visit

Budapest’s traffic will collapse in the next few days: try not to use your car!

Pope Francis is to spend three days in Hungary on an apostolic visit, but that will cause significant modifications in the car traffic and public transport system of Budapest. Hungarian media outlets recommend all drivers not use their cars downtown this weekend. Here is why.

Pope Francis arrived, Budapest’s traffic changed temporarily

Pope Francis arrived this morning in Hungary, his ITA Airways flight touched down around 10 AM. At the airport, he met with a delegation of politicians, church leaders and even kids, who greeted the pontiff on Hungarian soil for the second time in two years. The pope then was brought to downtown Budapest to meet President Katalin Novák and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in the Buda Castle.

The pope’s schedule is busy for the next three days. He will have a lot of meetings and will celebrate a holy mass on Kossuth Square. Therefore, most restrictions concern Budapest’s 1st and 5th districts, but, for example, during the pontiff’s departure on Sunday, traffic around Budapest’s international airport, Ferihegy, will also change considerably. Moreover, there will be programs in the, 7th, 8th, 9th, 12th and 13th districts.

Here is a map provided by the Hungarian police that includes all public spaces where tourists, residents, and drivers should expect changes in the following three days. However, some restrictions will remain in effect even after the papal visit. That is because, for example, the Kossuth Square, where the main event, the Sunday mass will take place, is now totally changed to receive 20,000 guests. Next week, all the grandstands, scaffolds and other facilities must be removed.

If they remove your car, here is how you can reclaim it

If you click on the map, on the top of the left-hand side of it you may see “Tilos megállni” (Forbidden to stop, blue colour). Of course, that restriction applies to different segments of public spaces, so you should double-check that in each case. But that is quite simple since you only have to click on the needed segment and will be able to read the required information containing the exact time and date of restriction. Even if it is Hungarian, dates and times are comprehensible.

If somebody forgets their vehicle in the blue zone, they may call +36-80-180-780 green line to enquire about where it has been replaced and what you can do to reclaim it. The phone number will be active until 30 April, 11.59 pm, police.hu wrote.

The second category (the red colour) is the public spaces which will be closed to traffic temporarily.

In THIS article, you may find further information about when and where you may meet the pope in Budapest in the next few days.

April 28, 2023

PHOTO GALLERY: Pope Francis arrived in Hungary! – UPDATED

Pope Francis’s ITA flight from Rome was shceduled to touch down at Budapest’s international airport at 10 AM.

Pope Francis will have a busy schedule today

According to Telex, Hungary’s foreign minister, Péter Szijjártó, was already at the airport to welcome the Catholic leader on Hungarian soil again. Pope Francis visited Hungary once before, at the 2021 International Eucharistic Congress. Today, he will meet President Katalin Novák and PM Viktor Orbán in Budapest. Later today, he will deliver a speech in the St. Stephen’s Basilica. Based on the Hungarian news outlets, the pope will be protected even by snipers.

Deputy PM Zsolt Semjén and FM Péter Szijjártó welcoming the pope at Budapest Airport:

The pope’s flight has been in Hungary’s airspace for 30 minutes, and almost 17,000 people followed its course on FlightRadar. He was on board of an Airbus A320neo of ITA Airways, the Italian national airline. It took off today at 8.21 AM from Rome’s Fiumicino Airport. John Paul II was the first pope to carry out a country visit to Hungary. He arrived shortly after the regime change in 1991. The Polish pope visited Pécs, Máriapócs, Debrecen and Budapest. In 1996, he returned but went only to Pannonhalma to partake in the millennium celebration of the abbey.

Here are some photos of the pope’s arrival:

Public media MTVA to broadcast the papal visit to Hungary live

Hungarian public service media will follow the events of Pope Francis’ visit to Budapest live, the press and marketing office of the Media Service Support and Asset Management Fund (MTVA) said on Thursday. Public media will broadcast all public programmes connected with the pope’s visit to Hungary at the weekend, with live broadcasts from Sándor Palace, St. György Square, the Carmelite Monastery housing the Prime Minister’s Office, St. Stephen’s Basilica, the László Batthyány Roman Catholic Children’s home for the visually impaired, St. Elizabeth Church on Rózsák Square, the Protection of the Mother of God Greek Catholic Church, László Papp Budapest Sports Arena, Kossuth Lajos Square and Pázmány Péter Catholic University.

