Belváros - Budapest - page 177

TOP SIGHT
VÁCI UTCA & VÖRÖSMARTY TÉR
Váci utca is the capital's premier shopping street, crammed with chain stores,
touristy restaurants and a smattering of shops and notable buildings worth
seeking out. It was the total length of Pest in the Middle Ages.
A good place to start is at the Párisi Udvar , built in 1909. It was under renovation at the
time of writing, but if you can, get a glimpse of the interior and its ornately decorated ceil-
ing. Váci utca is immediately to the west.
Head first to the Philanthia flower and gift shop ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; V Váci utca 9;
2) , which has an original (and very rare) Art Nouveau interior from 1906. Thonet House (
MAP GOOGLE MAP ; V Váci utca 11/a; 2) is a masterpiece built by Ödön Lechner in 1890
and to the west, at Régi Posta utca 13, there's a relief of an old postal coach by the ceram-
icist Margit Kovács of Szentendre.
Just off the top of Váci utca in Kristóf tér is the little Fishergirl Fountain ( MAP
GOOGLE MAP ) , dating from the 19th century and complete with a ship's wheel that actually
turns. A short distance to the northwest is the sumptuous Bank Palace (Bank Palota; MAP
GOOGLE MAP ; V Deák Ferenc utca 5) , built in 1915 and once the home of the Budapest Stock
Exchange. It has been converted into a shopping gallery called Váci 1 ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ;
www.vaci1.hu ) .
Váci utca empties into Vörösmarty tér , a large square of smart shops, galleries, cafes
and an artist or two, who will draw your portrait or caricature. In the centre is a statue of
Mihály Vörösmarty , the 19th-century poet after whom the square is named. At the north-
ern end is Gerbeaud , Budapest's fanciest and most famous cafe and cake shop.
A pleasant way to return to Ferenciek tere is along the Duna korzó , the riverside 'Danube
Promenade' between Chain and Elizabeth Bridges.