Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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1956: The Hungarian
Top 10 Great
Hungarians
!
Ödön Lechner
Uprising
Following mass anti-Soviet
demonstrations in October 1956,
the Hungarian Communist Party's
Central Committee elected the
popular Imre Nagy as prime min-
ister. On 4 November, however,
just 18 days after he assumed
ofice, the Soviet army invaded
Hungary and crushed the new
regime. Nagy was arrested and
executed in 1958.
(
1989: The People's
(1845-1914)
Groundbreaking Secessionist
architect, often considered as
the father of the Secession
Movement
(see p23)
.
@
Sándor Petőfi
(1823-49)
Nationalist poet whose recital
of his poem
Nemzeti Dal
(National Song) and the 12 pont
(12 points) on the steps of the
National Museum in 1848
sparked a revolt
(see p30)
.
£
János Vaszary
Republic Comes to a
Peaceful End
Anticipating the changes that
would eventually sweep the
whole of Eastern Europe, Com-
munist authorities in Hungary
sanctioned the creation of oppo-
sition political parties in February
1989. The People's Republic of
Hungary became the Republic of
Hungary in October, and in
January 1990, free elections were
held for the irst time since 1919.
)
2004: Hungary Joins the
(1867-1939)
Leading exponent of
Secessionist painting, whose
works can be seen at the
National Gallery
(see pp20-23)
.
$
Ferenc (Franz) Liszt
(1811-86)
Hungarian composer,
regarded by many as the
best pianist of all time.
%
István Szabó (b. 1938)
Film director who received
an Oscar for his ilm
Mephisto
in 1981.
European Union
After ten years of negotiations,
Hungary became a full member
of the European Union on 1 June
2004. The occasion was marked
with days of celebrations
throughout the country, and was
greeted positively by most of the
population. Hungary had pre-
viously become a member of
NATO in 1999.
^
László Bíró
(1899-1985)
Eccentric journalist who invent-
ed the world's irst ball-point
pen in 1939.
&
Ferenc Puskás
(b. 1927-2006)
Footballer who led the great
Hungarian team of the 1950s
(see p96)
.
*
Miklós Ybl (1814-91)
Architect whose work
includes the peerless State
Opera House
(see pp26-7)
.
(
Mihály Vörösmarty
(1800-55)
19th-century poet and author
of the epic
The Flight of Zalán.
)
Attila József (1905-37)
Radical poet who wrote of
hope and great beauty.
Celebrating EU membership on Chain Bridge
Begun among artists in Paris and Vienna in the 1880s, the Secession
Movement's hallmark was its colourful, often fantastical designs.
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