The pontiff’s arrival and farewell from Liszt Ferenc International Airport will also be covered live. Broadcasts on Duna TV start at 9.40am on Friday with the arrival of Pope Francis at Liszt Ferenc International Airport, followed by his ceremonial reception on the square in front of Sandor Palace and his meeting with the President of the Republic the Prime Minister. From 12.20pm, the pontiff will meet state leaders, representatives of social life and the diplomatic corps in the Carmelite Monastery. From 5pm, the pope will meet bishops, priests, deacons, monks and pastoral staff at St. Stephen’s Basilica.

Busy schedule

At 8.30 AM on Saturday, Duna will follow live events at the László Batthyány Children’s Home for the for the visually impaired before the pope attends St. Elizabeth’s Church on Rozsak Square, where he will meet the poor, refugees, and representatives of the Greek Catholic community. From 3.55 PM, the head of the Catholic Church will appear before 11,000 young people in the Papp Laszlo Sports Arena, where the official song of the papal visit, Camino, will be performed. On Sunday, the final day of the pontiff’s visit, from 9.30 AM Duna will broadcast mass celebrated by the pope from Kossuth Lajos Square. From 3.50 PM Pope Francis will meet representatives of university life at Pázmány Péter Catholic University.

At 5.30 PM, viewers can watch the pope’s farewell at the airport. As well as Duna TV, M1 and Kossuth Rádió will cover the events in detail. All members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) will have free access to the broadcast, the MTVA statement said.

April 28, 2023

President: dialogue between Moscow, Kyiv should be fostered before

President Katalin Novák has called Pope Francis a “man of peace” and said she hoped that his visit to Budapest at the weekend would restore a sense of hope after the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine, in an interview published in Magyar Kurír on Tuesday.

“The Bible teaches that the future belongs to men of peace. Francis is such a man, and so are we Hungarians,” she said. It appears that Pope Francis aims to meet as many Hungarians and real communities as possible during his visit between April 28-30, she said. She noted that during his visit to Budapest during the Eucharistic Congress last September, Francis highlighted the importance of cooperation between the churches. Regarding the war in Ukraine, Novák said the priority there was to “assure victims of our support, condemn aggression and find a way to peace.” Her visit to Kyiv last November was such a show of support, she said.

At the same time, she noted that the rights of Hungarians had been curbed in Ukraine recently, which she called “unacceptable”. The issue should not be “swept under the carpet”, she warned. Hungarians living in Ukraine should be able to make a living in their own community and homeland, using their mother tongue, she said. On finding a way to peace in Ukraine, Novák praised Francis’s Easter message in which he said that he stood by Ukrainians under attack “but will not forget or give up on Russian people either.” To find solutions, dialogue must be fostered between warring parties and the forces supporting them, she said. “That needs, first of all, a strong decision to end the war,” she said.

“It seems clear to me that the war must not end with Russia achieving its aims, even though they have not declared a concrete goal. It cannot end with Russia allowed to stay in Ukrainian territories,” she said. At the same time, a growing number of countries getting involved in the conflict could lead to escalation, she said. “War will not necessarily stop at the borders,” and its spilling over into Hungary should be avoided at all costs, she said. Commenting on the debate regarding teachers’ wages, Novák said the profession’s prestige should be boosted to draw young people and to win back those who have left it.

Papal visit: all preparations complete

“Everything is set” for Pope Francis’s upcoming visit to Hungary, the state secretary for international communications said after a meeting on Tuesday of the operative body in charge of preparations. Zoltán Kovács said making preparations was a state responsibility, though the pope’s visit would “basically be an apostolic event”. Organisers have been working “in line with decisions by the Hungarian Catholic Church and the papal delegation” in terms of selecting venues and planning programmes, he added.

Bishop András Veres, the head of the Conference of Hungarian Catholic Bishops, said the visit would be an “honour and joyful meeting” not only for Catholics but for the whole nation. He noted that Francis could not visit outside Budapest due his fragile health, but organisers were “mobilising the country” and inviting believers and priests to come to Budapest during the three-day visit starting on Friday.

April 25, 2023

President: Hungarians looking forward to welcoming Pope Francis

Hungarians are looking forward to welcoming Pope Francis “with great love and prayers”, Katalin Novák, the President of the Republic, said on Twitter on Sunday.

The president was responding to a message by the pontiff thanking Hungary for preparations for his visit. Novák thanked the pope for his “kind words”, and expressed hope that they could pray together in Hungary “for peace, families and for the renewal of faith, hope and love”, MTI wrote.

Read also:

April 24, 2023

Hungarian church: Pope Francis knows he was misled about Hungary before

Pope Francis now sees that in many ways he was misled about Hungary, László Kiss-Rigó, the bishop of Szeged-Csanad, said in a podcast on Saturday.

