We have visited Budapest on several occasions, but each time we have discovered new surprises. No wonder that Budapest is emerging as one of Central Europe’s most popular city destinations. UNESCO World Heritage landmarks, cruises on the Danube river, thermal baths – a city trip to Budapest is a great experience!
During our visit last month we came to the understanding that the real beauty of Budapest is hidden in the details. The beauty is in reliefs and sculptures on the facades of historical buildings, in murals, tiled roofs, mosaics, architectural ornaments and statues.
A good example for such an understanding was our visit to a very special building complex:
Vajdahunyad Castle
The Vajdahunyad Castle in the City Park was built on an island and can be accessed via one of four bridges. But this building complex is more than just a castle: it was constructed in 1896 as part of the Millennial Exhibition. Originally, it was made from cardboard and wood, but it became so popular that it was rebuilt from stone and brick between 1904 and 1908. The castle contains parts of buildings from various time periods, displaying different architectural styles. No wonder that its fairytale-like appearance attracts visitors! By the way, the castle is home to the Museum of Hungarian Agriculture.
One of the most characteristic details of the Castle is the medieval tower at the entrance. A particularly beautiful building is the Romanesque church of Jak village. The exact replica of the portal of this church shows a characteristic gateway from the 11th-12th century. The tympanum over the portal depicts the figures of the Twelve Apostles with Jesus.
But the castle also contains Gothic architecture, which is represented by the Castle of Vajdahunyad, after which the whole structure of the castle has been named – by the locals. Here you can admire another beautiful work of art: the statue of Count Sandor Karolyi, sitting on a bench in a peaceful setting.
The 16th-18th century Renaissance and Baroque buildings combine the elements of palaces in royal Hungary and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
The statue of the chronicler Anonymus by Miklos Ligeti, which shows an unknown person from the 12th century, attracts many visitors. The Anonymus was a notary of Bela III of Hungary and wrote the chronicle Gesta Hungarorum (Deeds of the Hungarians). Touching the pen of the statue is said to bring good luck.
Great Market Hall
The Great Market Hall, designed by Samu Pecz and built in 1897, is the largest and oldest indoor market in Budapest. The Hall is an impressive building, blending Art Nouveau and Neo-Gothic influences. The brick facade looks like a train station, but the roof is covered with colorful tiles, and the building is beautifully illuminated during the night.
What to expect inside the Market Hall? You will be surprised by the monumental steel frame and the interior of the market, covering a surface of 10,000 m2. First of all, over 180 market stalls offer a diverse selection of goods at reasonable prices. The ground floor is dedicated to food products, the first floor is mostly visited by tourists as it contains souvenir shops, small restaurants and street food stalls, and the basement houses an exhibition of typical Hungarian products sold at the market.
Murals
Budapest is well-known for its bohemian atmosphere, but nowadays it is also becoming popular for something new: its fantastic street art scene. Local artists saw a growing number of ugly bare walls, first of all in the Jewish district, and they decided to bring some color in it. These murals became masterpieces of diverse themes and styles. They tell you more about Hungarian culture, history and urban lifestyle. You can find them in Dob utca, Wesselenyi utca, Kazinsky utca, Kertesz utca and at other places in the Jewish Quarter and beyond.
One of them is the Rubik’s Cube, a toy invented by Hungarian Erno Rubik. This mural is created from hundreds of radiating and colorful dots. Many others can be found in District VII, where urban groups like Neopaint and Szines Varos are constantly searching for empty walls and the number of murals and graffit is growing each day.
Architectural details
As you wander through Budapest’s streets and you look at the buildings closely, you will discover unexpected and unique architectural ornaments. Relief sculptures, mosaics, coves and ornamental window frames adorn many facades. When walking, you should always keep looking up as some of the most beautiful architectural details are on the upper part of the facades.
The facades of Budapest vary from Art Nouveau and Baroque to remnants of medieval homesteads, but Neo-Classicism is widely represented. Observing them, you will see a tapestry of styles spanning almost 2000 years. The key is to just to look up and notice all the different sculptures and relief panels.
On almost every facade, behind every entrance, hidden over every doorway, you can find beautifully crafted reliefs. Some of them reflect the status of the previous owner of the building, other ones show religious and historical themes.
If you ever visit Budapest, follow our example: during our stay we have been roaming for hours through the streets of the historical center, discovering fantastic sculptures and reliefs. And we will be back, as there is so much more to explore!