Urban Architecture in and around Budapest [antikvár]

INTRODUCTION In om- book we try to show the evolvrtion of Budapest, the capital city of the 1100 year old Hungary, and to give an overview of the history of the architecture and development of the settlements surrounding the capital city. Oiu- book is divided into three chapters. Chapter I is devoted to the lústory and art of people who lived in tlie north-eastern region of Transdanubia (the part of Hungary situated between the Danube and Austria), the ancient Roman province of Pannónia. We have evoked the events of the eleven centuries passed since the Hungarian conquest which shaped the history of the country. Soon after the Hungarian conquest, in the 10th and 11th centuries, the network of settlements evolved, which later served as the groimdwork for the urban network of the country. The progress of the coimtry was cut short by the Mongohan invasion in the 13th century and by the Turkish occupation in the 16th century. The Turkish occupation tore the country into three parts which made urban management and development, based on vtniSed principles and poHcles, impossible. Following the Turkish retreat in the 18th century, progress was slow to start. The Hungarian ruling class, though reluctantly and wdth certain conditions, accepted the Hapsburgs' right to the accession of the throne in 1687. The country became a part of the Hapsbiu-g empire. The emperors thought in terms of the interests of the whole empire and did not and could not take into consideration the national interests of the country. Following Austro-Himgarian Compromise of 1867, the Austro-Himgarian Monarchy was established. Pursuant to tliis event the country started a prosperous course of development until the World War I which brought about disintegration of the Monarchy and the dismemberment of Htmgary. Follovring World War 11 major emphasis was added to the development of the industrial sector and to the housing projects in connection with industrialisation. In base of the modem turban development principles a great number of blocks of flats were built in a relatively short period. In Chapter II we explore the history of the three ancient cities: Óbuda, Buda and Pest, and the era following their unification in 1873. The economic boom of the second half of the 19th cen-ttuy allowed for the erection of public buildings, for the management of issues of national public interest, and for the creation of transportation facilities. Budapest became a real metropolitan city. Chapter III describes the settlements siu:-rounding Üie capital city. Some of these settlements have a history of 2000 years. Visegrád was established on the site of the Roman settlement Ponte Navata, while Szentendre was established on the site of Ulcisia Castra. In the last 1500 years these towns were destroyed and resurrected several times. The cities and towns are best characterised by their historical centres, which evolved dimng the course of several centuries as a result of the geographical location of the towns. To feel at home in these towns, all one has to do is spending a longer period of time in Üiem - in order to feel the air of history and to feel the atmosphere of the city. The history of the Himgarian cities and towns and tlie development of their architecture show that Himgary became a part of Europe as early as the 10th century. This is true even though the country fell into the Asian sphere of interests on several occasions in tlie course of past centuries, for longer or shorter periods of time. This book is offered to all those interested readers who want to learn more about the archi-tectiure and urban landscape of tlie capital city and tlie settlements in its surrotmding. Budapest, 7th April 1998 -6 —