Talking to Zoltán Kovács in The Bold Truth About Hungary podcast, the state secretary for international relations and communications, the bishop said the pope was returning the Hungary to visit its Christians and Catholics. This, he added, was encouraging to Hungarian Christians representing and protecting Christian values, which, he added, were also European values. Kovács noted that Hungary had drawn criticism for talking about Christianity and stating that European values were based on Christian values and foundations, MTI wrote. The European Union’s founders also insisted that Europe’s very existence owed itself to Christianity, he added.

The Pope will have a busy programme in Budapest

The bishop said that people in western Europe, proud of having attained the highest level of democracy, had turned their societies into “nihilistic dictatorship”, and abandoned common sense. Kovács said the pope’s visit from April 28 to 30 would present an opportunity to reflect on elements of the worldview of the Catholic Church and its head. The pontiff will meet the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, high-ranking Hungarian state officials and representatives of the Hungarian Catholic Church and other churches in Hungary, before visiting various institutions caring for the poor, refugees and members of Hungarian minorities. After Sunday’s papal mass, Francis will visit Pázmány Péter Catholic University.

Referring to the synod of October 2021 which discussed how to adapt the church to the 21st century, the bishop said the church must always renew itself, and this process that Pope Francis launched allowed the free expression of opinions. But, he added, this did not mean the teachings of the Church could change regarding its most fundamental tenets, which were “given by Jesus”.

Here is the video:

Read also:

April 23, 2023

Vatican spokesman revealed why Pope Francis visits Hungary again

After his visit to Hungary in 2021, Pope Francis felt that he wanted to spend more time with the Hungarians, Matteo Bruni, the spokesman of the Holy Sea, said on Friday at a briefing in the Vatican, giving an outline of the pontiff’s upcoming visit to the country on April 28-30.

Bruno noted that the Pope had participated at the closing mass of the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress (INEC) in September 2021 in Budapest, and on his way back to the Vatican, he told the journalists accompanying him that he would be happy to return to Hungary “to devote more time to the Hungarians”. “The current visit to Hungary is the fulfillment of that promise,” Bruni said. He said that the upcoming visit would be Pope Francis’ 41st foreign visit since his election in 2013 with 60 countries covered so far, MTI wrote.

The Pope’s schedule includes six speeches, all to be delivered in Italian. As regards the planned topics of the speeches and homilies, Bruni said that during his 2021 visit, the pope had already spoken about the priests who sacrificed their lives and followers who were persecuted for practicing their faith during the communist dictatorship. The spokesman noted that the Pope had declared Cardinal József Mindszenty, the Archbishop of Esztergom and Primate of Hungary, venerable in 2019.

Bruni said that topics to be covered during the visit would include the deportation of Jews during the second world war and a mention of those who had participated in saving lives, including apostolic nuncio Angelo Rotta and Giorgio Perlasca. He said that coinciding with an extraordinary liturgical period in the weeks after Easter, the trip would be designed to convey the message about the future, hope, openness, and trust for Christians in the current difficult times. “We will be just few hundred kilometers from Ukraine,” Bruni said, adding that “Pope Francis might also raise his voice for peace in his speeches”.

Read also:

April 21, 2023

Where to meet the Pope in Budapest? – Detailed programme guide

Between 28 and 30 April, His Holiness Pope Francis will be staying in Budapest on an official visit. He will be the fourth on the list of popes who came here during their popeship. The last papal visit to Hungary took place in September 2021.

As we wrote earlier, throughout his three-day stay in the capital, Pope Francis will have a busy schedule. He will not only be meeting with top politicians such as Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and President Katalin Novák, but with ordinary citizens as well. This weekend, there will be several instances when members of the public will have the chance to meet with His Holiness, Szeretlekmagyarország reports.

28 April

The Holy Father arrives in Budapest on Friday the 28th at 10 AM. After having conducted with representatives of political and diplomatic life, Pope Francis will be meeting with ecclesiastical figures such as priests, bishops and monks at St. Stephen’s Basilica. The programme begins at 5 PM, when His Holiness will hold a speech in the church. However, admission is required due to limited space. The event will be broadcast live outside of the basilica. Those interested should start gathering on the square from 4 PM.

29 April

On Saturday morning the Pope will conduct a private visit to care homes and churches, talking with the poor and the refugees. The next public event takes place in the afternoon at László Papp Budapest Sports Arena, at 4:30 PM. The Holy Father will hold another speech and meet with youngsters from around the country. The audience will mostly consist of students from Catholic high schools as well as university students. The dioceses of Hungary will be the ones conducting the programme and attendance. In the evening, His Holiness will also meet with members of the Society of Jesus, aka. the Jesuits.

