós Gábor Szőke will not only enrich the image of the city but the supporting atmosphere of the championships.”
Received by great success in the film, sculptures can be visited on different venues of the Aquatic World Championships from now on. In the supporter zone of the Danube Arena, the shark, the whale and the dolphin found their homes, and the octopus was moved to the FanZone of the Margaret Island for the time of the Aquatic World Championships. The school of fish can be found in the City Park (Városliget), the venue of the synchronized swimming, while the sculpture of the orca is providing compelling sight at the Batthyány Square, with the Parliament at its background.
Designed by Miklós Gábor SzőkeDesigned by Miklós Gábor SzőkeDesigned by Miklós Gábor Szőke
“Animals and sports have been more times connected during my work, I recon performance, elemental force and dynamism in animals are such traits which can make certain animals symbols of sports.”-said the artist, Miklós Gábor Szőke.
“All the sculptures were created as I dreamt them, they are located in those wonderful venues which are hosting races embodied by them.”
Miklós Gábor Szőke said, he is now over a very exciting and inspiring process, the creation of the “Water Legends” sculpture series, but he added it was an exceptional experience to see them coming to life in the film.”
“It was exciting to see after the film how the characters of all sculptures were built up and now they create a unity together. In the sculptures I combined rustic and industrial elements which are complementing each other. I mixed on purpose natural and marine elements with known swimming pool materials, like driftwood, vintage ship lantern and rustic steel with stainless steel elements. During the installation of the sculptures it was part of the concept that the venues of the creatures- hosting the races of the world championships-should be interpreted as contemporary exhibition spaces of the “Water Legends”-said the artist.
“One of my newest sculptures, the Atlanta Falcons in the United States is located opposite to the center of the CNN. When I was there I met the marketing director, to whom I planned to show the campaign film with my sculptures of the world championships in my phone, when he said he had already known them.” explained the artist. “For me it was very moving when I realized the film and my sculptures are already known by the world.” He added he is sure that thanks to these, people will be aware of the values of our country and that the world championships are happening here. “I am happy that my sculptures are spreading the word about the Aquatic World Championships not only within the country but abroad.”
The English video spot is available on the following link:
A memorial dedicated to Hungarian naval officers who died in the First World War was inaugurated in the northern Croatian Adriatic city of Pula on Saturday.
“Last respect is due to the martyrs who fell victim to the carnages of the past century. Many of them are in unmarked graves,” Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjén told the unveiling ceremony at the local Navy Memorial Cemetery.
“After the Second World War all the belligerent countries declared their soldiers heroes, and erected plenty of monuments. During the years of post-WWII oppression, however, Hungarians were not even allowed to speak about the Hungarian victims of the two world wars, let alone commemorate them as heroes,” he said.
“This is why very few know that Hungary’s naval officers gave clear proof of their valour during the First World War,” Semjén said.
Earlier this year Hungary’s parliament declared June 10 the memorial day of Hungarian naval martyrs and obliged the government to erect a memorial in Pula.
On behalf of Croatia, the ceremony was attended by State Secretary Zdravko Jacob and lawmaker Jasen Mesic.
Gábor Miklós Szőke holds the world record of the biggest statue about a bird. It has almost failed to be made.
Photo: Instagram
As Szeretlekmagyarorszag.hu writes, Atlanta Falcons hired a Hungarian artist, Gábor Miklós Szőke to create a statue of the team’s mascot. It is not a new phenomenon in the sculptor’s life that he is asked to build a statue about a sports team’s pet bird of prey: he is also the creator of the giant eagle in front of Fradi’s stadium in Budapest.
The Fradi statue is also a quite large piece of art: it has a wingspan of 12 meters, it is 8 meters tall and weighs about 15 tons. That is the statue that brought Szőke fame and success in the first place, and it was the reason why the NFL team decided to hire him for the job.
He does not design only birds, but also other sorts of animals, such as his horse statue in Slovakia (which is the largest one in Europe) or the “puli” dog (a typical Hungarian shepherd dog with shaggy fur) in Washington.
Photo: Instagram
This new falcon statue is now standing in front of the Atlanta Falcons’ stadium that is currently under construction from a 1.6-billion-dollar budget.
The gigantic (12.5 meters tall) sculpture with a wingspan of 21 meters was made by his team of 150 people in his studio in Budapest, and it was shipped to the USA in four containers. Szőke studied the flight of the falcons in order to create a credible statue about the bird of prey. He used steel, bronze and asphalt for making the sculpture. The statue inauguration took place in last month, and the special steel falcon drew the attention of the press.
