Radó Dezső: Parks and Forests - Our Budapest (Budapest, 1992)
Development was completed by 1820 but no measures were taken for the maintenance of the large park. In 1825 András Fáy (in his “Letter Fragment about Pest1’) condemned the city of Pest for only engaging in business and not caring about the creation of parks and gardens. He urged the continuing development of the City Park. The next major event in the park’s history was the Millennial Exhibition. Visitors could use the first underground railway of Continental Europe to reach the opening ceremony which took place on May 2, 1896. Only two of the 108 buildings erected for the exhibition are still in use today: the Art Gallery (Műcsarnok) and the Health Pavilion on Stefánia út (now serving as a workshop of the Fine Arts Company). The Vajdahunyad Castle, a famous architectural complex of the park attempts to exhibit the various styles of Hungarian architecture of past centuries. The central attraction of the City Park is Heroes’ Square featuring the Museum of Fine Arts, the Art Gallery, the group of statues of the seven ancient magyar leaders, and the colonnade with statues of Hungarian kings and princes. Állatkerti (Zoo) körút starts out to the north. The Zoo and Botanical Gardens is one of the most popular attractions of the capital. Visitors include not only animal lovers but also those who enjoy the exotic, southern plants of the large Palm House. The Zoo occupies an area of 16 hectares. It is home to more than 2000 animal species and a great variety of plants. The main entrance was designed by Kornél Neuschloss-Knúsli, several other buildings by Károly Kós. The Gundel Restaurant next to the Zoo is one of the most prestigious dining places in Budapest. Still on Állatkerti körút, on the other side of the Zoo, stands the Budapest Circus. The neo-Baroque building of the Széchenyi Bath built from 1909 to 1913 is found opposite the circus. One of the wells yields thermal water of 77°C from a depth of 1240 m. This is one of the hottest springs in Europe. The bath boasts three pools, small gardens and a sunbathing terrace. Its daily capacity is 5000 persons and the number of visitors is about two million people annually. Therapeutic services were introduced recently. Effervescent and salt baths as well as drinking fountains are popular. Mud baths are also available. Leaving the Széchenyi Bath, the Zoo and the circus behind, the Amusement Park, the city’s colourful and lively entertainment centre attracts visitors. Already in 14