30 April

You have the best chance to see Pope Francis close up on Sunday the 30th. Starting at 9:30 AM, His Holiness will hold a public mass in front of the Hungarian Parliament, on Kossuth Square. Everyone from Hungary and nearby countries is welcome to attend the religious ceremony. Attendance requires no registration; all visitors are free to enter after a quick security check. Gates open early dawn and will close at 8:15 AM at the latest. Those who arrive late and don’t have space anymore on the square shouldn’t worry either. The prayer will be broadcast live in the surrounding streets.

In the afternoon the Pope will pay one last visit to Pázmány Péter Catholic University, to meet with representatives of cultural and diplomatic life. He leaves Hungary at 5:30 PM by plane.

Read also:

April 20, 2023

Pope Francis will say the same during his Budapest visit about Ukraine as Orbán

The call for peace in Ukraine will be one of the central topics of the speeches Pope Francis will deliver during his visit to Hungary next weekend, Csaba Török, governor of the Esztergom parish and press officer of the Hungarian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, told reporters in Rome on Tuesday.
The pontiff’s speeches and homilies will likely contain a “strong message” in connection with the war, Török said. He noted that Pope Francis had been working to mediate between the warring sides since the start of the conflict. Török said Pope Francis’s visit to Hungary will have a “political message”, adding, at the same time, that the moment of rapprochement between the pope and the Patriarch of Moscow would not happen in Budapest. He did not rule out, however, that representatives of the churches of Kyiv and Moscow would be present during Francis’s visit.

He noted that on the occasion of the closing mass of the 52nd International Eucharistic Congress in Budapest in 2021, Prime Minister Viktor Orban presented Francis as a gift a copy of the letter Hungarian King Bela IV wrote to Pope Innocent IV in the 13th century. The prime minister’s gesture was an intention to establish a relationship with the pope to protect Christianity, he added. The Hungarian government also considers itself an ally of the Vatican when it comes to urging peace in Ukraine, Török said. Pope Francis will pay a visit to Hungary between April 28 and 30.

Read also:

April 19, 2023

PHOTOS: This is how Budapest’s largest and most beautiful park will look

Mayor Gergely Karácsony presented the results of the concept competition for the renovation of Budapest’s largest public park, Népliget.

Eight months after Mayor Gergely Karácsony announced the renewal of Népliget and the launch of a landscape architecture competition, the winners of the competition have been announced.

According to MTI, instead of choosing one project, architects will cherry-pick the best solutions from each competitor. The jury selected 4D Tájépítész Iroda as the best entry and awarded them HUF 9 million (EUR 23,878).

“We believe in urban development that tries not to concentrate cultural and tourist attractions in certain parts of the city, but to break them up and give the Rust Belt a chance,” said Mayor Gergely Karácsony during their press conference.

Budapest Népliget Park — Photo: Budapest Főváros Főpolgármesteri Hivatal

“Urban development strategy should give these less respected urban areas a chance to reclaim their glorious past and show their values. Many ideas are needed to make Népliget a popular park. I hope that Népliget will become a common cause, one of the most important areas for a new kind of urban development thinking together,” he added.

Announcing that the first prize would not be awarded, Deputy Mayor Gábor Kerpel-Fronius explained that “it is not possible to declare one idea as the winner for such a large area because all the entries had elements that offered a better solution to a particular part of the underlying problems than the others.”

The planned features of Népliget park

While renovating the 129-ha park, architects will have to create an event area, playgrounds, a sunbathing area, public sporting spaces, and running and cycling paths. In addition to the renovation of the planetarium, they will also have to address the challenges of Vajda Péter Street, which cuts the park in half.

After finalising the plans combining the best landscape architecture ideas and making several variations, the Municipality of Budapest will hold a vote to select the winning entry.

Here are some more photos:

April 17, 2023

PHOTOS: EU Heads of Missions visited Pápa military airport

“Today was an interesting and busy day for the EU Heads of Missions in Hungary, in the framework of Sweden’s EU Presidency”, the Embassy of Sweden in Budapest wrote on their Facebook page about their visit. Here is their unchanged post.

“In the morning, by invitation of Ambassador Dag Hartelius, they visited Pápa, which is home to the Strategic Airlift Capability – the first multinational initiative in the world that aims at maximizing military strategic airlift capability through the sharing of resources and pooling of capacity.

It is a conglomerate of twelve partnering nations, including Hungary, Sweden and eight other EU member states. It is an important tool for the security of Europe. Thanks for the Heavy Airlift Wing and Swedish Commander Col. Peder Söderström for having the EU Ambassadors! The visit to Pápa was followed by a visit to Veszprém in the afternoon.

