Page 67 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Hungary

C ASTLE DISTRIC T  65

r András Hess
Square
Hess András tér
Map 1 B4. @ 16 from Deák tér, 16,
16A & 116 from Széll Kálmán tér.
This square is named after the
Italian­trained printer who
printed the first Hungarian
book, Chronica Hungarorum, in a
printing works at No. 4 in 1473.
The house was rebuilt at the The Museum of Musical History on Mihály
end of the 17th century, Táncsics Street
amalgamating three medieval
houses, with quadruple seat on three sides. Like many
niches, barrel­vaulted cellars houses on this street, it was
and ornamen tal gates. erected on the ruins of medieval
The former inn at No. 3 was houses. In 1800, Ludwig van
named the Red Hedgehog in Beethoven, who was then
1696. This one­floor building giving concerts in Budapest,
has surviving Gothic and resided here for a short time.
Bas-relief depicting King Mátyás on the Baroque elements. The palace now houses the
Hilton Budapest Hotel’s façade The square also features a Museum of Musical History and
statue by József Damkó of Pope the Béla Bartók archives. A
e Hilton Budapest Innocent XI, who was involved permanent exhibition illustrates
in organizing the armies that musical life in Budapest from
Hotel
Hilton Szálloda recaptured Buda from the the 18th to 20th centuries, and
Turks. It was built to mark the includes some of the oldest­
Hess András tér 1–3. Map 1 B4. Tel (1) 250th anniversary of the surviving Hungarian musical
889 66 00. @ 16 from Deák tér, 16, liberation, in 1936. instruments.
16A & 116 from Széll Kálmán tér. 7 The Royal Mint stood on the
t Mihály Táncsics site of No. 9 during the Middle
Built in 1976, the Hilton Buda­ Ages and, in 1810, the Joseph
pest Hotel is a rare example of Street Barracks were built here.
modern architecture in the old Táncsics Mihály utca These were later used by the
town. Controversial from the Táncsics Mihály utca 7. Map 1 A/B4. Habsburgs to imprison leaders
outset, the design by the @ 16 from Deák tér, 16, 16A & 116 of the 1848–9 rebellion, includ­
Hungarian architect Béla Pintér from Széll Kálmán tér. Museum of ing Mihály Táncsics.
combines the historic remains Musical History: Tel (1) 214 67 70. Relics of Buda’s Jewish
of the site with con temporary Open 10am–4pm Tue–Sun. ∑ zti.hu heri tage can be found at Nos.
materials and methods. 23 and 26. The remains of
From 1254 a Dominican Erdődy Palace was built in a 15th­century synagogue
church, to which a tower was 1750–69 for the Erdődy family stand in the garden of No. 23.
later added, stood on this site, by Mátyás Nepauer, the leading During excavations, tombs and
followed by a late Baroque architect of the day. It features religious items were found in
Jesuit monastery. The remains out standing Baroque façades the courtyard of No. 26.
of both buildings are incorpor­
ated into the new hotel. The King István I
ruins of the medieval church,
for example, uncovered during Born in Esztergom in 975, Vajk (Hero), the son
excavations in 1902, form part of Géza, was baptized at the age of 10 and
of the Dominican Court yard, chose the name István (Stephen). He succeeded
where concerts and operettas his father as Prince and in 1000 was
are staged in summer. crowned Catholic king of Hungary –
The main façade comprises the Vatican signalled its approval
part of the façade of the Jesuit by sending what became known
monastery. To the left of the as the crown of St István. A devout
entrance is St Nicholas’s Tower. man, István set about Christianizing
In 1930, a replica of a 15th­ Hungary, founding bishop rics,
century German bas­relief of cathedrals and abbeys. He died in 1038,
King Mátyás, considered to be and was canonized by Pope Gregory VII
his most authentic likeness, as St István of Hungary in 1083.
was added to this tower.

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