Szatmári Gizella: Walks in the Castle District - Our Budapest (Budapest, 2001)

and other artists who were born on the territory of Hungary.

Named after its founders, Irene and Peter Ludwig, the museum specialising in contemporary art is in the northernmost wing of the complex, which lies nearest to the terminus of the Funicular Railway.

Housed in the Krisztinaváros block of the Royal Palace is the country’s National Széchényi Library, which bears the name of its founder, Count Ferenc Széchényi, father of István Széchenyi.

All the buildings of the former Royal Palace, like the rest of Castle Hill, today are protected by being on (JNESCO’s World Heritage List.

The small street between the ruins to the west of Szent György tér and the former Ministry of Defence leads to the south end of Dísz tér. Before turning into Tóth Árpád sétány (formerly Bástya sétány, or Bastion Promenade) and walking down the esplanade towards Kapisztrán tér, we can see, on the Fehérvár Round Bastion at the outermost point of the ruins closest to Krisztinaváros, the dual sculptures Knight and his Herald. The work stands there as a reminder of László Zolnay’s historic find from the Sigismund period. Made by sculptor Károly Antal, the work represents the best known piece of the archaeological discovery, the knight adorned with daisies and wearing a belt, attended by his helmet-bearing herald.

Not far from the memorial of the medieval knight, and also roughly on the site of the Fehérvár Round Bastion, is another warrior staring at the enemy approaching from the west. The first equestrian statue of Artúr Görgey was originally sculpted by György Vastagh Jr. in 1935 and stood on the bastion outside today’s Military History Museum. Damaged in 1945, its material was melted down, its pedestal demolished. Eventually sculptor László Márton designed another statue, its features evoking those of the old one. It was installed in its present place in 1998.

The row of horse-chestnuts along Tóth Árpád sétány (called Bastei Promenad at the time) was planted in the late 1810s. Visitors have been coming here to lean on the parapet and admire the view of Buda from Gellért Hill to János Hill since 1838.

There were a few artworks here, too, to delight the promenaders. For example, Lajos Petri’s hussar mon52