Faurest, Kristin: Ten spaces - Our Budapest (Budapest, 2010)

Klauzál tér

■ A quiet moment in Klauzál makes it easy to borget that this is one ob the city's densest areas murdered in nearby Wesselényi utca only a few steps from the police shel­ter. Their bodies were deposited in the garden of the Kazinczy utca syna­gogue and in Klauzál tér, as nobody was able to find another solution. The block of flats at number 10 consists almost entirely of bedsits. In the early 1980s its flats still had no private bathrooms, with common toilets that could only be reached from the rear stairs. Researchers surveying the square in the 1980s noted how many of the dilapidated buildings still held up their dignity with bright pots of flowers or other attempts at beautifica­tion. They noted, in particular of number 17, that "there is something truly touching about the fitful local patriotism of the residents of these old Pest tenements, the way they try to conjure up beauty and homeliness, where there is none”. At number 9 is a neighbourhood — in fact, a city institution — the Kádár Étkezde. The restaurant, started well over 50 years ago, is still a favou­rite today, with the original tscholent recipe. The original owner had lost his restaurant to nationalization, and was given this space in compensa­tion. It is an icon of cheqered tablecloths and raspberry syrup-flavoured soda water. The eatery has historically had its own special routine for 35

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