Spring hasn’t arrived yet. Are you seeking for colors at the end of winter? Go for a walk in Budapest and explore the vibrant firewalls all around the city! Besides bringing colors to the streets, the aim is to restore those walls, that are in bad condition. I’m showing you the most unique pieces, join me for a pleasant early spring walk!

Honestly I was so lost in the Jewish quarter first, but as soon as you've found the Great Synagogue, you are at the right place to discover unique street art. Just follow the Wesselényi street right behind the Synagogue, both sides you will see street names like Kazinczy, Klauzál, Akácfa, Rumbach Sebestény and Király, the firewall art works can be found around that area. The empty walls would be looking so sad without all the creative, colorful paintings, that make the streets full of life.

Rumbach street is hosting a couple of beautiful paintings, here you will find the Rubik’s cube and Match of the century. Rubik’s cube is a 3-D combination puzzle invented by a Hungarian professor, Ernő Rubik. My absolute favorite one is the Sissy painting right in front of the Rumbach Synagogue. The painting is dedicated to the Queen of Hungary, inside you can read the street names of the district.
 

From Király street you can enter the mysterious connections of courtyards, the place is famous for its pubs and bars. At the entrace have a look at the street scene which shows us the Király street in the old times. If you walk through the courtyards right to the end, you can discover another piece of art next to Vicky Barcelona Bar, the Refugee girl was released on the UN National Refugee Day (20th June) and it’s constantly raising attention to their situation.

The easiest way is to get back to Wesselényi street and walk towards Akácfa street. The three colorful swallows are painted by Breakone, the work is the symbol of calmness. A few steps away Lucas Berger from Poland created the art called Chill or rampage, which is very much in harmony with the colors of the neighborhood. The seamstress is a very nice work, which was accomplished in the honor of the tailors. Inside the house there is a tailor operating since 1926. The last one is called the „Canga”, it's the nickname of the bicycle, the work is dedicated to the bicyclists in the city.

Follow the Wesselényi street and enjoy the view of the Crystal tree. It was launched by the Polish Institute and the painting is the symbol of Hungarian – Polish friendship. It’s dedicated to the cultural merge of the two nations.

A huge gray cattle is grazing in the middle of Budapest. The scene is perfect for the busy city center and it represents a real Hungaricum. I’ve found another row of Hungaricums at a parking spot on the Kertész street.

One of the prettiest art work is the Grocery, it makes the impression, that the whole painting is alive. Stunning colors, which makes the area look much nicer.

Walk for about 10 minutes towards the great boulevard, where tram 4/6 is passing by and look for the Barcsay street! Inside the Madách High School at the yard have a look at a huge painting that brings you back in time to the busy boulevard of Budapest.

Close to Váci street and the Elisabeth Bridge, just around the corner a very colorful painting is setting the mood of the area, this is the Wonder stag, its legend is part of the Hungarian mythology. The second firewall is the result of the Colorful City Festival, you can visit the art work about a Fairy tale at the Sas street. With the help of the Lara application on your phone, you can also watch a short animation by daylight.

Take a tram Nr 4/6 till Oktogon, 5 minutes from there at the Dessewffy street, a beuatiful sihoutte of the woman is raising everyone’s attention, however I’m not sure how long it can be seen, since construction works are carried out just in front of the firewall. The painting is dedicated to a fashion award, where Anett Farkas, Hungarian designer won with her creations. On the lady you can see one of her dresses.

Enjoy the special cityscape and have a look at these outstanding pieces of art, some of them are temporary creations only, and due to the ongoing contruction works in Budapest, you never know how long there pieces can be visited. There are some more paintings in the city, please send me your favorite one and come strolling the streets with me next time!

What a sunny day, spring is in the air, come and walk outside, discover Budapest with me! There are many iconic sights in the city, Heroes Square definitely belongs to those. This is the place, where during WWII the Hungarian soldiers waved goodbye to their families and they were welcomed back here as well. The square was an important historical scene in the past.