Photo: Instagram
CNN also praised Szőke’s work. They wrote that it is the largest bird statue according to team Falcons. Szőke declared that this statue was probably the most important piece of work in his career so far.
Szőke also shared an anecdote with the reporter of CNN: the statue almost failed to be made as the email of Falcons’ owner Arhur Blank got into the spam folder for some reason.
Perkáta, May 15 (MTI) – The municipal assembly of Perkáta (C Hungary) voted unanimously to withdraw a resolution on erecting a bust of Miklós Horthy, Hungary’s regent in the interbellum era, in the town, in a special session on Monday.
The bust would have been accepted by the town council as a donation from three local private individuals and would have been erected in one of the town’s public spaces, Perkáta Mayor Balázs Somogyi said in a statement published on the town’s website.
Over the past few weeks, “Perkáta has come under unprecedented pressure” over the resolution passed on April 20, Somogyi said, explaining the assembly’s decision. He said the attention given to the town’s plans to erect the monument had elevated what had been a local matter to a national level and turned it into a national political issue.
Somogyi said that “in the storm generated by the national media” Perkáta’s interest was for calm to be restored in the community and for the matter to be put to rest.
Commenting on the matter last week, government office chief János Lázár said that the government would not pay tribute to Horthy for his role during Hungary’s German occupation, but it “cannot strip a community of the right to erect such a monument”.
Szeretlekmagyarorszag.hu has found an interesting list of sights in Budapest that a website called The Crazy Tourist recommends (of course, in a good faith).
As they put it,
The city successfully mixes its fascinating history with a brilliant, laid-back contemporary artistic style.
1. The building of the Parliament
Designed and built in Gothic Revival Style, the Parliament building is one of the largest buildings in Hungary where the Members of Parliament work with commitment on Hungary’s future. It is worth viewing this impressive building from the opposite side of the Danube.
2. The Gellért Baths
Besides the artistic value of the baths built between 1912 and 1918 in Art Noueau style, it also offers enjoyable experience for those who are fond of open air baths as well as wave pools massage, saunas, and other range of spa treatments.
3. Heroes’ Square
photo: pixabay.com
Heroes’ Square makes the end of the famous Andrássy Avenue and is the place of huge iconic monuments representing the Seven Chieftains who are believed to have led the Hungarians to the Carpathian basin from Central Asia. In the middle, Archangel Gabriel holding the Hungarian crown represents the foundation of the Hungary.
4. Margaret Island
The island offers a vast range of opportunities for spending your free time. Those who need some physical exercise can run along the Danube. A music fountain is awaiting those who just want to withdraw from the noisy capital and relax a little bit. Have a romantic walk with your beloved one at the Medieval ruins, or observe injured birds curing themselves at the small aviary.
5. Danube Promenade
photo: pixabay.com
The walkway stretches between the Elizabeth Bridge and the Chain Bridge. While promenading along the Danube, you can see all the beautiful buildings and statues of Budapest.
6. House of Terror
Hungary attracts many western-European tourists with the exibitions of the House of Terror, about the Fascist and Communist regimes, which had been ruling Hungary for decades. The building served as a prison for the “enemies” of the Communist regime; many people were tortured here, in the centre of the city, who we still do not know about.
7. St. Stephen’s Basilica
The first Hungarian king, St. Stephen’s right hand is guarded in this holy building. When the weather is clear, you can survey the whole Budapest from here. The basilica is regularly home to classical music concerts and organ concerts.
8. Hungarian State Opera House
Built in 1884 in Gothic Revival Style, the building is unique in terms of its acoustics. With its 1200 seat auditorium, the monument is considered to be the best place for operatic performances. Outside you can see the statues of Ferenc Erkel and Ferenc Liszt, two great Hungarian composers.
9. Fisherman’s Bastion
It was actually built in the beginning of the 20th century and named after the fishermen who defended the walls stretching at the city. The seven towers represent the seven “Magyar tribes” who are believed to have led the Hungarians to the Carpathian basin.
10. The Invisible Exhibition
photo: lathatatlan.hu
The Invisible Exhibition has been popular for years now, because anyone can experience the everyday life of the blind. Visitors are taken for a tour by registered blind guides in artificially created rooms which are all dark. When you get hungry, you are served by blind waitresses who help you find your plate.
