Onyx Restaurant in Budapest ©goodiesfirst/Flick

The French Michelin Guide is a famous restaurant and hotel guide. The Michelin star became an international symbol of perfection in cookery.

Hungary has been allocated two Michelin stars. In March 2010, the Costes Restaurant in Budapest received the first Michelin award.

In March 2011 the Onyx Restaurant also earned the recognition of one star, and the Costes was able to preserve the star. According to this we can claim that the Costes and the Onyx are the top 2 restaurants in Budapest.

The Costes Restaurant

The Costes Restaurant is located next to the Kalvin Square and awaits its guests with international high level gastronomy and a wide choice of wine. It is one of the restaurant swith the highest standard of cuisine in Budapest under the leadership pf the Portuguese chef Miguel Rocha Vieira. It has an elegant ambience and excellent cuisine with a precisely thought-out menus, but you need to make reservations ahead. The Costes restaurant has a detachable room with air conditioning and free wireless Internet.

In the Costes Restaurant in Budapest ©Erik Hartberg/Flick

The history of the new Costes began in 2006, when Gerendai Károly became one of the owners and they decided that is needed a total makeover. The restaurant was renewed in one and a half year in the inside and on the outside, while the staff was trained on high-level courses.

During this time the owners of this top restaurant in Budapest visited the best international restaurants in Europe and gained experience for opening. They choose the Portuguese Miguel Rocha Vieira who – despite his young age – had a significant international experience.

The long and profound preparation paid off as in the following year the restaurant won various awards and recognitions. In 2010 the restaurant achieved its main goal when in the 16^th of March in the Michelin Guide Main Cities of Europe publication the Costes Restaurant was awarded with a Michelin star. It was the first restaurant in Hungary and the second in the region with a Michelin Star. This top restaurant of Budapest could keep the star in 2011, 2012 and 2013 as well.

The Onyx Restaurant

The Onyx Restaurant is also one of the top 2 restaurants in Budapest. Its emphasis is not on a special food, but on fresh food made from the best possible materials and on simplicity. They try to make the food mainly from Hungary ingredients, but some meats (lamb, beef, veal) they aquire from abroad because they couldn’t find a home grower, who can provide constantly a high quality of raw materials.

Onyx Restaurant in Budapest – Danube Salmon ©goodiesfirst/Flick

Of course, the Michelin Star is the merit of the kitchen and especially of the chef Szabina Szulló and the assistant chef Tamás Széll. Although the Onyx Restaurant is not the first Hungarian restaurant with Michelin-star, but it is the first recognition given to Hungarian chefs.

To receive the star the management of this top restaurant in Budapest extended the space to have a relaxed atmosphere even if it is filled to its maximum capacity of 49 people, replaced the dinnerware set and is working with the same team all week.

Of course, this price wasn’t a big surprise. According to the Restaurant Guide 2010 and other guides as well the Onyx was the third best restaurant in Budapest and the assistant chef Tamas Szell won the “Tradition and Evolution” chef competition in 2008 and in 2010 as well.

Onyx Restaurant in Budapest ©goodiesfirst/Flick

Tank at the House of Terror in Budapest ©Giåm/Flick

Forty six years had to pass until this Neo Renaissance building of the Andrássy street 60 could truly reborn.

It was used by the Nazi and the Soviet forces as well and became one of the most feared places in Budapest.

The authority that protected the communist state at the cost of the suffering and the violent death of thousands of innocent people left the splendid palace on the most beautiful avenue heart of Budapest only in the year 1956.

The building during the Nazi and the Soviet periods

This building of the House of Terror Museum in Budapest is a complex symbol. It was the nest of the National Socialist Arrow Cross Party, who tortured hundreds of Jewish fellow countrymen in the winter of 1944 in the basement of this house. The Hungarian communists that came to protect the Soviet tanks also settled down here in 1945. The most loyal followers of Stalin have chosen the abandoned headquarter of the Arrow Cross with conscious cynicism to determine who is considered to be guilty and who must suffer and die – not based on the race as the Nazis did, but based on the class.