It's situated at the end of the Adrássy Avenue and its embraces a beautiful building complex in the City Park. Did you know that in the Middle Ages the area used to be a popular hunting field for the kings and a huge part of it was covered by swamp. The park project was developed only in the 18th century, when finally it belonged to the largest public parks in Europe. 

In 1896 the country celebrated the 1000th anniversary, that the first Hungarian tribe settled down in the Carpthian Basin. In the frame of the Millennium Exhibition amazing pieces of art works were open for public in the City Park. The facilities that were built at that time are still important sights today: the Millennium Monument in the middle, the colonnades and the two museums on both sides.

In the middle of the square have a look at monument with Archangel Gabriel on the top, holding the Holy Crown and the double cross in both hands, these are the symbols of statehood and apostolic kingdom. The bronze statues below feature the Hungarian tribe leaders starting with Árpád in the middle, he was the chieftain when occupying the territory.

The two sem-circular colonnades are dedicated to the most important leaders who played a significant role in Hungary's life. Originally the last 5 places were occupied by Habsburg leaders, however they were removed in the Soviet era. The first figure is our king, Saint Stephen who established the Hungarian state and converted the people to Christianity. This step was crucial in our history, without him the Hungarian tribes could have just disappeared in the past. The last statue is dedicated to Lajos Kossuth, a politician from the 19th century, he was playing a big role in the Declaration of Independence, therefore his figure is very much identified with freedom. He was called the "Washington of Hungary" in America, he is the only foreigner who has a statue in the United States Capitol.

The square's atmosphere is very much determined by the two eclectic style museums. If you are standing in front of the Millennium Monument, the Exhibition Hall is on your right hand. This place is richly decorated, the tympanum is featuring Saint Stephen, our first king. The Neoclassic-style building is dedicated to temporary exhibitions. On the other side the Museum of Fine Arts is shining in its glory, since it has been renewed and opened just lately. The eclectic architectural style is spiced up with some Greek and Renaissance influence. Inside you can check out a valuable masterpieces and historical collections: prints and drawings, collection of Egyptian Art, old sculptures and so much more.

In the middle of the square you will find a grave and a plaque right next to eachother. The memorial stone is not a real grave, nobody is buried there but it commemorates all the Hungarian soldiers who died in the wars. The bronze plaque reminds us the first thermal spring that was found in the area and with a special technique developed by Vilmos Zsigmondy, even today this spring is one of the main sources of the Széchenyi Bath in the City Park.

Thank you for joining me for a walk at a special place, for more Budapest insider stories follow me on Instagram or Facebook!

This time of the year carnival fever spreads the whole world: colorful parades, mysterious masks, endless parties. The famous carnival of Venice dates back to the 12th century even since that it turns the city into a big colorful party. Everybody knows the popular Rio carnival, which draws over two million people to Brazil. Let’s celebrate the end of winter time, come and explore a historical event with me in Budapest! Here come the best moments on the 102th Széchenyi Grand Ball.

The Pesti Vigadó is one of the finest pieces of neoclassical architecture in Pest, its original name was the Redoute, it was designed by Frigyes Feszl. Being the most unique place for balls and events in the country, the building originally was built for this purpose, since the Pest public did not have a ballroom at the beginning of the 19th century. When it opened in 1833 it was not just a venue of the nobility, but it was the only concert hall for Pest, many famous composers gave concerts here like Ferenc Liszt, Johann Strauss, Dvořak, Debussy.

The eclectic appearance of the building with a Moorish twist is compensated by some magnificent art nouveau decoration inside: the impressive hall, the wide marble staircase and a spacious richly-decorated theater hall. Decades after the opening, the Vigadó had a busy schedule for balls, the most luxurious event to be hosted here was the one organized by the National Rowing and Sailing Association in 1870, with a rich order of dances, a sailor-suit military band and a goldfish pool in the middle.

