Page 120 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Budapest

118  BUD APEST AREA B Y AREA

8 Gresham Palace re garded as one of the most
Gresham Palota splendid examples of design
from the Secession era. Inside
Széchenyi István tér 5–7. Map 2 D5
(9 C3). Tel (06 1) 268 60 00. the building, the second floor
@ 105, 116. v 2. ∑ fourseasons. of the Kossuth stairway has a
com/budapest stained­glass window by Miksa
Róth, featuring a portrait of
This Secession palace aroused Lajos Kossuth (see p110).
both controversy and praise In 2004 the palace opened as
from the moment it was built. a Four Seasons Hotel, the second
One of Budapest’s most dis­ in Central Europe, and the first in
tinctive pieces of architecture, Hungary. Visitors can wander in
it was commissioned by the and admire its many splendours.
London­based Gresham Life
Assurance Company from
Zsigmond Quittner and the
Monument to Ferenc Deák in Széchenyi brothers József and László Vágó,
István Square and completed in 1907.
This enormous edifice enjoys
7 Széchenyi István an imposing location directly
Square opposite the Chain Bridge. The
Széchenyi István Tér façade features char acteristic
Secession motifs (see pp56–9),
Map 2 D5 (9 C3). @ 105, 116. v 2.
such as curvi linear forms and
Previously, Széchenyi István organic themes. The ornately
Square was known by several carved window surrounds
differ ent names – Franz Joseph appear as though they are
Square, Unloading Square and projecting from the walls,
Roosevelt Square among others blending seamlessly with the
– but it received its current title architec ture. The bust by Ede
in 2010, named after the leading Telcs, at the top of the façade,
social and political reformer. is of Sir Thomas Gresham. He
It is located at the head of was the founder of the Royal Miklós Izsó’s sculptures inside the
the Pest side of the Chain Exchange in London and of Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Bridge, and is home to many Gresham’s Law: “bad money
important buildings. drives out good”. 9 Hungarian
At the beginning of the 20th On the ground floor of the Academy of
century the square was lined palace there is a T­shaped Sciences
with various hotels, the Diana arcade, covered by a multi­ Magyar Tudományos Akadémia
Baths and the Lloyd Palace. The coloured glazed roof. The
only building from the pre vious entrance to the arcade is Széchenyi István tér 9. Map 2 D4 (9
century still standing today is marked by a beautiful wrought­ C2). Tel (06 1) 411 61 00. @ 16, 105,
116. v 2. Open 9am–4pm Mon–Fri.
the Hungarian Academy of iron gate with peacock motifs. 8 by appointment. ∑ mta.hu
Sciences. The other buildings Still the original gate, it is widely
were demo lished and replaced Built between 1862–4, this
by the Gresham Palace and the Neo­Renaissance building was
Bank of Hungary, on the corner designed by the architect
of Attila József utca. Two large Friedrich August Stüler.
modern hotels, the Sofitel The statues adorning the
Budapest Chain Bridge (see façade represent six disciplines
p188) and the Inter­Continental of knowledge – law, history,
Budapest, stand on the south ern mathematics, sciences, philos­
side of the square. ophy and linguistics – and are
There is a statue to Baron the works of Emil Wolf and
József Eötvös (1813–71) a Miklós Izsó. On the Danube
re former of public education, in side are allegories of poetry,
front of the Inter­Continental. astronomy and archeology, and
In the centre of the square there on the corners of the building
are monuments to Count István are statues of renowned think ers
Széchenyi, and Ferenc Deák, including Newton, Des cartes
who was in strumental in and Révay. Inside are more
the Compromise of 1867, statues and the library, which
which resulted in the Dual Bust of Sir Thomas Gresham on the façade has a priceless collection of
Monachy (see p34). of the Gresham Palace academic books.

118-119_EW_Budapest.indd 118 15/09/16 10:33 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 1st October 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm