Do you know which iconic square of Budapest can be seen on this vintage pictures and approximately when it was taken?



It is the place where iconic 0 kilometer stone can be found. At the Buda side of the Chain Bridge, there is a 3 m high limestone sculpture at the square, which is the zero kilometre stone of Budapest.



It is the Clark Adam tér, from where you can take a ride with the funicular of Budapest to get in the Castle of Buda easily. By the way the vintage picture was taken in 1954, and today it looks like this…

Let’s take a walk:

The Liberty Statue, or Freedom Statue (Hungarian: Szabadság Szobor) is something of a “many-faced symbol” of Hungarian culture. Originally, it was unveiled as a memorial tothe “Soviet liberation” of the 4thof April in 1945. Today, it has became the symbol of the heroes of Hungarian independence and part of the panorama of the Hungarian. What’s more… it would have been the symbol and logo of the Olympic Games 2024…if the city’s bid wouldn’t have been withdrawn, and if it would have beat out Los Angeles and Paris later this year.

The statue, then, has withstood the twists and turns of history; for now at least, it looks like it’s here to stay.

The Szabadság Szobor or Statue of Liberty in Budapest, Hungary, was first erected on the 4th of April in 1947, in remembrance of the Soviet liberation of Hungary from Nazi forces during World War II. Finally, in 1989, the Soviet hold was loosened and one-party rule came to an end. Quickly, the statue inscription was changed to reflect the more recent events. Note the difference in the current inscription, which can be translated as: “To the memory of all those who sacrificed their lives for the independence, freedom and prosperity of Hungary.” (1989)


The 14 m tall bronze statue stands atop a 26 m pedestal and holds a palm leaf. The monument was designed by Zsigmond Kisfaludi Stróbl. According to an urban legend, the design was originally made for the memorial of István Horthy and would in that role have featured a human child instead of the palm leaf that was a Soviet addition.


Its location upon Gellért Hill makes it a prominent feature of Budapest’s cityscape. You can view the statue for free at any time of day or night. See it from above from atop the Citadella at the top of Gellért Hill or reach its base by foot, bus or car along the Citadella sétány.

Have a look at the “living statue”… Here are some creative, fun images that have been made of the iconic Budapest landmark.





via: pestbuda.hu; budapest.com; wikipedia.org; expedia.com;

photos: pestbuda.hu; szoborlap.hu; hirado.hu; szeretlekmagyarorszag.hu

Do you know which iconic building of the Hungarian capital can be seen on the far-left side of this vintage photograph of the “Danube promenade”? Can you guess approximately when it was taken?


This magnificent building of Budapest was opened in January of 1833 with a grand ball, yet, in addition to playing host to festive occasions, it was also a venue of the highest culture – the only concert hall in Pest at the time. As a main culture hall this place also hosted performances by the likes of Johann Strauss Jr., Mascagni, Dvořak, Debussy, and Arthur Rubinstein. Ernő Dohnányi had his first solo concert here. Béla Bartók and Annie Fischer made their debuts here in 1905 and 1932 respectively.


Here’s a small hint: The 4th annual conference of the Friends of Hungary Foundation was held here this year.

It is the Vígadó Concert Hall of Budapest. As of 2014, the maintenance and management of the building have been overseen by Pesti Vigadó Nonprofit Ltd., acting on behalf of the owner of the building, the Hungarian Academy of Arts, which latter institution aims to continue sustaining and preserving the cultural diversity and the high quality of arts that have for over a century characterized the Pesti Vigadó.

The vintage pictures were taken in the early 1900s; nowadays, the building truly shines at night:

via: ilyenisvoltbudapest.hu; vigado.hu; kanadaihirlap.com

photos: ilyenisvoltbudapest.hu;

It was the first permanent bridge connecting Pest and Buda, and only the second permanent crossing on the whole length of the river Danube. Today, it is one of the symbols of Budapest, the most widely known bridge of the Hungarian capital. What’s more, at the time of its construction, this bridge was the suspension bridge with the second-largest span in the world.


The bridge was the dream of a man remembered today as “the greatest Hungarian”. Works were started in 1839 according to plans of English engineer William Tierney Clark with the financial support of Baron György Sina, a Viennese financier. The construction in Budapest was supervised by Scottish engineer Adam Clark, who later on went on to marry a Hungarian woman and settled down in Hungary.