The event is dedicated to Count István Széchenyi, he is recognized as the "Greatest Hungarian" even nowadays. His famous initiation was among others the proposal for the first permanent bridge on the Danube, this is today's oldest bridge, the Chainbridge. The first grand ball was organized in 1907 to remember the great reformer and even today it belongs to the fanciest events in the country.

Attending the ball was pretty amazing, it's a very well organized event with quality services, and some old-time feeling. The gala dinner was authentic based on the typical food of that era with Széchenyi's favorite wine, the Tokaj Aszú from the Oremus Winery.

The whole atmosphere brought me back in time, when noble ladies were walking on the stairs straight to the ballroom and they were dancing all night. As for the dress code, black tie was appropriate for the evening, hence long, evening gown for women and tuxedo for men. I chose a simple, black Lauren Ralph Lauren gown and I'm so thankful for the amazing makeup to my dear friend, Makeup Ar/ch/tist by Adrienn Safarcsik.

If you love elegant, traditional events, this is something for you. Entrance ticket can be purchased every year HERE. Hope you enjoyed this little journey in the past, discover with me the best of Hungary every week on You and Style!

One of my favorite places in Budapest is definitely the Castle district with its historical charm and medieval atmosphere. As a tour guide and traveler, I'm strolling the streets regulary, looking for hidden beauties to capture. Let me show you the Jewish heritage and what's left behind in the old Buda.

The Castle District on the Buda Hill was first established in the 13th century, when King Béla IV. built his residence here. On the very same place where the royal palace is standing today, a fortress was constructed in order to protect the nation. Ever since the city of Buda got established,  a considerable Jewish community was immediately playing an important role in the everyday life, since their legal statues was protected by the king and Jews were successful in the coin-minting industry. The first Jewish quarter came to life on the today's Szent György street, near the Royal Palace.

Every time Jews settle down, they build a mikveh even before building a synagogue. Mikveh is a ritual bath, it's the symbol of purification. There are various reasons when Jews use the establishment, these could be occasions like before getting married or visiting the cemetery. According to the Jewish regulations, the bath needs to be connected to natural springs, which was fulfilled in this case, the Buda hill is rich even in thermal water. While standing at the Palota street nr 1 near an old gate, nobody would guess that just a few steps away what a pure treasure is hiding. After strolling the old cellar, you will get to a small mikveh originating from the 13th century. I was fascinated by the mysterious scene. You can also visit the ritual bath every Monday, check the upcoming tours HERE!

A few steps away from the mikveh, right under the Palota street, the ruins of the the first synagogue was found by archeologists in 2005. They discovered the precious stones accidentally when pipeworks were carried out. We are not even able to guess how big the Jewish community could have been at that time, but it's sure that the old Fehérvári gate and its neighborhood was occupied by the Jews. Unfortunately no signs are indicating the layout of the first synagogue, but if you join my tours, I can show you its exact place.

The families were forced to leave their homes during King Lajos IV. The houses were bought by the nobility. Finally a new Jewish quarter got established on the today's Táncsics street, where they built their second synagogue in the 15th century. The excavation of this building was carried out by a professional team of archeologists in the 1960s. Since the ruins were found in a private garden of a house, they had to burry them back. Many years ago American Jews tried to get financial resources to make an exhibition on spot, but they faced difficulties due to the lack of property rights.

During the Turkish occupation the Jews were paying taxes to the Turks and they had a good relationship with them. While expelling the Ottomans out of Buda in the 17th century, there were huge battles in the district, finally the Habsburg army killed all the Jews who gathered in the synagogue. Nobody survived and that's the sad end of the Jewish history in the castle district.

The stones and a few old columns of the second synagogue can be still visited in the Prayer House across the street.

The third so called "little synagogue" was excavated in Buda in the 1960s as well, it was a prayer house. The place features original frescoes from the Middle Ages. You can see the star of David, the other one is a referring to Hanna's Prayer. Due to its specific spelling, they've found out that it must have been originating from the Turkish times, which was the golden age of Jews in the area.

