BUDAPEST 355

Vajdahunyad

Castle d

Vajdahunyad Vára

Városliget. Map F1. Tel (01) 363

1973. v 70, 72, 75, 79. @ 4, 20,


1974. q Széchenyi fürdő. Museum of
      Agriculture Tel (01) 422 0765.

      mid-Mar–mid-Oct: 10am–5pm

      
      

      Tue–Sun; mid-Oct–mid-Mar: 10am–
      4pm Tue–Sun. & 8 7
      http://www.mmgm.hu

      
      

Located at the edge of the
lake in Városliget, this fairytale
castle is a complex consist ing
of several build ings reflect ing
various archi tec tural styles.
Designed by architect Ignác
Alpár for the Millennium
Celebrations in 1896, it illus-
trates the hist ory of archi-
tecture in Hungary. Originally
intended as tempo rary
exhibition pavilions, the
castle proved so popular
with the public that, between
1904 and 1906, it was rebuilt
using brick to create a more
permanent structure.
The pavilions are grouped
chronologically in style, with
individual styles linked to
give the impression of a
single, cohesive design. Each
one uses authentic details
copied from Hungary’s most
impor tant historic buildings,
or is the interpretation of a
style inspired by a specific
architect of that period. The
medieval period, often con-
sid ered a glorious time in
Hungary’s history, is empha-
sized, while the con troversial
Habs burg era is not. The
Romanesque complex
features a copy of the
portal from a rural vil-
lage as well as a monas-
tic cloister and palace.

Gothic and Renaissance sections of Vajdahunyad Castle, seen across the lake in Városliget

The details on the

Gothic pavilion

stem from castles

such as that in

Segesvár, now in

Romania. The

famous Austrian

archi tect Josef

Emanuel Fischer

von Erlach (see

p402) inspired the

Renaissance and

Baroque complex.

The façade copies

part of the Bakócz

chapel in the lovely

Esztergom Basilica

(see pp360).

The popular

Museum of

Agriculture, in the

Baroque sec tion,

has interesting

exhibits on wine-

making, cattle-

breeding, hunting and fishing.

Margaret Island f

Margitsz viget

Margitsziget. Map F1. @ 26 from

Nyugati Station.

Inhabited as far back as

Roman times, Margaret Island

is a tranquil oasis in the middle

of the Danube river. The

2.5-km (1.5-mile) long island

was also known as the Island

of Rabbits, as it served as a

popular hunting ground for

medi eval kings. Monks, too,

were drawn to its peace ful

setting. During Ottoman rule

it was used as a harem. In

the 1200s, Princess Margaret

(1242–70), daughter of King

Béla IV after whom the island

is named, spent most of her

life as a recluse in a convent

here. It has been open to the

public since 1869.

Today, Margaret Island

still offers the perfect escape

after sightseeing in the busy

city. Besides its lovely green

spaces, swimming pools and

play grounds, notable attrac-

tions include the Centenary

Monu ment, a unique water

tower and a serene Japanese

Garden. Designed by István

Kiss, the Centenary Monu-

ment was erected in 1973 to

celebrate a century of the

merger of the cities of Buda,

Pest and Óbuda. At the centre

of the island, the 57-m (187-ft)

high water tower, built in

1911, offers great views from

its lookout gallery. The

relaxing Japanese Garden,

one of three lovely land-

scaped parks, features a wide

range of flora as well as rock

gardens, ponds, water falls

and playgrounds.

The delightful Japanese Garden, Margaret Island