Here are some photos:

Read also:

April 16, 2023

PHOTOS, VIDEO: One of the world’s most corrupt countries support Hungary’s standpoint

Hungary foreign minister visit Sierra Leone

Economic cooperation between Europe and Africa must be intensified partly with a view to ensuring that fewer migrants depart for Europe, Péter Szijjártó, the foreign minister, said in Freetown on Friday. Szijjártó noted his visit was the first a Hungarian foreign minister has made to the west African country, a ministry statement said, and he called his attendance of a bilateral business forum in Freetown at the head of a delegation of business and academic leaders “a great honour”, MTI wrote.

He said Hungary was committed to concluding mutually beneficial agreements. It is in Hungary’s interest, he added, to support the stability and economic development of African states; a partly selfish interest, he added, since the more stable and developed these regions are, the fewer illegal migrants make their way to Europe. Besides, countries will not lose their talented young people either, he said. Szijjártó noted that a bilateral economic cooperation agreement was recently signed, and an economic mixed committee may meet soon. Also, talks are under way on concluding an investment protection agreement, he added.

Hopefully a planned water management agreement can be concluded soon, he said, noting that three of eleven company heads accompanying him represent the area which is Hungary’s most internationally competitive sector. On the agenda are the construction of a water purification plant in Sierra Leone and several other projects, expected to be sealed during the day, he said. Other areas of cooperation include agriculture and the food industry, as well as the health and IT sectors, and construction. Each year, 50 students from Sierra Leone can study at Hungarian universities with a scholarship, and 590 have applied for places this year, he noted.

Photos from the business forum:

Speaking at a joint press conference later on Friday with David J. Francis, his Sierra Leone counterpart, Szijjártó emphasised the importance of preserving Africa’s stability despite the negative effects of the war in Ukraine being felt globally. The armed conflict is causing serious problems worldwide, whether it be in Ukraine’s neighbourhood or tens of thousands of kilometres away, Szijjártó said. The ones paying the price of the war worldwide are those who are not responsible for it and have nothing to do with it, the minister said. Skyrocketing prices and food supply issues are causing serious problems for several African countries, which could lead to more mass migration waves, Szijjártó said, adding that this could lead to security challenges for Europe.

The foreign minister in Freetown:

Another reason why it is important to establish peace in Ukraine as soon as possible is because Europe would be incapable of coping with two security crises simultaneously under the current circumstances, he said. Hungary wants peace as soon as possible despite the pressure being put on it, Szijjártó said. Hungary understands Africa’s concerns over and aversion to the “dramatic impacts” of the conflict, he said, adding that the Hungarian government had an interest in preserving the continent’s stability, partly with a view to preventing more migration waves. It is therefore in Hungary’s interest to develop its economic partnership with Sierra Leone, he said. Szijjártó announced that Hungary will contribute 3 million forints (EUR 8,000) to the renovation of a local school attended by Christian and Muslim students.

A historic moment: Hungarian foreign minister in Sierra Leone:

In response to a question, Szijjártó said Hungary and Sierra Leone’s relationship was an equal partnership based on mutual respect. He said there was often an absence of mutual respect in global politics, and it was “frustrating” when the leader of the European Union delegation to Sierra Leone made remarks that could be considered interference in the country’s internal affairs. He said Hungarians had “too much experience” in being criticised and lectured on “how we should do our own things in Hungary”. “But we believe the Hungarian people are mature enough to make their own decisions on what kind of life they would like to live in Hungary,” he added.

Here is what Sierra Leone’s foreign minister got as present (spoiler: Puskás):

Read also:

April 15, 2023

Have a look at these real-life fairytale castles in Hungary – PHOTOS

Hungary is known for its magnificent castles. Some have kept their original form while others have been renovated. Here are some fairytale castles you must visit if you are staying in Hungary.

Edelény Castle Island

Jean-François L’Huillier started the construction of the castle in 1716 on the Edelény estate. After his death, his wife Marie-Madeleine de Saint-Croix completed it in 1730. To this day, researchers have not been able to find out who designed this unique building complex. A parking lot and service room suitable for 70 cars and 8 buses await visitors upon arrival. You can take photos in the park of the castle, in the ornamental courtyards, in the ceremonial hall, in one of the painted rooms of the western wing, in the carriage passage as well as in the staircase and the chapel.