After 400 years the Prayer House was rebuilt and renovated, today it got back its original function. Except from worship time and special holidays, anyone can visit the special historical sight. By the entrance you will see old graves from the Jewish cemetery. In the courtyard have a look at the historical columns that were part of the second synagogue!

Although you can never change history, become part of it by discovering the hidden treasures in the world! The Jewish heritage in Buda definitely needs more attention. I personally feel that there are many more stories buried under the Castle Hill and waiting to be discovered one day.

Sources:

Zolnay László: Középkori zsinagógák a Budai várban
Kubesch Mária: Welcome to Budapest

1st of February is officially the International Furmint Day. If you are visiting Budapest, keep in mind that this month is all about furmint wine. Restaurants and bars all across the country organize special tastings and dinners. Here I’m reviewing the most precious event, the Furmint February - Grand Tasting in the Vajdahunyad Castle.

Since I’m writing a book on the most important sights, wineries, cultural heritage and gastronomy in the Tokaj region, I spend a lot of time with traveling around and discovering all the beauties of this place. I must say, that the ultimate Tokaj lifestyle hit me and I totally fell in love with it. I learned that furmint is a dominate and incredibly versatile grape in the region, it covers almost two-thirds of the vineyard area.  Outside of Tokaj, you will find this signature grape in the Somló area (the smallest wine region in North – West Hungary). I consider furmint as our flagship wine, I’m sure that this type will gain increasing attention in the future.

Every year in February a special grand tasting is organized in the Museum of Agriculture, the place itself is fascinating as well. Vajdahunyad Castle is a complex of different kind of units. The original castle was built in order to present the architectural values of Hungary in the frame of the Millenium Exhibition in the 19th century. Did you know that the building was a temporary construction only made of wood and cardboard? Finally it got so popular that it was rebuilt from durable materials. I love this place, it’s one of the most romantic spots in the city surrounded by a little lake and the City Park. Perfect venue for a fabulous event!

This is the 10th occasion already that furmint gets the attention of all wine lovers across the country, over 100 wineries were represented mainly from the Tokaj region.  They all gathered in the enormous hall and downstairs in two smaller sections. You had the chance to learn about wine, the wine-making process and talk to the wine makers directly. The entrance ticket can be purchased online, it includes the glass, unlimited tasting from 4 pm till 9 pm and some snacks. Foodwise, delicious cheese from Mád and small sandwiches by the Ororszlános Vendéglő could be brought in the main hall,  LaBor Bistro from Tokaj served free bites with different ham versions and fresh bread. For those who wanted to take gastronomy to a higher level, oyster and salmon could have been purchased downstairs.

The event is very popular, it’s highly recommended to go there on time, it gets more crowded in the evening. I arrived in the afternoon and I met some fellow winemakers, I already know from the Tokaj region.  The impressive place and the smell of wine set the mood already.

It's revolutionary that this whole month is dedicated to one special variety, therefore you can get to know the different vintages from small or even big wineries. You can compare, taste, decide what kind of furmint is your type. I prefer fruity aromas with oaky spice and rich minerals, which is very much showing you the traditional character of the region. My absolute favorite one is the Szepsy Furmint from 2009. It's a unique old wine with honey and apricot aromas. My other favorite winery is Chateau Dereszla, its wine cellar is more than 600 years old and proves to have an excellent climate inside.

If you have passion and interest in wine, here you can learn a lot and taste all kind of furmint wines from the top wineries in Hungary. The best way to understand the wine and the wine-making process is to visit the Tokaj region, enroll for tastings on the vineyard, book a cozy room and be amazed by all the beauties that this UNESCO World Heritage Site could offer to you. It's always a pleasure to be there! A tour guide book, mobile application and e-book version on the region will be ready in spring. Join me for a pleasant Tokaj discovery! I can't wait to show you the neighbourhood through my eyes!