Page 79 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Budapest

C ASTLE DISTRIC T  77

a beautiful peasant girl, Ilonka,
who falls in love with him. This
representation shows King
Mátyás disguised as a hunter,
standing proudly with his kill.
He is accompanied by his chief
hunter and several hunting
dogs in the central part of the
fountain. Beneath the left-hand
columns sits Galeotto Marzio, an
Italian court poet, and the figure
of the young Ilonka is beneath
the columns on the right.
In keeping with the romantic
reputation of King Mátyás, a
new tradition has grown up
concerning this statue. The
be lief is that anyone wishing to The western elevation of the Neo-Classical Sándor Palace
revisit Budapest should throw
some coins into the fountain The house at No. 3 was built when it was severely damaged
to ensure their safe return. between 1743–8, by József in World War II. The building has
Giessl. This two-floor Baroque been completely restored, and
palace was the home of the it is now the official residence of
4 Hungarian Batthyány family until 1945. the President of Hungary.
National Gallery Although the building has
been frequently remodelled, 7 Court Theatre
See pp78–81. the façade remains intact.
A few houses on Parade of Buda
Square incorporate medieval Várszínház
remains. Such houses can be Színház utca 1–3. Map 1 C5 (9 A3).
seen at Nos. 4–5 and No. 11, @ 16, 16A, 116. Closed for renovation.
built by Venerio Ceresola. The
former has seat niches dating An unlikely assortment of
from the 13th century. institutions have stood on
this site. The church of St John
the Evangelist, founded by
6 Sándor Palace King Béla IV, stood here in the
Sándor Palota 13th century. This church was
then used as a mosque under
Szent György tér 1–3. Map 1 C5 (9 A3).
@ 16, 16A, 116. Closed to the public. Ottoman rule, and in 1686 it
∑ keh.hu was demolished by the
Christian armies that retook
By the top of the cog-wheel the city. In 1725 the Carmelite
railway stands the grand Neo- order built a Baroque church
Classical mansion, Sándor in its place and this building
Palace. It was commissioned in was first converted into a
1806 by Count Vincent Sándor theatre in 1786, during the
from architects Mihály Pollack reign of Emperor Joseph II.
Batthyány Palace on Parade Square retains and Johann Aman. Farkas Kempelen, a famous
its original Baroque façade The bas-reliefs that decorate Hung arian designer added a
the palace are the work of Rococo façade and seats for
5 Parade Square Richárd Török, Miklós Melocco 1,200 spectators. The first plays
Dísz Tér and Tamás Körössényi. The were in German and it was not
decoration on the western ele- until 1790 that any work was
Map 1 B5 (9 A3). @ 16, 16A, 116.
vation depicts Greek gods on staged in Hungarian. Beethoven’s
Parade Square is named after the Mount Olympus. The southern concert of 1800 is com-
military parades that were held elevation shows Count Sándor memorated by a plaque.
here in the 19th century. At the being knighted and the north- The building was damaged in
northern end of the square is the ern elevation features a 1934 World War II and restored in 1978,
Honvéd Monument, built in 1893 sculpture of Saint George by after which it regularly hosted
by György Zala. It honours and Zsigmond Kisfaludi Stróbl. performances by the National
commemorates those who died Sándor Palace functioned Dance Theatre. The theatre is
during the recapture of Buda from as the prime minister’s official currently closed due to
Austria in the 1848 revolution. residence from 1867 to 1944, extensive renovation work.

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