Edelény Caste Island — Edelény Caste. Photo: FB/Edelényi kastélysziget

Nádasdy Castle

The Nádasdy Castle is one of Hungary’s most beautiful neo-Gothic, Tudor-style castles, surrounded by a 24-hectare landscaped garden. You can visit the permanent exhibition where you can get to know the legendary love story of Ferenc Nádasdy and Count Ilona Zichy or read and hear about the castle building project. In addition, if the weather allows it, it is worth taking a walk in the stunning castle garden.

Read also: Top 5 lesser-known UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Hungary

Wenckheim Castle

This fairytale castle offers a magical atmosphere and interactive exhibitions for visitors. It was built between 1875 and 1879 according to the plans of Miklós Ybl, in a neo-Renaissance-eclectic style. The historic restoration of the castle took place between 2019 and 2022 and now it is open to the public. Here, you can also take a walk in the castle park or admire the paintings and antique furniture in the permanent exhibition.

BOTANIQ Castle of Tura

Many stories are related to one of the most picturesque castle hotels in Hungary, which was built by Baron Zsigmond Schossberger in 1883 as a sign of his love and devotion to his wife. The architectural features of the fairytale castle evoke the charm of the Chateaus along the Loire, and are characterised by Neo-Renaissance and Neo-Baroque styles. This castle also functions as a hotel, so you can spend a night or two in this magical place.

April 14, 2023

Visit these stunning arboretums near Budapest for free

If you want to enjoy the sight of plants in bloom, there is no better idea than arboretums. Here are some arboretums near Budapest that you can visit for free.

Buda Arboretum – XI. district

Located in the 11th district, the Buda Arboretum is free for everyone. Every season offers something new, but the arboretum is especially worth visiting in spring. Between April 21-23, the Ornamental Plant Exhibition and Fair takes place. On the guided tour, which is very successful every year, you can admire, hear stories and gain knowledge about the Arboretum. There are almost 2,000 woody ornamental plant species and varieties, as well as hundreds of bulbous flowers and almost 250 other perennial ornamental plants. The walk is free for event visitors, you just have to pre-register at ta************@gm***.com.

Read also: Top 5 lesser-known UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Hungary

Budakalász Chemotaxonomic Botanical Garden

This chemotaxonomy-based plant presentation is not only unique in Hungary, but in the whole world too. The demonstration garden is complemented by a greenhouse collection (Hollandház), where they have planted species that cannot be exhibited in the open field. For example, you can admire the parrot flower (Strelitzia reginae), Cape aloe (Aloe ferox Mill.), and the Tasmanian eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus Labill.) The garden can be visited by anyone with professional guidance, on weekdays between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM, with prior registration. Appointments can be made by calling (26) 340-533/162 or at the following address: la******@gy***.hu.

Budakeszi Herbarium and Dendrological Trail

The Dendrological Trail of the Budakeszi Herbarium is located on the southern border of the Buda Landscape Protection District. The planted area of the arboretum, originally planned for 40 hectares, is 26 hectares. From the list of 1,200 taxa published in 1970, 120 tree species can be seen today. In addition to the trail, you can also visit Lake Nádas, surrounded by willow groves.

Read also: PHOTOS: Tips for a perfect weekend getaway in the European Capital of Culture

Mihály Mőcsényi Botanical Garden – Budapest

Thanks to the Liget Budapest Project, one of the most unique plants in the City Park, the Little Botanical Garden, has regained its former glory. One of the specialties of the arboretum is the Kneipp path, which is a thematically designed route where you have to walk barefoot, and you can massage your feet while walking. Orientation is facilitated by the posting of informative boards, with the names of the individual varieties and botanical specialties, with easy-to-understand graphics and descriptions. Around 335 new plants of different varieties (35 thousand pieces) were planted in the garden.

April 10, 2023

5 great Hungarian restaurants in Budapest for authentic Hungarian cuisine

These are great restaurants in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, if you would like to try authentic Hungarian dishes, such as gulyás, paprikás, and pörkölt.

Every Hungarian family has its own recipes for the typical dishes of Hungarian cuisine and let’s not even go into the debates about whether there should be pasta in halászlé or whether bejgli is best with walnut or poppy seed filling. Szeretlekmagyarország.hu compiled 5 great Hungarian restaurants in Budapest, where anyone can taste dishes in an elegant fashion, prepared just the way a Hungarian grandma would do.

Gléda Vendéglő

“Our dream was to create a restaurant that represents everything we believe about hospitality. This is our passion. This is Gléda,” say the two owners, János Deli and Sándor Kerekes, about their restaurant.

The restaurant has a modern flare next to the traditional Hungarian dishes such as catfish stew with homemade dumplings and veal paprikás. The chefs also put vegan options on the menu to make everyone feel welcome.

