Dent, Bob: Budapest for Children - Our Budapest (Budapest, 1992)
6. Parks and Open Spaces
42 PARKS AND OPEN SPACES way between northern and southern tips, there is a small game reserve, definitely of interest to children. There are very colourful peacocks, ducks, goats and other small animals here. There are many kiosks selling drinks and snacks spread throughout the island, but the majority of these are open only in the summer. The Grand Hotel at the northern end of the island has a summer beer garden and terrace where food is served. City Park [Városliget] Like Margaret Island this is a traditionally popular place with Hungarians for relaxation and fun, although it’s not so peaceful as main roads run across and around it. The huge park spreads out behind Heroes Square, east of the centre (“Hősök tere” stop on the little underground). The statues in the colonnades around the square are of Hungary’s rulers and princes. At the top of the tall column is the Archangel Gabriel, while at the base can be seen Árpád and the ancient Magyar chieftains. At the base, too, is the Heroes’ Monument—the traditional spot for wreath-laying ceremonies. CJniform- ed soldiers are usually guarding this and can occasionally be seen ceremoniously changing places. More informally, the square is a popular place for young people to roller-skate and skate-board. On the north side of the square is the large building of the Museum of Fine Arts (8). Behind this museum, Állatkerti körút runs the north side of the park. There are a number of places of interest along here—the zoo, the circus, two fun-fairs (12) and the Széchenyi Baths (7). These are all listed separately. From the back of Heroes Square a bridge leads across a lake into the park proper. In the summer rowing boats can be hired here (access on the right, before the bridge), and in the winter part of it is frozen to make an artificial skating rink (see section 9). From near the skating rink building to the right of the bridge a miniature “Lilliput train” runs every half hour in the summer (10-8 pm) across the park to the far end near the Transport Museum.
