Radó Dezső: Parks and Forests - Our Budapest (Budapest, 1992)
out the Turks took possession of it as the royal chamber had granted all fields for the use of the military unit liberating the area. A hundred years later a Baroque garden was formed in Városmajor. The construction was completed in 1787, but the present form only took shape after reconstruction in 1967. The construction of a church by the entrance to the park was started in 1923. It was designed by Aladár Árkay in Hungarian folk secessionist style. The construction was completed by his son Bertalan Arkay, in 1935. As this was the site of the Buda gallows along with the executioner’s residence, part of the area was called Ecce Homo Meadows even in the 1920’s. The site of the gallows is marked by a stone cross on the Szilágyi Erzsébet fasor side of the terminus of the cog-wheel railway. Városmajor is densely treed with 1846 specimens on its 10 hectares. The most common trees are ash along with species of alder, willow and elm, which prefer watersides. On the north side of the park a sevenstemmed Judas tree is of interest. Because of Ördögárok, which runs in a subsurface channel, the water supply has always been ample, hence 100-150 year old trees are not uncommon. ÓBÜDA ISLAND It is well worth a trip to the island if one feels like relaxing in a sunny meadow or in the shade of lots of beautiful trees. Sixty-six of a total area of 108 hectares is a landscaped garden, while the remainder belongs to the Óbuda Shipyard. The island is accessible by bus 142 from Szentlélek tér or by small boats which sail to a schedule. Tennis fans are advised to take racquets and balls as there are public courts on the island surrounded by Chinese poplars. On the western edges of the island a several hundred year old gallery forest contains willows, poplars, alders and elders. A jogging and fitness trail runs here through the woods. The tobogganing hills, playgrounds and barbecue pits are accompanied by field maple, silver linden, hornbeam as well as pine trees and leafy evergreens. 25
