Tanulmányok Budapest Múltjából 31. (2003)
A MÚLT RÉTEGEI - A SZENT GYÖRGY TÉR TÖRTÉNETE - Magyar Károly: A budavári Szent György tér és környékének kiépülése : történeti vázlat 1526-tól napjainkig 43-126
MAGYAR KAROLY Behind the place of demolished provostry, at the north-eastern side of square, there stood the new building of the waterworks, which was a characteristic feature of the sight here until it was pulled down in the 1870ies. On the other side we have to mention the construction works of the new baroque Royal Palace, that happened in two main phases. It was only about 1715, when - far behind the Zeughaus, at southernmost end of the plateau - after the demolition of some still standing remains of the medieval palace the erection of the new building was started. The first, rather simple and never completed building was enlarged towards north - to the line of the medieval Dry moat - between 1749-1769. The intention of this palace out to have been serving as a 'second home' of Queen Maria Theresia, but she took up lodge here only once. Instead of this, the building functioned temporarily as a nunnery, as a home of a university and then shortly as military headquarters. It started to play a different, residential role only from the end of the 18 th , but at the age in dispute it had rather less influence towards the square, the more because it, i.e. its forecourt was still cut from the city by the existing section of the medieval northern curtain-wall. However, we shall remark, that the square functioned as the main approach-way towards the palace. 1780-ies-1848 While the aforementioned period of St. George square could be basically characterized by the overwhelming military functions and by their physical incarnations, the barracks, the forthcoming period can be described when civil life was gaining ground step-bystep. This was manifested first of all by two new palaces of the higher nobility. The first of the two was built on the western side. Here, to the north of the artillery barrack (based upon the Turkish inner wall), a formidable mound of earth was taking place for a long time. It could be the basis of planned - but mostlikely never realized - inner fortification, a kind of gun emplacement. This site was bought up by the Teleki counts who erected their three-storied, copf-styled palace here between 1787-1790. This building was standing here almost without alteration (et least on its facade towards the square) until the end of the 19 th c. Almost two decades later, the two barrack buildings - based upon the wings of the former Franciscan cloister and standing right on the opposite, eastern side of the square - were bought by an other notable family of the Hungarian aristocracy. Count Vincent (Vince) Sándor had a residance here constructed for himsel and his wife, Countess Anne (Anna) Szapáry. The new palace that was built by 1806 - in the modernest, classicist style of the age - incorporated the earlier barracks, too. The building - thought to be one of the most elegant residences in Buda ofthat age - was sold in 1831 to the family of Pallavicini Counts, who owned it until 1881. Now, after nearly two centuries, this is the second oldest building still standing on the location. The weakening importance of the direct military functions was manifested by an other, may be less spectacular act. First the military barrack standing behind the Hauptwacht became the property of the city, then it was sold to the evangelical community of Buda, who transformed the building according to their needs, i.e. to a church - parochial - school - complex. 122