11. Faust Wine Cellars
photo: Facebook/Faust Wine Cellars
Built in the Buda Castle, visitors can taste the wines of 22 different wine regions of Hungary and you can also try traditional Hungarian fruit pálinka.
12. Memento Park
photo: pixabay.com
Situated a bit further from the city centre, the sculpture park is home to many Communist monuments and statues. These statues were either removed from the centre by the government as part of the decommunization process or they were forced out from there by the Hungarian people protesting against the regime.
13. Dohány Street Synagogue
Besides the synagogue in Israel, this is one of the most beautiful one in the world. In the garden there is a weeping willow memorial made of metal, bearing the names of the victims of Holocaust. There is a memorial for Raul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat who rescued hundreds of Jews living in Hungary from concentration camps and ghettos.
14. Ruin pubs
If you ever visit Budapest, do not miss the pubs constructed in run-down but safe buildings. They welcome visitors with slightly worn out but comfortable furniture. The website recommends Instant (“the one with the crazy animal pictures”), Fogas Ház (“the one with the teeth”), Kuplung (“the one with the whale”) and Szimpla.
15. Ecseri Flea Market
photo: pixabay.com
The market can be found in the outskirts of Budapest. It is a real flea market in the sense that you can bargain over articles. Even if you are not planning on buying anything, just take a walk around the tangible memories of the past owners from the Communist Era.
16. Central Market Hall
Almost everything can be found in the huge building located by the Danube. The market is incredibly popular among tourists. Products include locally grown fruits and vegetables, souvenirs, individual ingredients and homemade local delicacies.
17. Zugliget Chairlift
Photo: www.bkv.hu
Besides offering a breath-taking view on the city, even in the evening, it is also unique in the world, because the chairs counterweight one another’s mass, thus ensuring the up and down moving of the lift.
18. The Buda Hill
photo: pixabay.com
The Buda Hills are the greenest area in the capital. They offer several hiking, picnic and cycling opportunities. While travelling by the Children’s’ Railway, you can enjoy the forest view with your family.
19. Andrássy Avenue
The avenue leading to the Heroes’ Square has been part of the world heritage since 2002. While walking down the boulevard, you can meet various architectural styles, including the Hungarian National Opera House and neo-renaissance townhouses and mansions.
20. Liberty Statue
photo: Facebook/Szabadság szobor
It is one of the few statues that survived the Communist Era. It was set up in 1947 for the memory of the „Liberation” of Hungary from the German Forces by the Soviets in 1945. By today, it is known, that in 1945, the Soviets occupied Hungary and then begun the Communist Era.
Budapest, February 28 (MTI) – The monument commemorating Hungary’s ill-fated 1956 anti-Soviet revolution has been put in place in New York and will be unveiled on March 15, Hungary’s consul general in New York told public radio on Tuesday morning.
The abstract composition has been placed next to the full figure statue of 19th century Hungarian reform statesman Lajos Kossuth, erected in Manhattan in 1928, Ferenc Kumin told Kossuth radio.
The monument depicts the actual position of the stars — “by freezing time in stone and steel” — on October 23, 1956, the day when the revolution broke out, he said. The stars made of steel lie on a granite base, he added.
Kumin noted that the obelisk of the grave of Emilia Kossuth, the Hungarian politician’s sister, in the Green-Wood Cemetery of Brooklyn, has been cleaned and polished in cooperation with local staff.
The Inscription reads:
“Emilia Kossuth-Zulavsky born in Hungary November 12, 1817 died in Brooklyn, N.Y., June 29, 1860. Ye who return when Hungary is free / Oh, take my dust along — my heart is there. Erected by her fellow exiles who admired her in life and now mourn.”
The 1956 monument will be unveiled on March 15, Hungary’ s national day marking the start of the 1848/49 revolution and freedom fight.
With the support of the Hungarian National Bank, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade the statue of Poet Sándor Petőfi has been unveiled in Shanghai Lu Xun park.
Originally, the statue was erected in 2007, but in a different section of the park. Now, it was relocated to the central part of the park designated to the world’s greatest literary figures.
The park bearing the name of famous Chinese Poet Lu Xun who admired Sándor Petőfi’s literary work so much that he translated several of his poems into Chinese.
Petőfi’s name is well-known among Chinese students because the Hungarian poet is part of Chinese primary school curriculum. His famous poem “Love and Freedom” is included in Chinese primary school textbooks.
Budapest (MTI) – Bence Rétvári, state secretary at the human resources ministry, attended the unveiling ceremony of a monument erected to pay tribute to Hungarians deported to the Soviet Gulag from Budapest’s 19th district, on Friday.
