The Castle Garden Bazaar, a neo-Renaissance building on the side of Buda Castle in Budapest, is a World Heritage Site. Originally a commercial building, it later housed the Women's School of Painting, the Historical Picture Gallery and many sculptors' studios. The building was heavily damaged during the Second World War, but underwent a complete renovation in 2014. During the renovation, a lot of jewellery, weapons and silver coins from the Middle Ages and the Turkish occupation were found. An exhibition of these objects is on display in the southern wing of the Castle Garden Bazaar.
Until 1984, the building was home to the Buda Youth Park, a favourite hangout for young people, which hosted numerous popular music events.
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The magical history of the Bazaar
Would you have thought that in the 19th century Buda and Pest looked very different? Pest began to develop very rapidly following the historic reconciliation between Hungary and Austria, while time seemed to stand still in the Buda area. The Council responsible for the development of the city concentrated on rebuilding the Pest side, so that the monument at that time looked like a fortress, an untouchable area.
The decision to merge the area near the Chain Bridge was taken in 1872, and in the following year the future of the Castle was decided. The plan was to start the consolidation from the Danube towards the Castle Hill by creating the Castle Garden Bazaar.
The King provided 2.2 million Hungarian forints for the construction of the gateway located on the side of the Danube, which was intended to be the King's receiving place. Miklós Ybl, the famous architect of the time, was commissioned to design the building. Ybl's masterpiece was designed in neo-Renaissance style, with palace buildings at both ends, and housed the servants and the royal guard. The splendour that still characterises the legendary Castle Garden Bazaar complex is not by chance.
Architectural work of art
Construction took place between 1875 and 1883. Excellent craftsmen and artists created the magnificent decorations: for example, Adolf Huszár carved the statues of the Gloriette, Mór Than painted the frescoes, Vilmos Zsolnay made the glazed ceramic ornaments, and Gyula Jungfer forged the wrought-iron railings.
Although the plan was to bring the lively social life of the Pest side to Buda, this was not successful. The sparse traffic in the area made it very difficult to find tenants for the small shops even after they opened in 1883. As a result of this failure, the decision was made to open artist studios instead of shops. However, the loss of the original function soon led to a serious deterioration of the building.
Our tips: Why not take a leisurely stroll and explore the stunning buildings and lush neo-renaissance garden while enjoying the breathtaking panoramic views? This experience is a feast for the senses as you take in the vibrant colors, the sounds of the surrounding nature, and the fresh breeze. Be sure to observe the intricate details of the architecture and appreciate the symmetry and elegance of the garden's design. This is the perfect way to immerse yourself in the beauty of the area and create lasting memories. Don't miss out on this opportunity to escape your everyday routine and absorb the charm and tranquility of your surroundings.
If one aspires to delve into a fragment of the rich and intricate chronicles of Buda Castle, they ought to partake in a guided excursion of St. Stephen's Hall conducted in the English language.
Subsequently, it would be wise to indulge in a libation at the Monkey Bistro (Ybl Miklós tér 4., Budapest, 1013, Open Tue-Sat: 12.00 – 24.00), a quaint establishment that boasts a splendid rooftop terrace, affording patrons an opportunity to bask in the panoramic view.
Dark times of the Castle Garden Bazaar
During the Second World War, the building complex was severely damaged, and many parts of the building, such as the statues, the lions guarding the Gloriette, the frescoes and paintings were destroyed.
In the 1950s, a partial rebuilding took place, which caused more damage to the original building than improvement.
The Youth Park opened in 1961 and was a music club for young people. It was a unique place where young people under the communist regime could enjoy pop music and relative freedom. The old walls could not cope with the intensive use that was not in keeping with its original function, so the Castle Garden Bazaar had to be closed down completely in 1984. Since then the building has been waiting for a better future.
Secrets of the Castle Garden Bazaar
After our brief historical overview, let's dig deeper and discover the secrets of this monument together!
After the recapture of Buda, the Castle gradually lost its military importance, so the areas surrounded by the wall began to be opened up, of course still belonging to the Buda Castle Palace. Archduke Joseph of Austria (the Palatine Duke of Hungary), to whom we have to thank for the gardening of Margaret Island, planted many plants here. The gardens came to the fore after 1867, when the royal couple visited the palace more often, and it is said that Sissi particularly liked to walk among the trees in the garden.
Interestingly, the creation of the building complex is linked to an undesirable building, as a three-level house would have deprived the courtyard of a magnificent view. Therefore, the Office of the Lord Mayor of Budapest appealed to the Budapest Public Works Council not to propose the construction of the building.
The council agreed to the request, but at the same time recommended that the council buy the land (and the adjacent land). The Court took up the opportunity and provided the cost to build a worthy complex on the Buda side, next to the Palace. The first plans and economic calculations were made by Ferenc Reitter. His plan was to demolish seven houses, replacing them with a colonnaded arcade, to be closed on both sides by a three-storey residential building. The final architectural design of the castle garden complex - bazaar, residential buildings and kiosk - was won by Miklós Ybl. Reitter's design retained many of his ideas, but also modified them for budgetary reasons.
