This page will show you pictures of some of the landmarks you will no doubt visit, as they were in the communist era: streets and squares, markets and monuments - enjoy!
Budapest
Possibly the most spectacular views of any city in Europe must be those to be found along Budapest's river Danube. In the evening, crowds of tourists flock to photograph Pest's parliament from Buda, and Buda's royal palace from the Pest side of the river. Yet in communist Hungary there was no money for these illuminations - a small number of buildings and monuments were lit on only a handful of national holidays and on New Year's eve; for the rest of the year the city lay in total darkness.
Possibly the most spectacular views of any city in Europe must be those to be found along Budapest's river Danube. In the evening, crowds of tourists flock to photograph Pest's parliament from Buda, and Buda's royal palace from the Pest side of the river. Yet in communist Hungary there was no money for these illuminations - a small number of buildings and monuments were lit on only a handful of national holidays and on New Year's eve; for the rest of the year the city lay in total darkness.
BRIDGES
Chain Bridge - Lánchíd - Szécheny híd
This bridge is a larger version of a bridge in Marlow, England. Here you can see it as it was before 1989 - complete with the red star made of flowers on Adam Clark Square - and now.
This bridge is a larger version of a bridge in Marlow, England. Here you can see it as it was before 1989 - complete with the red star made of flowers on Adam Clark Square - and now.
Margaret Bridge - Margit híd
Here you can see the bridge as it was with its communist-style lamp-posts and the old no.4 tram that rattled over it; and now completely renovated.
Here you can see the bridge as it was with its communist-style lamp-posts and the old no.4 tram that rattled over it; and now completely renovated.
Freedom Bridge - Szabadság híd
The bridge that spans the Danube between the great market hall and the Gellért hotel was also renovated.
The bridge that spans the Danube between the great market hall and the Gellért hotel was also renovated.
Elizabeth Bridge - Erzsébet híd
Erzsébet híd - destroyed in the war - was rebuilt in its present form in 1964.
Erzsébet híd - destroyed in the war - was rebuilt in its present form in 1964.
HOTELS
Though far fewer in number, and with not many tourists coming to Hungary, there were a number of hotels, including the most well known on the Danube river bank. Below you can see how these changed post-1989.
|
|
|
Click here to see reviews of my book on Amazon
and here for details of how to buy my book on Amazon Kindle,
or from Stanfords in London
and Bestsellers in Budapest.
and here for details of how to buy my book on Amazon Kindle,
or from Stanfords in London
and Bestsellers in Budapest.