In his address, Rétvári said that violence and humiliation were at the core of communism, an ideology which was “no different from any other totalitarian regime; national socialism and international socialism or communism have the same core.”
Rétvári noted that some 800,000 Hungarians were deported to the Soviet Union right after the second world war.
A statue has been put up for the most celebrated Hungarian man in Melbourne. Ferenc Puskás’s memory could bring home closer for a hundred thousand Hungarian people living here. The Puskás fans should thank Béla Domonkos’s bronze statue mainly the Hungarian and Australian governments, and Róbert Béltkey, a second-generation Australian businessman, MTI reported.
In Australia almost everyone knows Ferenc Puskás and the award named after him, called the FIFA Puskás award, established in 2009. As the President of Victoria State put:
This statue reminds us of an outstanding football player who contributed to a great extent to football and who will always live in our hearts.
Ferenc Puskás left Hungary in 1956. First, he lived in Vienna, and then he moved to Spain with his wife, mi where he became the legendary player of Real Madrid. At the age of 39, he stopped playing football and worked as a coach. It was in Australia where he became a champion with his team called Melbourne Hellas. Even 9942 miles away from his home, Puskás left marks in football: his bronze statue was placed in the Olympic Park in Victoria State, MTI wrote.
Puskás waving
Dr. Attila Gruber ambassador added that the statue also means another memorial for Hungarians living in Australia. It had become obvious that, once, there lived a world-famous Hungarian football player, who, at his time, was the most outstanding, the best player in the world, who is commemorated even on the other side of the world.
A Hungarian businessman came up with the idea of putting up a statue. Róbert Béltkey’s father emigrated to Australia in 1956. The businessman did not forget his origins. He first saw the original statue at Pancho Arena in Felcsút, Hungary (Pancho was one of the nicknames of Ferenc Puskás), thereafter he decided to put one up in Melbourne, too. He added:
This is a significant day, not only for the football fans, but for the Hungarians, in general. One hundred thousand Hungarian people live here, and now here is a statue that you can see, feel, and, thus, you can feel your homeland closer.
The Hungarian Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs told that Puskás’s former players also attended the ceremony. They recalled his memory with stories. Also, the biggest Hungarian football player became a symbol of the Hungarian nation, because, just like the Hungarian people living in Australia, he was also in the same situation when he started a new life there, after the revolution in 1956 in Hungary. He is the most famous Hungarian man. He is the quality followed by the Hungarians living in Australia. Similarly to Puskás, they also created new life from nothing, he added.
[box] Watch an interesting video about Ferenc Puskás: [/box]
Budapest (MTI) – The forcing of millions of innocent people into Gulag labour camps was one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century, the deputy mayor of Budapest said on Wednesday at the inauguration of a public installation made for the Gulag memorial year.
An estimated 800,000 Hungarians were deported to the forced labour camps in the Soviet Union during and after the second world war, and nearly 300,000 died on the way or while imprisoned in the camps, Alexandra Szalay-Bobrovniczky said. The survivors were forced by the secret services to stay quiet after returning to Hungary, she added.
Photo: MTI
The public installation set up in Budapest’s City Hall Park has already been on show in Szombathely and Pecs and will travel to Debrecen. The Gulag memorial year runs until Feb. 25.
The popular tourist attraction of the Hungarian capital city did not always look like today. Funzine.hu invites us all on a tour, discovering the secrets of buildings and locations in Budapest, starting with the Heroes’ Square.
Let’s start at the beginning, shall we? The construction of the square began at the Millennial celebrations in 1896, but was finished only 10 years later, in 1906. Prior to that, the Gloriett fountain, designed by Miklós Ybl, was the main attraction of the location, providing the same spring-water that can be found in the Széchenyi Thermal Bath. Notably, the fountain was kept and still can be found beneath the square, though, Ybl’s creation was moved to the Széchenyi hill.
Funzine
On the account of the 1000th anniversary of the Hungarian state, several programs and developments were planned by the government in 1896, including the building of the Ferenc József Bridge (now Liberty Bridge), the Grand Boulevard, and the Budapest Zoo. Then, due to Sándor Wekerle PM’s request, Albert Schickedanz designed the Heroes’ Square and György Zala created the statues. Bear in mind here that the stunning Museum of Fine Arts and Műcsarnok were also both designed by Schikedanz.
