Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Gresham Palace
Commissioned by the
London-based Gresham Life
Assurance Company and designed
by Zsigmond Quittner and the
brothers József and László Vágó
in 1907, Gresham Palace enjoys
one of Budapest's best locations
opposite the Chain Bridge. It is
an imposing ediice with several
Secessionist characteristics, from
its stained-glass windows (includ-
ing one featuring a portrait of the
patriot Lajos Kossuth), to the high
atrium and chandelier. It was res-
tored between 2002 and 2004,
and opened soon after as a Four
Seasons hotel
(see p113)
.
d
Map
K3 • V, Roosevelt tér 5-7 • 268 60 00 •
Open 8am-10pm daily (in summer
organized tours are also available) • Dis.
access • www.fourseasons.com
Miklós Izsó sculptures, Academy of Sciences
$
Roosevelt Square
This square has been known
by various names since it was
built at the head of the Chain
Bridge on the Danube's eastern
bank. First called Unloading
Square, its name was changed
to Franz József Square, to com-
memorate the coronation of
Emperor Franz József. It was
inally named after the American
president Franklin D Roosevelt in
1947. Today, it features several
ine hotels, including the
Gresham Palace to its east.
d
Map K3 • Roosevelt tér
&
St Stephen's Basilica
Visible from all over the city,
the dome of St Stephen's Basilica
is exactly the same height as the
Parliament's own dome. The
church was built on the site of
Prank Theatre, where bears and
wolves tore each other to shreds
in front of crowds in the 18th cen-
tury. Today, it is one of the city's
most sacred sites, as it houses
the mummiied right hand of St
Stephen (István), after whom the
church is named
(see pp12-13)
.
*
Liberty Square
%
Academy of Sciences
Inaugurated in 1864, the
Academy of Sciences is a classic
piece of Neo-Renaissance archi-
tecture designed by Friedrich
Stüler. The statues on the façade,
including those of Isaac
Newton and René
Descartes, are by
Miklós Izsó and
Emil Wolff, while
the interior has
more statues by
Izsó.
d
Map J2
• Roosevelt tér 9
• 411 64 89 • Open
11am-4pm Mon & Fri
Laid out in 1886 on the site
of the barracks that housed the
Austrian army, Liberty
Square has long been
synonymous with
Hungary's free-
dom struggle.
The irst prime
minister of
independent
Hungary, Count
Lajos Batthyány,
was executed in
Ironwork gates of Gresham Palace
76
