In 1832,
count István Széchenyi, "the greatest Hungarian" began to organize the
construction of the bridge. While travelling in England, Széchenyi
became personally acquainted with William Thierney Clark, who was
commissioned to draft the plans for the bridge, and his namesake Adam
Clark was asked to direct the construction , which was finished in 1849.
The retreating German troops blew up the Chain Bridge in January 1945.
This vital element of Budapest's cityscape was restored on the 100 th
anniversary of its inauguration
After long discussion the construction of Parliament began in 1885
according to plans by Imre Steindl. Completed in 1904 it is one of
Europe's most splendid Parliament buildings, reflecting its designer's
taste and the nation's demands for representation. At the same time it
is one of the landmarks of the capital. The neo-Gothic palace is 268 m
long and its dome is 96 m high. The outer walls are decorated with
statues of Hungarian monarchs and military commanders.
St. Stephen's
Basilica
Though Budapest's biggest cathedral is not a basilica in the
architectural sense tradition and the authority bestowed by the Pope
have earned it this denotation. Its construction was begun in the
neo-Classic style but later modified by Miklós Ibl according to
architectural models from the Italian Renaissance. Dedicated in 1905,
with a dome 96 m high Basilica holds up to 8500 persons.
St. Stephen's
statue of Carrara marble by Alajos Stróbl stands in the Sanctuary.
The spectacular
ensemble of statues erected to commemorate the thousandth anniversary of
the Magyar Conquest is situated at the end of Budapest's most beautiful
avenue (Andrássy Street).
The monument was designed by Albert
Schickedanz and Fülöp Herczog. Many of the statues representing
Hungarian Monarchs and Princes of Transylvania were made by György Zala.
At the center of the Monument there is a column surrounded by seven
figures - leaders of the seven Hungarian tribes.
The construction of the Opera, completed in 1884, was executed according
to plans by Miklós Ybl. An ornate interior and exterior in the
neo-Renaissance style serves the needs of the metropolis. Fine art works
from leading Hungarian artists decorate the building. The technical
equipment was supplied by the Austrian Asphaleia Company. The Opera
House was renewed on the occasion of the 100 th anniversary of its
opening.
The largest
thermal bath of Budapest. The neo-baroque baths were built in 1913. Its
thermal springs were discovered in 1879 - they are the deepest and
warmest thermal wells in Budapest.
It is a vast complex of indoor and
outdoor pools, the premier medicinal bath of Pest, situated in the
middle of the City Park.
The heart of
Budapest is Váci Street between Vörösmarty Square and Elizabeth Bridge.
The street gained its status in the mid-19 th century when the original
small buildings and shops were replaced by neo-Classical and Eclectic
apartments, department-store, international trade-centre and hotel
located here, making Váci Street another Symbol of Budapest.This square
has been one of the central spots in downtown Budapest since the early
19 th century. Originally called Promenade Square, it was renamed
Theatre Square after the German Theatre which was situated there, and
later it became Gizella Square. Since 1908 the square has been called
Vörösmarty Square, after the great Hungarian poet of the 19 th century.
An Eclectic-style palace houses the famous Confectionery "Gerbaud".
On the site of
today's Vigadó in Pest the Redoute-building once stood, the first and
very significant work of Mihály Pollack, the architect of the Hungarian
National Museum. Between 1848 and 1849, at the time of the War of
Independence, the first Chamber of Deputies sat in this building which
drove General Hentzl, the commander of the Austrian troops in Buda, to
destroy this beautiful palace. Between 1859 and 1864 Frigyes Feszl
reerected the Redoute in the Romantic style. It is one of the finest
pieces of Romantic architecture in Europe.
In the Middle
Ages, this former marshy region was notable for the Diets held there on
St. George's Day. The drainage of the swamp and the building up of this
territory began in the 19 th century, and soon the park became a popular
resting-place. This park lived its most glorious days during the
Millenial Exhibition in 1896 commemorating the Magyar Conquest. The "Castle
of Vajdahunyad" was built for the Millennial Exhibition by Ignác Alpár
to illustrate the most beautiful buildings in the history of Hungarian
architecture.
The original construction of the bridge between 1897 and 1903 was
carried out according to the plans by Aurél Czekelius. Many houses and
squares had to be destroyed at the Pest end of the bridge, today's
Kossuth Lajos Street was straightened, and the bridge-gate and the two
Eclectic "Klotild-Palaces", were also built. The beatiful bridge, the
world's longest chain-bridge until 1926, was blown up in 1945 by the
retreating German troops. Designed by Pál Sávoly, it was rebuilt as a
cable-bridge in 1963.
As part of the
expansive plans for the reconstruction of Castle Hill in the late 19th
century was that segment of the city-wall that stands behind Matthias
Church.
Between 1901 and 1905 the existing parts of the fortress were connected
by neo-Romanesque corridors, terraces and towers following designs by
Frigyes Schulek. The Fishermen's Bastion has become one of the capital's
landmarks, offering a panoramic view of Pest.
The Zoo, established and opened in 1866, was enlarged in 1912, when many
new animal-houses were built, which today are still the Zoo's most
significant pieces of architecture. The main entrance and the
elephant-house, richly decorated with ceramics, were made by Kornél
Neuschloss.
Károly Kós, the outstanding writer and architect who was one
of the most important representatives of Hungarian Art Nouveau, also
designed some pavilions here. The hippopotamus "Dynasty" living in a
thermal pond, is known throughout the world.
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