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HOME  ABOUT HUNGARY WHAT YOU HAVE TO SEE IN BUDAPEST
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Opera House 
The concept of building a Musical Theatre first emerged in 1870. The proposal of the Prime Minister Gyula Andrássy to build the Hungarian Royal Opera House was supported by Franz Joseph in 1873. The building was constructed between 1875 and 1884 in Italian Neo-Renaissance style following plans drawn up by Miklós Ybl.
The main entrance is decorated on either side by sitting statues of Ferenc Erkel and Ferenc Liszt, and composers- Monteverdi, Scarlatti, Gluck, Mozart, Beethoven, Rossini, Donizetti, Glinka, Wagner, Verdi, Gounod, Bizet, Mussorgsky, Tchajkovsky and Moniusko.
In the auditorium there is a huge ceiling fresco by Károly Lotz, depicting Olympus, Mount of the Muses, and including Apollo, Bacchus, Zeus and Venus.
The first musical director of the institution, which was opened in 1884, was Ferenc Erkel. The gala opening performance included the Hungarian opera Bánk Bán, the László Hunyadi overture and the first Act of Wagner's Lohengrin. Outstanding directors also include Gustav Mahler, Otto Klemperer, and Gábor Carelli. Puccini personally directed two of his operas here.
The Opera House was completely restored on the centenary of its opening in 1984.
program to here (additional photos) | Gellért Hill 
Rising 135 meters from the level of the Danube, Gellért Hill has caves which were inhabited in the centuries before Christ by the Eraviscus Celto-ilirian tribe. It is possible that there was a small fort ont he site of today's Citadel. In Roman times there was a small guard tower on he hill. According to legend in 1046 Bishop Gellért, who originally came from Venice and was St. Imre tutor, was nailed into a barell and rolled down on the top of the hill by the pagans. St. Gellért's statue today stands ont he side of the hill overlooking the Danube and behind it is a line of colums.
Even in ancient times the medicinal power of the warm water springs ont he hill was well-known, and today this water flows from Gellért-, Rudas-and Rác Springs. Following the 1848-49 Freedom War, the Citadel was used by the Hapsburg court in Vienna as a fortress and a prison from 1850 to 1854, to keep the Hungarians under control. With the Settlement of 1867, the Citadel lost its military importance, and today it is a hotel, a restaurant and cafe. The Freedom Statue was erected in 1946 by Zsigmond Kisfaludy Strobl.
The 11 metre tall female form carries the palm leaves of peace in her hands. It was originally made as a commemoration for the son of Governor István Horthy, at the beginning today's palm leaves was a propeller. Of course after the second world war it was not accepted by the communists, who that time took control of the country. The Soviet military statues, which stood to one side, were taken in 1991 to its worthy place to the Statue Park outside the city (all communist statues were gathered and brought out to this park). | Budapest' Baths 
The Gellért Hotel and Mdicinal Baths were built bellow the Gellért Hill between 1911 and 1918, and use spring water rising from the site of the medieval Sáros Baths (later used by the Turks). The Hotel combines the functions of a luxsury hotel and a medicinal spa. The water, which ranges in temperature from 27 to 48 C supplies both large and small baths and pools and is used primarily for the treatment of rheumatism and muscular pains.
The Széchenyi Medicinal and Pleasure Baths are the largest of their type in Europe. The building was designed by Győző Czigler and Ede Dvorzák and bulit between 1909 and 1913. In 1926 it was enlarged by the addition o fan outside pool and a new wing. The facade and interior are decorated with statues and glass mosaics. The baths use thermal water supplied by a well sunk 970 meters down, constructed by the mining engineer Vilmos Zsigmond in 1878. In 1936 75C sulphuric, lime and carbonate water was pumped up from 1257 meters bellow ground, and is used to treat rheunatism. This is the hottest thermal water int he city, flows up so freely that it is used to supply the Szabadság-, Dandár- and the Újpest-baths as well.
program to here (additional photos) | | További oldalak:
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