Name: Freedom Square
Category: Architecture, castles and historic districts
Location: 1054 Budapest, Szabadság tér.
Description
Szabadság Square (Szabadság tér) is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful squares in Budapest. The buildings, events and emotions of history and present day coalesce in such a way that olden times are summoned in front of your very eyes. The Stock Exchange Palace (Tőzsdepalota), once operating as the center for goods and valuables in Budapest, the Hungarian National Bank (Magyar Nemzeti Bank) and the building of the American Embassy are all to be found here. The Soviet monument, a subject of fiery debates, is worth a visit, not unlike the House of Hungarian Art Nouveau (Magyar Szecesszió Háza) nearby.
Built on the site of a former Austrian barracks, this vast square has a certain appeal despite its slightly ostentatious nature. It is fitted between two buildings with majestic façades, attributed to Ignác Alpár: the State Television, former Stock Exchange and the Hungarian National Bank. The collection of coins and notes must be seen. To the North, an obelisk is the only monument dedicated to the Soviet Russians which still survives, not far from …. the American Embassy.
Walk around the square and admire the remarkable buildings: the Us Embassy, the Art-nouveau National Bank and the former building of the Hungarian Television. Do not miss the Memorial of the Russian Army.
Good to know about Szabadság square
- Szabadság square is a grand and spacious square in central Budapest. It was laid out in
1886 at the site of the former Neugebäude (1789-1886), an evil repute fortress-like building - Now grandious buildings surround the square such as the Hungarian National Bank and the former building of the Hungarian State Television
- The Art-Nouveau building of the National Bank was built in 1905 as the Budapest Headquarters of the Austro-Hungarian Bank
- The impressive building that dominates the west side of the square first housed the stock exchange. From 1955 till 2010 it gave home to the Hungarian Television
- Hungary’s first prime minister, Lajos Batthyány, was executed in the Neugebäude on 6 Oct 1949.
- A memorial commemorates his death at the corner of Bathory utca and Hold utca
- The memorial in the middle of the square is the Memorial of the Russian Army paying thanks to the Soviet forces for liberating Hungary from the Nazis
- Another highlight is the interactive fountain. When the hidden vertical fountain nozzles are turned on they create an exciting water wall around the square shaped area
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