City Park of Budapest

Városliget (City Park), considered the first public park in the world, is a vast recreational area with many historic sites and entertainment facilities, including the zoo, amusement park and thermal baths.

City Park of Budapest
In 1751, Empress Maria Theresa ordered planting the area which was formerly known as Oxmeadow and used for grazing. With the trees and walkways was created the park - Városliget.
City Park of Budapest
The park occupies the area of 1 square kilometer, there are about 7000 trees.
City Park of Budapest
Leading to Városliget is Andrássy út. Construction of Andrássy út began in 1870, and the paving has been finished by 1876.
City Park of Budapest
Today, Andrássy Boulevard is a home to many mansions occupied by the embassies,
City Park of Budapest
and some fine examples of Socialist architecture.
City Park of Budapest
Hősök tere (Heroes' Square) is one of the major landmarks of Budapest, a place for political and ceremonial events. The centerpiece of the square is Millenary Monument commemorating the Hungarian statehood.
City Park of Budapest
In the original monument there were spaces for five statues of the Habsburgs, but after WWII damages the statues of prominent Hungarians were erected instead.
City Park of Budapest
The 36-meter column in the center of the square is topped by a statue of the archangel Gabriel holding the crown in his right hand and a double cross in the left one - the symbols of the statehood and Christianity.
City Park of Budapest
Also on the square is the Museum of Fine Arts with over 100,000 pieces collection of European art.
City Park of Budapest
Széchenyi Bath, the largest medicinal bath in Europe, and also the one with the hottest springs (a 1240-meter deep well yields water of 77˚C).
City Park of Budapest
About 2 million people visit this bath with 3 outdoor and 15 indoor pools annually.
City Park of Budapest
Városliget has Gundel Restaurant (since 1879), one of Hungary's most famous ones. But there are also more affordable spots, like this cozy Pántlika Bisztró.
City Park of Budapest
The park even has a tomb. That of Jakab Horváth, one of the 18th century Hungarian Jacobins. Tombstone is engraved with a single word in Latin: Fuit (once was).
City Park of Budapest
Transport Museum with one of Europe’s oldest transportation collections.
City Park of Budapest
The Timewheel (2004), huge hourglass that weighs 60 tons. The glass granules inside it flow from top to bottom for one year and on New Year's Eve the wheel turns.
City Park of Budapest
Vajdahunyad Castle, that was originally made from cardboard and wood for the millennial exhibition in 1896. Because of its huge popularity it was later built in stone and brick.
City Park of Budapest
One of the stations of Millennium Underground leading to Városliget. This second-oldest underground metro system in the world was built by 1896, when the millennium celebrations of Hungary were held in the City Park.
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By Sosna on 22 Apr 2011. Updated on 02 Oct 2012