Well, probably you knew that the greatest Hungarian was István Széchenyi. The construction of the bridge was proposed by Count István Széchenyi, one of the leading figures in 19th century Hungary. This is why the bridge is officially known as the Széchenyi Lánchíd. However, most people today simply know it as the Lánchíd, or Chain Bridge.


After its destruction by retreating German forces during the Second World War, the Chain Bridge had to be rebuilt. Although the this iconic bridge has had hard times throughout its history it shines beautifully today (especially on the 20th of August), 175 years after its first stone was laid.


The cornerstone of Budapest’s legendary Chain Bridge was laid on the 20 th of August, 175 years ago.



via: ilyenisvoltbudapest.hu; wikipedia.com bridgesofbudapest.com;

photos: panoramio.com; cultura.hu; wikipedia.org

This week’s Buda-Past is a special one as we celebrate the 144th birthday of the Hungarian capital.

On 17th of November 1873, three neighbouring cities located on the banks of the Danube River in central Hungary, namely “Pest”, “Buda” and “Óbuda” were united and the new city was baptized “Budapest”.

Today, public statues also celebrate the capital: some of them are wearing crowns and holding balloons. The celebrating statues are the initiative of the Hosszúlépés. Járunk? team, who offer innovative walking tours around Budapest.photo: Hosszúlépés. Járunk? / Vargha Miklós Photography

This morning their members decorated Budapest’s iconic statues with balloons in the colors of the city and its historic flag, blue and yellow for Pest with Buda’s red.photo: Hosszúlépés. Járunk? / Vargha Miklós Photography

The idea of the three cities united in a single one dates back to 1849. Szemere Bertalan, Minister of Interior ordered the union of Buda and pest and the integration of the market town, Óbuda. However, the political situation did not allow it after the 1848-49 Revolution and War of Independence.

They only started to consider the idea again after the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, when the Mayor of Pest, Mór Szentmihályi raised the attention of the City Council.


After four years of administrative preparations and negotiations, the unification document was signed by Franz Joseph I on 22 December 1872. Less than a year later, on 17th November, Buda, Pest and Óbuda ceased to function and Budapest was born. The unification was an extremely important historic event, but it also caused temporary confusion due to the new name of the capital.

The current shape of the city– Greater Budapest – was created in 1950, when the periphery districts were annexed to the city.

On 17th of November 1873 three neighbouring cities located on the banks of the Danube River in central Hungary, namely “Pest”, “Buda” and “Óbuda” were united and the new city was baptized “Budapest”. Although at the time of the unification the three parts of the city had 10 districts with approximately 350 000 inhabitants altogether, in a three decades Hungary’s old-new capital has become one of the cultural and economic centers of Europe.


The unification was an extremely important historic event but it also caused temporary confusion due to the new name of the capital. The political Compromise between Hungary and Austria in 1867 led to the rapid development of Budapest. Agricultural industries, milling and food industries all moved into the capital, and engineering industries grew. The railways were built, and, as the major roads, they all radiate out from Budapest. The unification of the three independent cities was possible only by the construction of the sundry bridges over the Danube. Previously to the completion of the construction works at the Chain Bridge, in 1849, the ferries and the temporary wooden bridges were the only ones which connected the two banks.

In 1870 under Prime Minsiter Gyula Andrássy, the Council of Public Works was formed, whose direction determined both the future shape and the enduring beauty of the city. In the following years the Hungarian capital, the Pest side in particular, was extensively rebuilt based on the model of Paris, with the main artery: Nagykörút (Great Boulevard) and Andrássy Avenue which lead to Heroes’ Square and a the city park with fountains and lakes. New suburbs were created to make room and house the rapidly growing and financially expanding population, which by now was predominantly Hungarian, although there developed a sizable German as well as a Jewish community due to immigration to the city.


Hungary’s millennial anniversary celebrations in 1896 brought a fresh rush of construction and development of the capital, including the opening of the first continental underground railway under Andrássy Avenue. The streets were paved, street lighting was introduced, the waterworks at Káposztásmegyer was constructed (it is still in operation today), and a public sewerage system was developed. The first trams appeared. The Heroes’ Square and Vajdahunyad Castle, located at end of Andrássy Avenue are just two perfect examples of the monumental scale and style that influenced the period.