The staircase on the left of the monument is named after the Austrian Empress Elisabeth. According to legend, Empress Elisabeth asked for the staircase to get to the harbour from where her steamship was leaving to Vienna. The staircase was also used by Governor Miklós Horthy, who was taken from the harbour to the Parliament by motorboat.
The whole complex is defined by symmetry: the Gloriette in the centre, which is not a separate building, has a pavilion surrounded by staircase ramps running up from two sides and leading to the garden. To the right is the staircase pavilion, to the left the cabined pavilion, followed by the basement rows of 10-10 portals. The neo-Renaissance complex is enclosed by the former guard palace on the right and two tenement palaces on the left. The façade decorations are the work of Mór Than and Róbert Scholz, the sculptures are by Leó Fessler, Adolf Huszár and Armin Schföfl, the ceramics by Vilmos Zsolnay and the decorative ironwork by Gyula Jungfer.
The rebirth of the monument
As we wrote earlier, the building complex was damaged several times during World War II. Between 1961 and 1984, the building was home to the Buda Youth Park, which hosted numerous concerts. Its condition steadily deteriorated from the 1980s onwards, leading to its complete closure. The government decided to renovate the building in 2011, and since 2014 it has been restored to its original splendour.
The Castle Garden Kiosk was also designed by Miklós Ybl. The separate building housed the pumping station that supplied water to the Royal Palace. But not only this building, but also a cistern system was built at the same time as the Castle Garden Bazaar. The water from the Danube was purified using a layer of gravel placed in hermetically sealed cisterns connected only to the tunnel, and then piped from the kiosk building to the Royal Palace for its drinking water needs. Later, when public utilities were built in the capital, the cisterns lost their importance and their existence was forgotten. The Castle Garden Kiosk was a favourite hangout for Buda residents for a while between the two world wars and after World War II. The building was renovated in the 1990s and became the home of the Castle Garden Casino, which welcomed gambling lovers in an aristocratic atmosphere. Today it has been renovated and is used as an event centre.
On 19 October 2011, the government decided to start the complete renovation of the Castle Garden Bazaar. The first phase of the reconstruction was completed in 2014, and immediately afterwards the Renaissance-style restoration of the surrounding Royal Park began with new buildings, cafés, restaurants and the Foundry Court (where cannons and cannon balls were made between the 16-18th centuries).
Currently, the Royal Garden is the jewel of the waterfront, part of the Buda Castle, and hosts temporary exhibitions, festive concerts and various outdoor and indoor events.
Exhibitions in Castle Garden Bazaar
The Castle Garden Bazaar has both permanent and temporary exhibitions. The exhibition New World Born is open every day of the week except Monday. The exhibition covers the period from the First World War 1914-1922 until the birth of the New World Order. Visitors can meet statesmen who played a prominent role in this period. The exhibition also offers guided group tours.
Adult ticket prices: 4000/person, children and pensioner ticket: 2000/person, family ticket: 8000/family (2022).
The Castle Garden Bazaar offers a variety of activities. You can visit various exhibitions, go to a good concert, do a family programme with the kids, attend a literary evening, walk through the beautiful gardens among the outdoor photos, or even watch a good film in the garden cinema.
While the exhibitions are open from 10.00-17.30, the neo-Renaissance garden is open from 6.00-24.00.
Tickets can be purchased inside the Castle Garden Bazaar at the Palace of Guards, the South Palace and the Tourist and Information Point in person or online.
Guided tours in Castle Garden Bazaar
Firstly, let me tell you about the two amazing tour types that are available for you to take advantage of. The first tour type is a personally led guided tour perfect for groups of all sizes. An expert tour guide will take you on a journey filled with fascinating stories and enriching experiences throughout the hall and exhibit.
The second tour type, on the other hand, is a digitally guided individual tour that utilizes a state-of-the-art tablet to assist you in exploring the hall and exhibit. This enables you to enjoy an interactive tour experience on your own terms while getting to know significant exhibits in your own time. So wait no more, come and decide which tour type fascinates you the most!
Are you intrigued by history and fascinated by ancient ritual practices? Then a visit to Mikveh, a Jewish ritual bath, is a must-see attraction! Dating back to the 13th century, this unique find was only discovered eight years ago in the underground cave system beneath the western part of Buda Castle. Today, visitors can witness this rare feat of construction and religious significance firsthand on a 1-hour English-language guided tour every Wednesday through Sunday at 11:00 am. Don't miss out on the opportunity to explore the depths of history and culture with this unforgettable experience! Ticket: full price: 4 000 HUF. 50 % discount with Budapest Card!
Opening hours
Exhibitions: Monday-Sunday 10:00-17.30
Information Points: Monday-Sunday 10:00-18.00
Ticket offices: Southern Palace: Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-17.30
Gift shop: Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-17:30
Neo-renaissance Garden: Every day 6:00-24:00
Site location: Ybl Miklós square 2-6.
GPS coordinates: 47.494946, 19.042760
Google Photos: Click here
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