Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Váci Utca
One of Pest's oldest streets,
Váci utca originally led to the
town of Vác
(see p59)
. It has long
been synonymous with traders
and swindlers, who clustered
around Vác Gate at Váci utca 3.
As Pest prospered, so did the
street, and it soon became a fav-
ourite among Budapest's wealthy
citizens. The goods stores gave
way to exclusive boutiques, and
today it is the city's most popu-
lar shopping venue. The northern
half is dominated by retail outlets
and department stores, while its
southern end was pedestrianized
between 1999 and 2000, and is
home to some of the area's best
cafés and clubs
(see pp14-15).
@
Vigadó Square
Central Market Hall on Váci utca
£
Inner City Parish Church
Pest's oldest church has a
long and troubled history. The
original Roman-style structure was
decimated by the Tartars, and its
14th-century replacement was
converted into a mosque by the
Turks. It was nearly destroyed
again after World War II, when
builders wanted to demolish it
to make way for Elizabeth
Bridge. Luckily, it survived,
although the proximity of the
approach road to its walls illus-
trates what a close call it was.
d
Map K4 • V, Március 15 tér 2 • 318 31
08 • Open 9am-7pm daily
Facing the Danube, Vigadó
Square is one of Budapest's
quietest spots. It is dominated
by the Vigadó Concert Hall, under
whose sublime colonnades visi-
tors seek shade during hot sum-
mer afternoons. Built from 1859
to 1864 and designed by Frigyes
Feszl, it replaced an earlier hall
that was destroyed during the
1848-9 Uprising. The façade is a
wonder of arched windows,
statues and busts.
Taking pride of place
at the façade's cen-
tre is a Hungarian
coat of arms. The
building is currently
closed for renovation
and is due to open in
mid-2006. Facing the
Hall is the Modernist
Budapest Marriott
Hotel
(see p112)
,
built in 1969. The jet-
ties on the square's
embankment are the
departure point for
Danube river cruises.
d
Map K4 • V, Vigadó tér
$
Vörösmarty Square
This splendid pedestrian plaza
is named after the poet Mihály
Vörösmarty, whose statue
stands at its centre. Designed
by Ede Telcs and built
immaculately in
Carrarra marble,
the statue rallies
the nation in the
poet's own words:
“Your homeland,
Hungary, serve
unwaveringly . The
square's northern
side is dominated by
Gerbeaud Cukrászda
(see p14)
, Hungary's
most famous coffee
house. It is also worth
visiting the quaint
metro station.
d
Map
K3 • V, Vörösmarty tér
Baroque portal, Inner City
Parish Church
83
