Page 163 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Budapest

FUR THER AFIELD  161

Perhaps the most eye-catching
of all belongs to the Schmidl
family. The startlingly flam-
boyant tomb, designed
in 1903 by Ödön Lechner
and Béla Lajta, is covered in
vivid turquoise ceramic tiles.
The central mosaic in green
and gold tiles represents the
Tree of Life.

y National Theatre
Nemzeti Színház
Bajor Gizi Park 1. Tel 476 68 68.
v 1, 2, 24. ∑ nemzetiszinhaz.hu Façade of the Technical University, as seen from the Danube
Situated at the foot of Rákóczi origi nally known as the Kispest i Technical
Bridge, the National Theatre Workers and Clerks Settlement University
showcases contemporary dance and was built to provide better Budapesti Műszaki Egyetem
and drama. The architect, Mária housing for local workers.
Siklós, designed a Neo-Eclectic Designed by a group of Műegyetem rakpart 3. Map 4 F4.
Tel (06 1) 463 11 11. @ 7, 133.
build ing surrounded by a park young architects, students of v 4, 6, 19, 47, 49, 56. q Szent
con tain ing statues portraying Ödön Lechner, the buildings Gellért tér. ∑ bme.hu
Hungary’s best actors. have a uniquely Hungarian
style. Other key influences Founded in 1857, the city’s
were the English Arts and Crafts Technical University moved to
u Wekerle Estate movement, and early English its present site in 1904. Built
Wekerle Telep new towns such as Hampstead on reclaimed marshland, the
Garden Suburb in London. imposing building overlooks
Kós Károly tér. Tel (06 1) 280 01 14.
q Határ út, then @ 194. Fanning out around Kós the Danube just south of Gellért
Károly tér, 16 types of family Hill (see pp92–3). Extended at
Out in district XIX, the Wekerle house and apartment block the end of World War II, it is now
Estate was built between 1909 are separated by tree-lined the largest higher education
and 1926, and represents a streets. Wooden gables and establishment in Hungary. Former
bold and successful experi ment balconies, and sharply pitched, students include Imre Steindl,
in 20th-century social planning. brightly tiled roofs, contribute the archi tect of the Parliament
Named after Prime Minister to the estate’s lively and building (see pp112–13), and the
Sándor Wekerle, the estate was eclectic atmosphere. richest and most widely known
graduate to date, Ernő Rubik,
inventor of the Rubik Cube.
o Cistercian Church
of St Imre
Cisztercita Szent Imre
Plébániatemplom
Villányi út 25. Map 3 C4. @ 27.
v 17, 61. 7
Not far from the Technical
University is the Cistercian Church
of St Imre. The vast Neo-Baroque
structure with its double tower
was built in 1938 and is typical
of the grand and rather sombre
architecture in vogue in Budapest
during the inter-war years.
Inside the church are relics
of St Imre, canonized at the
end of the 11th century. Other
patron saints of the Cistercian
order are depicted above the
A police station on the early 20th-century Wekerle Estate church’s main entrance.

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