On Thursdays, live music elevates the atmosphere to a new level, but beware: the restaurant is closed on Mondays and Sundays.

Address: 1037, Mikoviny street 2-4.

Gettó Gulyás

Gettó Gulyás is in the heart of the party district of Budapest, they call themselves a “Hungarian Stew restaurant”. As the name suggests, they specialise in Hungarian stews. They have 11 different types of stews on their menu, even a vegan one.

The restaurant’s décor fits perfectly with the nearby ruin bars, they even have a couple of street tables to enjoy dinner while in the fresh air. Reservation is highly advised as due to the popular location of the restaurant, it is often full.

Address: 1077, Wesselényi street 18.

Hoppá Bistro

Hoppá Bistro is a modern Hungarian French restaurant which is featured on the Hungarian Michelin Guide. Sustainability and locally sourced, Hungarian ingredients play an important role in the life of the restaurant, they even serve coffee made from Hungarian coffee beans.

Hoppá proves that it is possible to reimagine Hungarian dishes in a modern, progressive way. Another speciality of the restaurant is that people can have access to their recipes by subscribing to their newsletter.

Address: 1051, Október 6. street 15.

TATI Farm to Table

Probably the best example of a Hungarian farm-to-table restaurant in Budapest is TATI, as they have their own farm. They believe in “Hungarian smallholders, local ingredients and enjoying the beauties of the countryside”, while it is their mission to translate this lifestyle for people to enjoy in downtown Budapest.

Their menu is following the seasonal calendar to remain as environmentally friendly as possible, while also keeping traditional Hungarian dishes such as tócsni – a Hungarian variety of hash browns – chicken or catfish paprikás.

Address: 1074, Dohány street 58-62.

Gundel Cafe Patisserie Restaurant

Hungarian Restaurant Gundel — Photo: Gundel Cafe Patisserie Restaurant Facebook

The Gundel was originally opened in 1894 and was recently featured in this article of the oldest Hungarian restaurants that are still open today. The restaurant also operates as a café; therefore, it is an ideal place for breakfast or brunch.

Alongside traditional Hungarian dishes, it also serves THE original Gundel pancake, a famous Hungarian delicacy prepared with a chocolate sauce, walnuts, raisins and a rum filling.

Address: 1146, Gundel Károly street 4.

April 10, 2023

PHOTOS: Sensational artefacts have been discovered in Buda Castle!

Sensational archaeological finds have been discovered from the Middle Ages in Buda Castle as the former Honvéd High Command building is being rebuilt to its former glory.

The renovation of the former Honvéd High Command building in Buda Castle began in early 2022 with archaeological excavations. The archaeologists’ latest finds were shown by the Castle Administration, pestbuda.hu reports.

Life in medieval Buda

Archaeologists found artefacts from the late Árpádian era of the 13th century until the rule of Sigismund of Luxembourg (1387-1437). Although the excavation was carried out in a relatively narrow strip of land south of the High Command building that is being renovated, the small area also yielded a rich assemblage of finds.

But how could such rich findings be excavated from a small strip of land? First, the inhabitants of Buda in the Middle Ages were among the wealthiest of the Hungarian population, and they had their own dumpsters.

“It was common practice at the time for the inhabitants of Várhegy to throw their damaged and redundant objects into cellar cavities, storage pits no longer in use or dried-up wells. The waste accumulated over the centuries is now turning up real treasures,” reads the Castle Administration’s briefing.

Read also: Budapest Spring Festival to offer 50 programmes at 30 locations!

Sensational finds

The excavated fragments of medieval glass dripping cups and bottles made in Venice, Italy, in the 14th and 15th centuries, testify to the wealthy, well-equipped households of families living near the royal palace.

Archaelogical finds in Buda Castle — Photo: Várkapitányság

Archaeologists found a flower-shaped, flat bronze bead, which was once worn attached to thinner leather or stronger fabrics. A lead seal was also found with the bronze bead, which was put at the end of the rolled-up textile and attested to the origin and quality of the fabric.

The Castle Administration also mentions the discovery of a unique fragment of a dog-shaped pouring spout, probably from a ceramic vessel for storing liquids on the table.

Archaeologists found three kitchen cooking pots fully intact, which date back to the 15th century, based on their shape and design. It is probable that the pots recovered from the well may have been accidentally submerged in the well while drawing water, where the mud preserved them in good condition.

Undoubtedly, the most valuable piece of the assemblage is a fragment of a 14th-century gold ring, which may once have been decorated with quartz crystal.

Read also: Check out these photos of the renovation of the Honvéd High Command builidng, therebuilt tourist attraction of the Buda Castle District!