According to the original plans, the 15 statues of the square were designed to be much bigger, but eventually, because of financial issues, the grand sizes got cut down a bit. If you ever found yourself wondering and not being sure about whom the statues represent, well, search no more. Here’s the list of the statues, first of the left hall, from the left to the right, then of the right hall, again, from the left to the right, and the artists in parentheses.
[button link=”https://dailynewshungary.com/beautiful-squares-budapest/” color=”black” newwindow=”yes”] Why not check the most beautiful squares of Budapest?[/button]
Saint Stephen (Károly Senyei), Saint Ladislaus (Ede Telcs), Coloman the Bookish (Richárd Füredi), Andrew II (Károly Senyei), Béla IV (Miklós Köllő), Charles I (György Kiss), and Louis I (György Zala).
John Hunyadi (Ede Margó), King Matthias (György Zala), István Bocskai (Barbabás Holló), Gábor Bethlen (György Vastagh Jr.), Imre Thököly (Jenő Grantner), Ferenc Rákóczi II (Zsigmon Kisfaludi Strobl), and Lajos Kossuth (Zsigmond Kisfaludi Strobl).
Funzine
In the middle of the monument the 36-metre-high statue of Archangel Gabriel can be seen, as, according to a legend, Saint Stephen got crowned and Christianised because in his dream Gabriel asked him to do so. Hence the crown and cross are placed in his hands. Though, for a short period, the statue was taken down, as its pedestal was quite in a bad state. After fixing it it could be restored in its place in 1901.
Also, further magnificent statues make the attraction of Heroes’ Square complete: below Gabriel the seven chieftains of Hungary can be seen, while, opposing each other, the Statue of War on the left side faces and the Statue of Peace on the right side can be seen. On the outer colonnades the Statue of Labour and Wealth and the Statue of Knowledge and Glory stand restlessly. No wonder the square was one of the most significant destinations of the city at the end of the 19th century, especially as the first Underground of the European continent stopped under the square, and the Andrássy street also ended here.
The designers wanted to make Heroes’ Square a significant part of Városliget, wherefore the area in front of it got stoned only in 1937. The new coverage was necessary for the square to be able to host the 34th International Eucharistic Congress a year later, lining up the most important religious leaders. Then, after the Habsburg House was dethroned following World War II, Hungary became a republic. The politicians getting power reformed the country’s political system and Heroes’ Square as well.
Funzine
The five statues representing Habsburg rulers (Ferdinand I, Charles III, Maria Theresa, Leopold II, Franz Joseph I) were removed and with the exception of Franz Joseph I’s statue, which was broken to pieces, they all ended up in museums in the countryside. Furthermore, the statue of Archangel Gabriel was also taken down in 1919 and replaced with an obelisk and the 7-metre-tall effigy of Karl Marx. The removed statues were then put back to their places in 1926, albeit Franz Joseph I had to be recreated. Therefore, his former military uniform was changed into royal clothing.
The last major change was carried out in 1945, when the Communist regime decided that the Habsburg statues had to go again and got replaced by historical figures, namely Bocskai, Bethlen, Thököly, Rákóczi II, and Kossuth, who suited the ideology of the Socialist system somewhat more. That is when the current image of the Heroes’ Square was ultimately created, and those are the figures that can be visited nowadays anytime at one of the most popular tourist destinations of Budapest.
Szeretlek Magyarország.hu already reported before that the American football team, Atlanta Falcons liked Gábor Szőke’s eagle statue made for the Hungarian Fradi football team so much that, on behalf of the team, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) ordered an even bigger one from him.
According to Szeretlek Magyarország.hu, its wingspan will be over 64 feet. The statue is going to be transported to the United States in many pieces, in four containers.
Based on the information of Szeretlek Magyarország.hu, the statue will stand in front of Atlanta Falcon’s and Atlanta United team’s new stadium, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which is soon going to be ready, MTI told. The fans will enter under the wings of the falcon.
The artist was inspired by the special design of the stadium and its high-tech retractable roof. Its further feature is the special surface treatment technology, the alternation of matt and bright light, and the play of different refractions also featuring the materials the statue is made of.
Photo: MTI
Source: Facebook/Gábor Miklós Szőke
The artist told to Szeretlek Magyarország.hu that
The falcon and the soccer stand very close to each other. During hunting, the bird of prey is continuously following its prey, waiting for the best moment, when it can swoop down on it. The statue represents this moment.
[box] Watch a fascinating video about the stucture of the falcon statue [/box]
