Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
of the city's first motor racing
track, and even hosted a Grand
Prix in 1936, when Tazio Nuvolari
won in his Alfa Romeo. The track
fell into disuse after 1972 and
when Hungary decided to host
Formula One in the 1980s, a new
track, Hungaroring, was built out-
side town.
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Map P2 • VIII, Népliget
&
Geology Institute
An astonishing building
opposite Hungary's National
Stadium, the beautiful Geology
Institute was designed by Ödön
Lechner and built in 1898-9. Its
roof is covered in blue Zsolnay
tiles and crowned by a statue of
three igures struggling to hold a
globe. Inside, is a museum of
rock and mineral exhibits, though
Lechner's Secessionist interior is
far more interesting.
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Map P2
• XIV, Stefánia út 14 • 251 09 99 • Open
9am-3pm Mon-Fri • Dis. access • Adm
The dramatic Szemlő-hegy Caves
These are produced when hot
springs penetrate the limestone.
The air here is said to be ther-
apeutic for bronchial infections.
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Map N1 • II, Pusztaszeri út 35 • 325 60
01 • Open 10am-4pm Wed-Mon • Adm
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Pál-völgy Caves
A hut at the foot of a steep
cliff marks the entrance to the
Pál-völgy Caves. As well as the
cave pearl formations that are also
found in Szemlő-hegy, Pál-völgy is
known for its formations that are
said to resemble animals. Though
many of the caves are accessible,
and can be visited via stairs and
galleries, several of the more
spectacular formations can only
be seen by joining a guided tour.
Note that temperatures inside
the caves can be chilly. Children
under 5 are not allowed in.
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Map
N1 • II, Szépvölgyi út 162 • 325 95 05 •
Open 10am-4pm Tue-Sun • Adm
*
Jewish Cemetery
Opened in 1893 and full of
wonderfully elaborate tombs, this
cemetery is a stark reminder of
the wealth and inluence wielded
by Budapest's Jews before World
War II. Some of the tombs were
designed by leading architects,
including Ödön Lechner and Gyula
Fodor.
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Map Q2 • XVII, Kozma út
• Open 8am-2pm Sun-Fri
The Marvellous Magyars
It may seem far-fetched, but
Hungary once had the most gifted
football team in the world. The
legendary Ferenc Puskás led Real
Madrid to three of their ive
European Cup triumphs after
defecting to Spain. Before he left
in 1956, Hungary became the irst
ever European team to defeat
England. The English press dubbed
them the “Marvellous Magyars”
and Puskás the “Galloping Major”
as he was once a major in the
Hungarian army.
^
People's Park
The city's largest park,
Népliget was laid out in the 1860s
and covers an area of 112 ha (277
acres). It has large tracts of grass
and trees, as well as lower beds
and playgrounds. It is also home
to Budapest's Planetarium
(see
p45)
. Népliget was also the site
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