Page 52 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Budapest

50  INTRODUCING BUD APEST

Exploring the Palaces
and Historic Buildings
Little more than fragments remain of Budapest’s Gothic and
Renaissance past. However, some Baroque buildings have
survived in Buda’s Castle District and Víziváros. Neo-Classicism,
on the other hand, has a much wider presence; there are many
apartment buildings, palaces and secular monuments built in
this style, especially around the old fortification walls of Pest
on the eastern side of the Danube. Historicism dominated the
architecture of the second half of the 19th century. It played a
vital role in the enlargement of the city as it expressed and
celebrated the optimism of the era.
Façade of the Gross Palace, built by
Trinitarian Monastery, now József Hild in 1824
Baroque Palaces and the Kiscelli Museum, stand as
Buildings
significant models of the style.
Many buildings in the Castle There are only two Baroque Neo-Classical Palaces
District and neighbouring monuments remaining in Pest. and Buildings
Víziváros, around Fő utca, have The Péterffy Palace, a mansion Neo-Classicism, influenced
retained their original Baroque that stands below the current by ancient Greco-Roman design,
façades. The main entrance of street level, dates from 1755. was popular in the first half of
the Hilton Hotel, formerly a Pest’s other Baroque edifice was, the 19th century as it reflected
17th-century Jesuit college, however, the first to be built in the confidence of this period of
is a fine example. either Buda or Pest. The huge national awakening and social
Other outstanding instances complex of the Municipal reform. Many monu mental
of this style are the four houses Council Offices, formerly a Neo-Classical structures were
on Vienna Gate Square, the hospital for veterans of the produced, including the Chain
Batthyány Palace on Parade Turkish wars, was constructed Bridge, built in 1839–49. The
Square and the Erdődy Palace by the Italian master Anton leading Neo-Classical architect
on Mihály Táncsics Street, now Erhard Martinelli. It was greatly was Mihály Pollack, who built the
the Museum of Musical History. admired by Empress Maria Hungarian National Museum.
The Zichy Palace in Óbuda is Theresa, who declared it to Two stunning Neo-Classical
a splendid Baroque edifice, and be more beautiful than the palaces deserve particular
the buildings of the former Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna. mention – Sándor Palace in
Buda and Károlyi Palace in Pest.
The first stands on Castle Hill, by
the top of the funicular railway,
and impresses visitors with its
harmonious elegance. The
second, now housing the Petőfi
Literary Museum, gained its
present form in 1834 after
considerable reconstruction.
A group of particularly attractive
Neo-Classical houses is situated
on József Nádor Square. Some of
their fea tures, such as the pillars,
projections and tympanums,
merit individual attention.
In 1808, the Embellishment
Commission was set up by the
Austrian architect János Hild to
develop Pest. He and his son,
József Hild, who built the Gross
Palace in 1824, were both
involved in the general
restoration of the city. Having
studied architecture in Rome,
they created many splendid
The outstanding Baroque façade of Erdődy Palace, Museum of Musical History Italianate buildings.

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