Page 133 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Budapest

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at No. 16, was built in 1984. Hotel (see p187), while the
Outside the store there is a left side houses a restaurant
bronze fountain with a fig ure and a café.
of Hermes, dating from the
mid-19th century.
The Nádor Hotel once stood 7 Pest County
at No. 20 and featured a statue Hall
of Archduke Palatine József in Pest Megyei Önkormányzat
front of the entrance. Today Városház utca 7. Map 4 F1 (10 E4).
the Mercure Hotel (see p188), Tel (06 1) 233 68 00. q Ferenciek tere.
designed by József Finta and Open 8am–4:30pm Mon–Thu,
opened in 1987, stands here. 8am–2pm Fri.
In a side street off Váci Street,
at No. 13 Régiposta utca, is a Built in several stages, this is
building from the Modernist one of Pest’s most beautiful,
period. An unusual sight in monumental Neo-Classical civic
Pest, this Bauhaus-influenced buildings. It was erected during
Thonet House, decorated with Zsolnay tiles, building dates from 1937 the 19th century, as part of the
at No. 11 Váci Street and is by Lajos Kozma. plan for the city drawn up by
the Embellishment Commission.
5 Váci Street A seat of the Council of Pest
Váci Utca 6 Klotild Palaces has existed on this site since the
Map 4 E1–F2 (10 E5). Klotild Paloták end of the 17th century. By
q Ferenciek tere. Váci utca 34. Map 4 E1 (10 E5). 1811, however, the building
q Ferenciek tere. included two conference halls,
Once two separate streets, a prison and a prison chapel.
which were joined at the Flanking Szabadsajtó utca, on In 1829–32, a wing designed
beginning of the 18th century, the approach to the Elizabeth by József Hofrichter was ad ded
Váci Street still has two distinct Bridge, stand two massive on Semmelweis utca, which
characters; the northern section apart ment blocks built in 1902. was used to accom modate
is more of an elegant shopping The buildings were commis- council employees.
street with luxury stores, the sioned by the daughter-in-law In 1838 another redevelop-
southern part has more of Palatine József, Archduchess ment programme was begun,
restaurants and small shops. Klotild, after whom they this time employing designs by
Most of the buildings lining were named. Mátyás Zitterbarth Jr, a highly
the street date from the They were designed by regarded exponent of Neo-
19th and early 20th centuries. Flóris Korb and Kálmán Giergl Classical architecture.
More recently, however, in the Historicist style, with Completed in 1842, it included
modern department stores, elements of Rococo decoration. an impressive façade, which
banks and shopping arcades The Palace to the right houses overlooks Városház utca. This
have sprung up among the apartments and the Buddha Bar features a portico with six
older original buildings. Corinthian columns support ing
Philantia, a Secession style a prominent tympanum.
florist’s shop opened in 1905, Pest County Hall was de -
now occupies part of the Neo- stroyed in the course of World
Classical block at No. 9, built in War II. During post-war re -
1840 by József Hild. No. 9 also building it was enlarged, with
houses the Pesti Theatre, where the addition of three internal
classic plays by Anton Chekhov, courtyards, the first of which is
among others, are staged. The surrounded by atmospheric
building was once occupied cloisters. Due to the excellent
by the Inn of the Seven Electors, acoustics, concerts are often
which had a large ballroom- held here during the summer.
cum-concert hall. It was here Between Pest County Hall and
that a 12-year-old Franz the Municipal Council Offices
Liszt performed. building (see p132), in the small
Thonet House, at No. 11, is Kamermayer Károly tér, there is
most notable for the Zsolnay a monument to the first mayor
tiles (see p58) from Pécs, which of Budapest. Károly Kamermayer
decorate its façade. No. 13 is (1829–97) took office in 1873
the oldest building on Váci after the unification of Óbuda,
Street and was built in 1805. One of the twin Klotild Palaces, from Buda and Pest. The aluminium
In contrast, the post modern 1902, by the approach to the Elizabeth mon ument was designed in
Fontana department store Bridge (see p67) 1942 by Béla Szabados.

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