House of Terror Museum in Budapest ©Iwan Gabovitch/Flick

The authorities of the conductors of suffering operating with different names but the same purpose were forced to leave the building only after the Hungarian revolution and war of independence in the year 1956. By then every block of the House of Terror in Budapest absorbed so much human suffering that it became impossible to give an other function to the building on the to Andrássy street 60.

The foundation of the museum

The museum and exhibition established in the building become this way the most powerful symbol of the Hungarian democracy after the transition. When the House of Terror Museum, transformed in a memorial and a monument, opened its doors in the February of 2002, hundreds of thousands of Hungarians gathered in front of it.

Terror Háza Múzeum in Budapest ©mi/Flick

The place of healing and rebirth

Although it happened that should never happen, in 2002 was created a shared place of remembrance, an exhibition and community space that is like a fresh air for the wounds of the Hungarian historical memory: the House of Terror Museum in Budapest. After the decades of silence was founded a place, a memento that calls on their names the players of their common history, victims and perpetrators as well. There is no rebirth without speaking out the seemingly unspeakable and naming the seemingly unattainable.

Tank at the House of Terror in Budapest ©Giåm/Flick

The Vigado Concert Hall in Budapest ©Brian Harrington Spier/Flick

The Vígadó Concert Hall is a famous building in the center of Budapest, a classical music institution, a cultural and entertainment center.

Feszl Frederick started to deal with the plans of a new Vigadó in the year 1858.

The Romantic building mixed with eastern elements caused a stir and soon became one of the most important cultural and educational institutions of the capital of those days.

The Vígadó Concert Hall in Budapest was inaugurated at the occasion of a formal ball in January 1865.

The interior of the building is decorated by frescoes with ballade themes made by Károly Lotz and Mór Than. The majority of the statues are made by the sculptor Charles Alexy.

The Romantic and Eastern mix of architecture of the Vigado ©Jude Doyland/Flick

Famous musicians in the Vígadó Concert Hall

In 1865 Franz Liszt presented there his oratorio called The Legend of Saint Elizabeth. The Vígadó Concert Hall has served several purposes: in the 19^th century balls, gala receptions were organized here, and was the place of a large number of music performances. The famous personalities that visited the capital city held performances in the Concert Hall of the Vígadó. These names include people as Johannes Brahms, Camille Saint-Saens, Claude Debussy, there conducted Bruno Walter and Herbert von Karajan and the soloists Emil Sauer, Vladimir Horowitz and Arthur Rubinstein were also guests of this building.

The Vígadó become the home of the Philharmonic Association right after the building was finished. At the beginning Ferenc Erkel conducted here the orchestra for several times. The performances of Bela Bartok are commemorated by the plaque that can be seen on the walls of the building.

The Vigado Concert Hall in Budapest ©Brian Harrington Spier/Flick

Damages and the reconstruction of the Vígadó Concert Hall

During the Second World War the building of the Vígadó Concert Hall suffered severe damages and there was a long dispute whether there will be any reconstruction or not. The renovation finally began in the 1970s. The rebuilt Vigadó was opened in 1980 and is currently one of the most beautiful community center in the country.

The Vígadó Concert Hall today

The concert hall is somewhat smaller than the earlier and its acoustics were improved being the only concert hall of mid category. The concert hall has 700 seats, the chamber hall can accommodate 220 persons and gives place to theatrical performances, chamber concerts and cultural events. One of the most important contemporary art exhibition place in Hungary is the Vigadó Gallery. The building is also used for various conferences, banquets, and receptions as well.

The Vigado at night ©Leandro’s World Tour/Flick

The Eastern Railway Station in 1922 ©Michiel2005/Flick

The Eastern Railway Station is the busiest railway station in Budapest. The name is not given because of the location, but because of its connection with the Eastern regions, such as Transylvania and the Balkans.

