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The City Park
Behind Hõsök square lies the City Park,
the largest park on the Pest side, covering
exactly one square kilometer.
The area was once part of the sand and grass-covered
Field of Rákos, where in former days
the Diets and the national markets were held;
at the beginning of the last century it was
converted into a park.
It was the queen Maria Theresia who ordered
to plant trees here and canalize the swamp.
By the turn of the century it had already become
a place of entertainment popular with all layers
of society: members of the aristocracy drove
out here in their carriages and exercised their
horses; the middle-classes came here for a day
out; and here the workers organized their meetings
and their May Day demonstrations.
The most important date in the development of
the park was 1896.
This was the year when we celebrated the Thousands
Years Anniversary of the Hungarian Conquest.
A "Millenary" - because of the thousands
years - World Exhibition took place here (more
than 100 countries were invited to the exhibition
as exhibitors).
Some of the buildings set up for the exhibition
are used even today.
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Széchenyi Baths
This is a thermal spa, built at the beginning
of this century in Neobaroque style.
Later in the twenties it was rebuilt and enlarged.
It has several outdoor and indoor pools.
The water is 74 degrees centigrade - it must
be cooled down in order to use it in the spa
and in the Zoo.
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Vajdahunyad Castle
Around the lake there are a wooded park and
a children's playground on a small island in
the lake we find an interesting group of buildings,
Vajdahunyad Castle.
It was built for the same anniversary as all
the other monuments on Heroes' Square, in 1896.
The architect wanted to show the various architectural
styles which were used in Hungary in the last
1000 years between 896 an 1896.
It houses now the "Agricultural Museum"
and if you are interested in Hungarian hunting,
fishing and ancient agricultural equipments
you should come to visit this museum.
The different parts of the building are copies
of different castles, convents, churches etc.
In the court-yard of the castle there is an
interesting statue to be seen: Anonymous, the
Nameless Chronicle (it's remarkable that we
don't know his name, Anonymous, so we can't see
his face; as far as we know he lived in the
12th c., and wrote the first history book of
the life of Hungarian ancestors, based mainly
on legends and tales). |
 Millenary Monument
The construction of the Millenary Monument was
begun in 1896, the thousandth anniversary of
the Conquest of the country by the Hungarians.
It was designed by the architect Albert Schickedanz
and the sculptor György Zala.
The figure of Gabriel won a Gran Prix in Paris
in 1900.
The center of the monument is a 36-metre (160
ft.) high column with a winged genius on top
and the statues of the conquering Magyar chief
Arpád and of the chiefs of the other
six tribes on the pedestal.
Behind these there is a semicircular colonnade
with the statues of the most outstanding Hungarian
kings, princes and commanders between the columns.
From left to right: St. Stephen, the founder
of the State, Ladislas I, Coloman, Andrew II
and Béla IV, kings of the House of Arpád;
Charles Robert and Louis I known as the Great
of the Angevin dynasty; János Hunyadi,
the hero of the wars against the Turks, and
King Matthias; then Gábor Bethlen, István
Bocskai, Imre Thököly and Ferenc Rákóczi
II, princes of Transylvania, and finally Lajos
Kossuth, the leader of the 1848-49 War of Independence.
Below the bronze statues relieves commemorate
historic events.
On top of the semicircle there are four symbolic
statues: Work and Wealth on the left, two chariots,
depicting War and Peace, in the center, and
Honor and Glory on the right.
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Museum of Fine Arts
The eclectic building of the Museum of Fine
Arts, completed in 1906, was designed by Albert
Schíckedanz and Fülöp Herzog.
Above the wide flight of stairs, eight plus
four Corinthian columns support the tympanum,
the relief of which is a copy of the group on
the western pediment of the Temple of Zeus at
Olympia and depicts the fight of Centaurs and
Lapithes.
This museum is based on the collection of the
former Esterházy treasury.
When the Museum of Fine Arts was established,
the Hungarian government bought collections
from rich aristocratic families and prelates.
The collection has since been enriched by further
purchases and donations.
Various historical styles characterize the interior
halls.
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Art Gallery
The eclectic building of the Art Gallery, reminiscent
of a Greek temple, stands opposite the Museum
of Fine Arts and was designed by the same artists.
It was built in 1895, its most characteristic
feature is the colored ceramic ornamentation.
This museum has no permanent collections, just
temporary exhibitions.
The tympanum shows the foundation of the first
Abbey in Hungary.
The National Fine Arts Exhibition is held here
every other year, as are other temporary exhibitions,
large and small. |
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