April 9, 2023

PHOTOS: The beautiful Hungarian Sümeg Castle has been renovated

One of Hungary’s most beautiful castles has reopened its door to visitors. With the inauguration of the eastern wing of the Sümeg Castle, one of the most famous historical sites of Veszprém County can now be seen in all its glory.

From the beginning of the 11th century, Sümeg and its surroundings were owned by the Bishopric of Veszprém as a royal donation. When Fehérvár and Veszprém both fell, Sümeg Castle became one of the main bastions of the Transdanubian region, which even the Ottoman army never managed to capture, HelloMagyar writes.

Reopening of Sümeg Castle

A ceremony was held to mark the renovation of the eastern wing of the castle. The EU financed the renovation with HUF 1.1 billion (EUR 2.6 million). Thanks to the renovation the cultural attraction is now open to visitors all year round.

Zsanett Oláh, Managing Director of the NÖF National Heritage Protection Development Nonprofit Ltd., said that the castle had been in decline for decades, but now it was attracting more and more visitors thanks to its 21st-century facilities. In the courtyard, there will be jousting tournaments, and open-air performances, while the interior features an exhibition of the history of the castle and, everyday life in the Middle Ages, as well as castle models, a cinema and interactive tools.

Read also: PHOTOS: Tips for a perfect weekend getaway in the European Capital of Culture

Sümeg Castle at night — Photo: sumegvar.hu

Imre Papp, the castle’s captain, recalled the history of the castle, pointing out that it has been run by his family since 1989. Initially, the fortress had 10 percent Hungarian visitors and 90 percent foreigners, but this ratio has now been reversed, he said. The fortress employs more than 200 people a year, and there are free open days, during which visitors can learn about the programmes and improvements.

The Bishop’s Palace of Sümeg has also been renovated

The Bishop’s Palace of Sümeg was opened to visitors in November 2021. As the NÖF website points out, the former residence of Márton Padányi Biró, Bishop of the Veszprém Diocese, will be open to visitors in its Baroque splendour.

The renovation work was preceded by a long period of research and restoration work, which renewed the interior spaces, revealed fragments of former frescoes, and brought new life to the Rococo stucco decorations. Restored artifacts have been returned to their original places in the palace, but surprising and significant discoveries have also been made during the exploration of the centuries-old walls. The beautifully restored palace offers interactive exhibitions, a café and a museum shop. Moreover, it can be visited together with the castle at a discount with a combined ticket. You can find more information about the castle HERE.

Read also: Top 6 destinations in Hungary that can’t be missed in 2023

April 1, 2023

PHOTOS: Monument of Hungarian rescue dog Mancs inaugurated in Türkiye

The friendship between the Turkish and Hungarian nations should “continue to be about courage and unselfish help in the next 100 years,” President Katalin Novák said in Kocaeli on Friday.

The president spoke at the unveiling of a monument to Mancs (Paw), a famous Hungarian rescue dog, and noted that diplomatic ties between the two countries had been established in 1923. Novák also noted Hungary’s aid to Turkey after the earthquakes in 1999 and in February this year. The late Mancs belonged to the Spider rescue team in Miskolc, in northern Hungary. He became famous when he rescued a three-year-old girl in 1999, buried under the ruins of a house for 82 hours.

Katalin Novák, the President of Hungary, wrote the following thoughts about Mancs on her Facebook page:

“The statue of Mancs (Paw) symbolises selflessness, helpfulness and bravery. Characteristics that we Hungarians are proud of and aspire to have.

We unveiled the statue of Mancs, the heroic dog saving lives, in Kocaeli in Türkiye. Hope, one of the four-legged heroes of the rescue operations after the recent earthquake, laid flowers at the statue, in the presence of both dogs’ trainer, László Lehoczki. Mancs saved several lives after the earthquake in Izmit in 1999. This time, 29 rescue dogs from Hungary helped to save 35 human lives.”

Katalin Novák also visited mourning women who lost their loved ones in the recent devastating earthquake:

President Erdogan also expressed his thankfullness for the Hungarian rescue teams and their dogs:

Read also:

April 1, 2023

PHOTOS: Orbán pays tribute to late cardinal helping Hungary a lot

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán paid his last respects at the catafalque of Karl-Joseph Rauber, cardinal and archbishop, former apostolic nuncio to Hungary, in Rome on Friday.

According to information from the PM’s press office, the Hungarian delegation included Zoltan Balog, head of the Hungarian Reformed Church’s Synod, and State Secretary Tristan Azbej. Rabuer died at age 88, on March 26. He served as nuncio to Hungary from 1997 to 2003.

April 1, 2023