The station is the starting point of four main railway lines: Budapest-Gyor-Vienna, Budapest-Hatvan-Miskolc, Budapest-Szolnok-Békéscsaba-Arad and Budapest-Kelebia-Belgrade.

It is the terminal of most of the internal Intercity lines, and the main international railway junction in Hungary.

Reaching the Eastern Railway station

The Eastern or Keleti Railway Station is located in the 8^th district of the capital city, on the Baross Square, it is one of the stops of the Metro Line 2 since 1970 and it is planned to be one of the stations of the Metro Line 2 from 2014. A railway station can be reached by the number 7 bus family, by trolleys, by tram line nr 24, and several bus lines.

The Eastern Railway Station in Budapest ©ph_en/Flick

The building of the Eastern Railway Station

The building of the Eastern Railway Station of Budapest was built between the years 1881 and 1884 by MÁV in eclectic style. Its original name was Central Railway Station.  It was one of the most modern railway stations in Europe when it was built. The architect of the reception building was Gyula Rochlitz, and the architects of the hall were John Feketeházy and was Mór Than.

The hall of the Eastern Railway Station originally had 5 lines, then in 1980 remained four of them, accompanied by five tracks on the north side and one short stub track and three tracks on the south side.

The Eastern Railway Station in 1922 ©Michiel2005/Flick

The monumental nature of the railway station

On top of the 43 meter high facade is an allegorical sculpture group made by Gyula Bezerédi. It had to be recreated at the reconstruction of the building in the 1990s. You can also see the statues of James Watt, the inventor of the steam engine and George Stephenson, the designer of the Rocket steam locomotive near the front doors. The four statues on the columns under the clock disappeared in 1930, but were replaced in 2003.

Group of statues on the facade of the Eastern Railway Station ©Rafael Robles L./Flick

The iron structure of the 42 meter wide reception hall with 5 lines was built according to the plans of John Feketeházy. The cross section of the roof structure of the hall is approximately an inverted catenary.

The luxurious cashier room of the Eastern Railway Station was renovated in 2008 contains the frescoes of Karoly Lotz and Mór Than. Besides of this the electric lights and the central controlled switching system was a technical novelty at that time. The original painting of the hall was designed by Albert Schikedanz.

In the building of the Eastern Railway Station of Budapest participated reputable contractors. The pile fundation was done by the company of Gregersen Guilbrand, the iron structure is the workd of the MÁVAG, the electric light system is made by the Ganz Factory. The metalwork was made in the workshop of Gyula Jungfer and the cast iron components in the factory of Anthony Oetl.

The hall of the Eastern Railway Station ©uitdragerij/Flick

Inside the Palace of Arts ©beta.robot/Flick

The Palace of Arts is the youngest multicultural facility of Budapest that is fully adequate for the demand of the beginning of the 21^st century.

The building gives place to three different forms of art in the same time.

It is a permanent home at the highest standards for music, visual art and theater lovers and artists.

Its exhibition spaces, concert hall, and theater function independently they develop their programs individually.

The construction of the Palace of Arts

The Palace of Arts was built on the formerly a neglected south bank of the Danube near the Lágymányosi bridge, next to the National Theater. The building with a floor area of ​​more than 10 000 m² was completed in three years and it was opened to the public in the 14^th of May in 2005. Its total area is ​​64 000 m².

The Palace of Arts in Budapest ©infraredhorsebite/Flick

The exterior of the building is characterized by simple lines, the absence of decorations and large continuous glass surfaces. The interiors are modern, spacious and sophisticated, made with natural materials.

The different units of the Palace of Art

The Palace of Art in Budapest consists of three main parts. The central part is the Béla Bartók National Concert Hall, on the eastern side are the halls of the Festival Theater and on the western side near the Danube were placed the exhibition and lecture halls of the Ludwig Museum. From the high and imposing common glass lobby of the three major components you will have a permanent view of the outside world and the adjacent National Theater. The building also has several multipurpose rooms, that makes it more complex.

