354 CENTRAL EASTERN EUROPE

For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp390–93 and pp394–7

Museum of

Fine Arts p

Szépművészeti Múzeum

Dózsa György út 41. Map F1.
Tel (01) 469 7100. @ 4, 20, 30,

105. v 75, 79. Q Hősök tere.

     10am–6pm Tue–Sun. & 8

     
     

     7 = http://www.szepmuveszeti.hu

     
     

The origins of the Museum
of Fine Arts date from 1870,
when the state bought a
spec tacular collection of paint -
ings from the aristo cratic
Esterházy family. The muse-
um’s collec tion was further
enriched by dona tions and
acquisitions. In 1906, it
moved to its present loca tion,
a Neo-Classical build ing with
Italian Renais sance influences,
designed by Hungarian archi-
tects Albert Schickedanz and
Fülöp Herzog. The tympanum
crown ing the portico is sup-
ported by eight Corinthian
columns. It depicts the Battle
of the Centaurs and Lapiths,
and is copied from the Temple
of Zeus at Olympia, Greece.
The museum’s collection
encompasses a wide range
of art from antiquity to the
20th century. Among the
Egyptian arti facts, most of
which were unearthed by
Hungarian archaeo logists
dur ing 19th century excava-
tions, the collection of
bronze figures from the New
Kingdom of Ptolemy is the
most fascinat ing.
The collection of Greek
vases is the highlight of the
classical arti facts, along with
the famous Grimani jug,
which dates from the 5th
century BC. In the sculpture
gallery, a small bronze figure
by Leonardo da Vinci stands

out, while the rich collection

of Dutch and Flemish art

features the sub lime St John

the Baptist’s Sermon (1566),

by Pieter Bruegel the Elder.

There are Italian and Spanish

works, including some

by Raphael, El Greco and

Goya and draw ings and

graphics by one of the best-

known German painters,

Albrecht Dürer. Also on view

are stunning 19th- and

20th-cen tury works by Pablo

Picasso as well as gems by

French Impressionists.

Magnificently decorated ceiling at the Museum of Fine Arts

Városliget a

Városliget

Városliget. Map F1. q Hősök tere,

Széchenyi Fürdő.

Városliget, also known as City

Park, was once an area of

marshland used as a royal

hunt ing ground. Drained and

planted during the reign of

Queen Maria Theresa, the park

was laid out in the English

style in the late 19th century.

Városliget was the centre for

the Millennium Cele brations in

An outdoor pool at Széchenyi Baths

Széchenyi Baths s

Széchenyi Strandfürdő

Állatkerti körút 11. Map F1.

v 72. Tel (01) 363 3210.

q Széchenyi fürdő. Swimming

Pool # 6am–10pm daily.

Thermal Pool # 6am–7pm daily.

& http://www.spasbudapest.hu

The largest complex of spa

baths in Europe, Széchenyi

Baths also has the deepest

and hottest baths in Budapest;

the water here reaches the

surface at a tem per ature of

about 75° C (180° F). The spa,

housed in an attractive Neo-

Baroque build ing by Gyõzõ

Czigler and Ede Dvorzsák, was

con struc ted between 1909 and

1913. At the main entrance
      stands a statue of geol ogist
      Vilmos Zsigmondy, who dis-
      cov ered a hot spring here
      while drilling a well in 1879.
      In 1926, three open-air swim-
      ming pools were added; these
      are popular through out the
      year due to the heat of the
      water. The springs are known
      for their alleged heal ing pro-
      perties and are recommended
      for treating rheumatism,
      disorders of the nervous
      system, joints and muscles.

1896, when the Museum of

Fine Arts, Vajda hunyad Castle

and the Heroes’ Square Monu-

ment (see p353) were built.

Among its attract ions is a lake,

Varosligetito, which serves as

an ice rink in winter and a

boat ing lake in summer. The

park is also home to the

Széchenyi Baths, Budapest’s

zoo and the 110-year-old

Gundel Restaurant.