Gál Éva: Margaret Island - Our Budapest (Budapest, 2000)
ing, popularly known as the Palatine’s mansion, leaned on the northern buttress of the Franciscan church. The Palatine brought his head gardener here from his Alcsút estate, and turned the greatest part of the area into parkland in a few years by planting valuable and beautiful trees, shrubs, and flowers in its soil. Where the castle of the Knights Hospitalers had stood, probably making use of such walls as remained of the edifice, he had a manor built, where the gardener’s lodging was also erected. It was for about half a century, until his death in 1847, that Palatine Joseph owned Margaret Island, which was not regarded as a fully private park, opening its gates as it did, in limited periods, to the public (which was, needless to say, a select public). In 1800, the Palatine arranged for a splendid feast in honour of his young but shortlived wife Alexandra Pavlovna, the daughter of the Russian Czar. After that event, it became a tradition to hold a fete on 13 July, during the week in which St. Margaret’s day is celebrated. The author of an 1809 brochure describing the city already sang the praises of the “enchanted garden”. When the rulers of the Holy Alliance paid a visit to Buda in 1814, the royal guests were entertained by Palatine Joseph on the island, where a genuine rural harvest was held to delight the majestic visitors. Besides fetes and garden parties, the island also hosted sports events. In 1822, for example, a military swimming exercise was held between Margaret Island and the Pest embankment, and in 1843 the island served as the venue for the first boat race organised by the capital city. István Szécheny was also fond of the island according to his journal, where several entries make mention of day trips made here. Another famous visitor was Richard Wagner, who took part in a fete held during his stay in Pest in July 1863. “World Baths” After the death of Palatine Joseph and then the 1848-49 Revolution and War of Independence, when the island was owned by Archduke Stephen, expelled from Hungary 21