The lobby of the Palace of Arts ©infraredhorsebite/Flick

The permanent residents of the Palace of Arts are: the National Philharmonic Orchestra, Choir and Music Library, the Ludwig Museum and the National Dance Theater.

The Béla Bartók National Concert Hall is an architecturally dominant unit of the Palace. It has 1563 seats, 136 standing places, and other 190 seats can be set on the podium. Due to its acoustic conditions the concert hall is among the best concert halls in Europe. The Béla Bartók National Concert Hall is the home of the prestigious National Philharmonic Orchestra, Choir and Music Library. Other Hungarian and internationally famous artists also have performances in the Palace of Arts.

Café at Bartók National Concert Hall ©infraredhorsebite/Flick

The Festival Theater occupies the east wing of the complex. It has an area of ​​14 400 m² and 452 seats and the stage has 750 m². Because of its dimensions and technical facilities is one of the best theaters and it is the permanent home of the National Dance Theater.

The Ludwig Museum of Contemporary Art is located on the western side of the Palace of Arts  and has an area of ​​12 700 m². On the first floor you will find temporary exhibitions, the artist room and the meeting room. The luminous third floor is the home of the permanent exhibition. According to the changing needs of contemporary visual arts the exhibition space can be varied. The visitors of the museum are helped by interactive showrooms, media room, library and children activities.

The best cultural facility of the world

The Palace of Arts in Budapest was awarded in 2006 with the most prestigious international recognition of the architects, the Prix d’Excellence Award of the FIABCI (International Real Estate Federation).

On the award exhibited in the lobby of the building is written: “The Palace of Arts is best cultural facility of the world.”

Inside the Palace of Arts ©beta.robot/Flick

The interior of the Great Synagogue ©ParisSharing/Flick

The largest synagogue in Europe and the second largest in the world is located in Budapest.

It was built in Romantic style between the years 1854 and 1859 with the cooperation of Frederick Feszl and based on the plans of Ludwig Förster.

The building has more than three thousand seats.

The Great Synagogue was revolutionary in several ways: tries to conform to the eastern styles, it is made by multicolored brick, the cast iron structure is showed in the interior.

The Great Synagogue in Budapest ©Groume/Flick

The history of the Great Synagogue in Budapest

The construction of the synagogue was delayed, so in was finally inaugurated in 1859, three years later than the originally scheduled date. During the Second World War there was the border of the Budapest ghetto. The Jewish Martyrs Monument made by sculptor Imre Varga is a reminder of this period. Next to the synagogue lies the the Jewish Museum.

Memorial of the Hungarian Jewish Martyrs ©chad_k/Flick

The presentation of the Great Synagogue

The typical Romantic style blends with Byzantine-Moorish elements, providing a unique oriental style to the building. The Great Synagogue in Budapest is colorful building with two domes and ceramic decoration.

The Torah Ark is a richly elaborated and finely shaped work, crowned with a cupola, that has a monumental effect with its gold onaments and its dimension compared to the synagogue. The Torah Ark, the objects of the sanctuary, the two massive 12-branched candelabrum and the painting of the Great Synagogue in Budapest were made by Frederick Feszl.

The Torah Ark and the chandeliers ©Old Fogey 1942/Flick

Visiting the synagogue

The synagogue and the additional buildings can be visited all year. There are four different tour options. You can visit the Great Synagogue and the Emanuel memorial tree in 50 minutes. If you want to see the Jewish Museum as well it is a 90 minutes tour including all three attractions. You can substitute the museum with the Rumbach Synagogue during a tour of 70 minutes or you can visit all four of these in a 110 minutes tour.

The wing with the Jewish Museum ©teofilo/Flick

The guided tours are available in English, German, Hebrew, French, Italian, Spanish. During winter only English and Hebrew guide is guaranteed.

