Pictures from the Past of the Healing Arts / Orvostörténeti Közlemények – Supplementum 18-19. (Budapest, 2000)

Semmelweis's Birthplace - the Home of the Museum

Semmelweis's birthplace — the home of the museum (by József Antall) Among the few remains of the old Tabán there is the house at Apród Street 1-3, where Ignác F. Semmelweis was born. The house stands in a charming surroundings at the Southern foot of the Castle Hill, under the reconstructed buildings of the medieval Royal Palace, the Barbican and the bulwarks of the Castle. The old Tabán Writing about the past of this house, chroniclers were often obsessed by its romantic atmosphere. They believed that it had harboured a medieval monastery, a Turkish harem or at least a tavern. Apród Street, on the other hand, is in fact of medieval origin but its old houses had been destroyed in the siege when Buda was liberated from the Turks in 1686. Its northern side where the Semmelweis House was erected had not been built up before the last dccadcs of the 18th century. The lively and industrious Rácz (i.e. Serb) Town spreading along the busy port began to flourish when a boat-bridge was completed on the Danube in 1767. The bridge reached exactly Apród Street. Transport was increased when the Southern walls of the Castle were broken through to open the New Gate (later Ferdinand Gate, or Tabán Gate) during the reign of Joseph II (1780-1790). The opening of the gate shortened the way of burghers, merchants, shopkeepers and students to the Castle Hill. The street which lead to the New Gate run between the Semmelweis House and the Szarvas House (Deer). It was callcd Palota utca (Palace Street) but was added later to the stretch of Apród Street, which obtained its present name in 1879. Rich merchants acquired spots of land and built houses along this busy street. The Semmelweis House in today's Apród Street 1-3, was built some time at the end of the 18th century. It was originally built in Neo-Classic Late-Baroque style. However the great fire of Tabán in 1810 destroyed the house. It was soon reconstructed and given its present Zopf facade. The traces of the great fire are still recognizable in some parts of the walls: some smoky clouds have been revealed at the latest reconstruction. The names of its architects have not been identified yet, neither that of the Baroque nor of the renewed Zopf building. 11