In 2013 the Great Synagogue is opened from Sunday to Thursday from 10.00 am to 18.00 pm in the period from the 1^st of March until the 31^st of October. On Friday it is opened from 10.00 am until 16.30 pm and it is closed on Saturday. The synagogue will also be closed on on September 5-6, 13-14, 19-20, 26-27, on October 23, on November 1 and on December 24-25. The ticket office is always closed with half an hour earlier.

The interior of the Great Synagogue ©ParisSharing/Flick

St. Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest ©EazyIanish/Flick

The Saint Stephen Basilica in Budapest, also known as the Parish Church of Lipótváros is located in the district 5 in Pest.

It is one of the most visited attractions of the city, one of the most important Hungarian relic and the place of the Holy Right.

The history of the church begins in the early 1817, when John Zittelbach raised a small church in Lipótváros.

The idea of the present imposing neoclassical parish church already existed and was finally started to become a reality according to the plans of József Hild in 1851.

Saint Stephen Basilica in Budapest ©Jorge Lascar/Flick

Problems with the construction

Unfortunately, at that time such constructions have rarely been done without tragedy. The workmanship and the quality problems of the building material avenged themselves and the dome collapsed. The clearing of the rubble and the demolition of the defective structure set back the construction until 1871.

The roof of Saint Stephen’s Basilica ©Alex E. Proimos/Flick

The finished church

Miklós Ybl was entrusted with the new plans of the Saint Stephen Basilica, who meticulously supervised the work for 20 years, until his death. The construction and the decoration was finally completed after more than 50 years from the the groundbreaking ceremony, in 1905. Franz Joseph I was also present at the placement of the keystone of this magnificent church in 1906.

St. Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest ©EazyIanish/Flick

Various damages of the basilica

The walls and the roof of the church consecrated to Saint Stephen were also damaged in the Second World War. During the repair work on the roof it burned down and the unfortunate fate of the dome continued when in the 80s, a storm ripped off the metal plating of the building and it became again life threatening.

The reconstruction of the church

The peace of the St. Stephen Cathedral finally came in 2003, when the church could shine again in its previous splendor after a meticulous reconstruction of twenty years. A lookout with a magnificent panorama was also built in the dome and the church received a brand new decorative lighting.

View from the dome of the St. Stephen Basilica ©Jorge Lascar/Flick

The third largest building of the country has a capacity of nearly eight thousand people and on its facade you will see the words of Christ in Latin: “Ego sum via, veritas et vita” , which means “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life”. The interior of the Saint Stephen basilica is not accidentally a famous tourists destination. The monumental atmosphere of the church is enriched by different monuments, art masterpieces and you will find there one of the most important national treasures, the relic of Saint Stephen, the Holy Right.

The interior of the Saint Stephen Basilica ©J Luoh/Flick

The bells of the basilica

The 6 bells of the Saint Stephen Church definitely worth a mention. The Saint Stephen great bell of the south tower is not only the biggest bell of the church, but with its 9 tones and two and a half meters diameter is the largest bell of Hungary. The smaller bells of the church are located in the north tower.

The church has an important role in the life and the history of the city. This was the place of the Eucharistic Congress in 1938 and even Pope John Paul II was there at the funeral ceremony of the sport legend Ferenc Puskas.

The Hungarian State Opera ©taver/Flick

The Hungarian Opera in Budapest is the only place where music, literature, dance, theater, art, choreography and architecture is in perfect harmony.

The beautiful Hungarian State Opera House lies along the beautiful Andrássy Street.  When Pest and Buda merged in 1873, the city has known a huge development in the area of tourism. Many hotels, restaurants and theaters and other important places were built at that time including the Opera House that was completed in 1884. The Hungarian Opera House was very modern in those times and it was famous for its great acoustics.

The construction of the Hungarian Opera House

The Opera House was built according to the plans and coordinated by the famous architect Miklós Ybl and was inaugurated by Francis Joseph I on the 27^th of September 1884. Its excellent acoustics, carefully designed air conditioning, elegant and specific architectural style of the nineteenth century are the attributes of an institution declared to be primus inter pares.

The Hungarian Opera House ©Cha già José/Flick

The repertory of the famous Hungarian Opera

As a specialized institute, the Hungarian State Opera and National Ballet is an eminent institution of the country; it is the only organization specialized in opera and ballet. In its 123 years of existence the greatest masters of ballet and tenors were between the guests of the Hungarian Opera including Pavarotti, Caruso, Domingo and Carreras.

The Hungarian State Opera ©taver/Flick

The Hungarian State Opera and National Ballet has the largest repertory in Europe. It honors its mission by promoting the most famous national operas, and the eminent character of the institution is provided continuously by keeping in its program the greatest works of universal culture.

The repertoire of the Hungarian opera includes the The Flying Dutchman of Wagner, The Bat of Strauss, The Nutcracker of Tchaikovsky and Vajnonen, The robbers of Verdi, Bluebeard’s Castle of Bartok, Mario and the Magician by Vajda, Ariadne Naxos by Richard Strauss, Stiffelio by Giuseppe Verdi, Hippolytus and Aricia by Rameau, Der Rosenkavalier by Strauss, The Barber of Seville by Rossini, The Troubadour by Verdi, The Magic Flute by Mozart, the Aida of Verdi and many others.

The Hungarian State Opera in Budapest ©taver/Flick

Visiting the Hungarian Opera

If you want to attend a multilingual (English, German, Spanish, Italian, French or Hungarian) guided tour, you can visit the Opera House every day beginning from 15:00 or 16:00. If you want to attend a spectacle at night, you can order tickets at the following site: www.jegymester.hu. The cheapest tickets are around 700 HUF, but if you want a better place you have to pay around 1,500 HUF.
If you get hungry, you should try the Belcanto Restaurant which is located near the Opera.

The interior of the Opera House in Budapest © ٭٭ NơƐണí ٭٭

The Hungarian Statue of Liberty ©Molesworth II/Flick

The Citadel on the Gellert Hilll is one of the most emblematic locations of Budapest and it is also a popular lookout.

From its tarraces you have one of the best views of the city with the Buda Castle, the Parliament, the Danube bridges, the whole Pest side and the hills of Buda.

The tourist attractions of the Gellert Hill include the Statue of Bishop Saint Gellert, the Saint Gellert Rock Temple and the Statue of Liberty. Furthermore, the Citadel has a 500 seated restaurant, a lounge with a panoramic view, a one-star hotel, four free exhibitions and a wax museum.

St Gellert Statue on the Gellert Hill ©Old Fogey 1942/Flick

The history of the Citadel

The Citadel of Budapest is a former fortress 140 meters above the city and it was built by the Habsburgs to show their domination over the Hungarians after they were defeated in the War of Independence in 1848-49. In fact, the Citadel has never reached the requirements of modern warfare, the 220 meters long and 60 meters wide fortress with 4 meters high walls and 60 cannons only served to deter the Hungarians. After the Habsburgs and the Hungarian Conciliation they demanded the destruction of the Citadel, but the garrison marched out only in 1897, and then symbolically damaged the main gate. After many debates in 1960 it was decided the formation of the tourist center.

Warefare exposition on the Citadel Citadel ©Omar A./Flick

The Hungarian Statue of Liberty

In 1945 the communism captured Hungary and many statues were built to commemorate its glory. The one located on the Gellért Hill of Budapest presents a woman Holding a palm leaf in her hand. More statues were also built, but they have been relocated to the Sculpture Park. After the fall of communism, the statue received a new inscription which says: “Memorial for all those who sacrificed their lives for independence, freedom and the success of Hungary”

Hungarian Statue of Liberty ©Molesworth II/Flick

The Saint Gerard Rock Church

In the wall of the Gellért Hill is located an amazing work, the shrine of Paulines, the Saint Gerard Rock Church (Szent Gellért Sziklatemplom). The Church has two parts: an ancient cave and an artificial rock cavity. Unfortunately because of the events of the 1950s, this church stopped functioning and opened its doors after the 1989. Currently the rock church is not only an important monument, but it is also a nature reserve.

The Gellert Hill Cave ©Omar A./Flick

Launge, restaurant and hotel in the Citadel

The old building of the Citadel houses a restaurant with eight different halls: the Hunter’s Hall, 2 White Halls, the Garnison Hall, the Marble Hall, the Artist’s Hall, the Knight’s Hall and the Prison Yard. The cozy restaurant serves excellent Hungarian food and in the evenings awaits its guests with folk music.

In one side of the Citadel of Budapest you will find the Citadel Lounge with a romantic panorama. From its terrace we can enjoy the majestic view of Budapest and the Danube.

Citadella Lounge on the Gellert Hill of Budapest ©jasongerardderose/Flick

The Citadel also has a one-star hotel with 12 hotel rooms and 1 tourist room with 14 beds. The hotel has its own restaurant, a gift shop, a private garden, an enclosed parking place, safe and a 24-hour reception service.

Exhibitions on the Citadel

The Citadel on the Gellert Hill has several exhibitions. Three of these can be seen in the glass cases in the courtyard of the fort and an other one is the outer north side of the Citadel. These four are free of charge. For the Second World War wax exhibition located in the building you have to buy ticket.

Wax museum in the Citadel ©steve p2008/Flick

The Museum of Fine Arts ©Dan Lundberg/Flick

The unparalleled collection of the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest embraces ancient culture and includes each art period and style in Europe. It has one of the largest graphic collection in Europe. The Eclectic building of the museum located in the Heroes’ Square and finished in 1906 also houses large-scale temporary exhibitions.

The Museum of Fine Arts is opened from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am until 17 pm, but on Thursdays usually awaits its vistors with Jazz Salon, guided tours and other special events until 10 p.m.

The Museum of Fine Arts ©Roller Coaster Philosophy/Flick

Permanent exhibitions

The permanent exhibitions of the museum houses the collection of the Old Picture Gallery with pictures from the 12^th-18^th century including the works of Bellini, Giorgione, Raphael, Correggio, Leonardo da Vinci, Dürer, Brueghel, Bernard van Orley, Rubens, Frans Hals and the Spanish El Greco, Velázquez, Murillo, Goya.

The Egyptian collection includes shrine relieves from the Ptolemy period, and artifacts from the Nirqi Abdallah excavations.

The Museum of Fine Arts ©alex.ch/Flick

The Antique Collection of the Museum of Fine Arts presents about 1000 Greco-Roman Etruscan work, including the famous marble relief work dispaying the decisive battle of Actium.

The art collection of the 19^th-20^th century includes art paintings of the French Impressionism and Post-Impressionism and other internationally famous abstract and contemporary works besides of the Italian and Baroque pictures.

Art collection of the Museum of Fine Arts ©korom/Flick

The building of the museum

The building of the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest was designed by Albert Schickedanz and Fülöp Herzog. The Eclectic building was finished in 1906.

The original paintings are found in the rooms of the firs floor. The universal history of sculpture could only be presented by plaster copies. These life-size copies of the statues were placed in the Doric, Ionic, Roman, Renaissance and Baroque halls on the ground floor.

While the collection of the original masterpieces was growing, the plaster sculptures gradually left the Museum of Fine Arts. Today we can see only the copy of the sculptures of the Olympic Zeus Temple on the spandrels of the museum.

The front of the Museum of Fine Arts ©Dan Lundberg/Flick

In the rooms of the ground floor you will also find the Antique collection, the art works from the 19^th century, the Renaissance hall, the Graphic hall and the Marble and Baroque Hall.

During the reconstruction of the museum some deep ground-floor rooms were also added to the building that hosts the Egyptian collection, the painting and sculpture collection of the 20^th century and the hall under the Doric courtyard periodic expositions await us.