City Park - Varosliget, Budapest

We walked in Budapest the first week of
october. And just like people told me in the
forum the weather can go many ways.
The temperature was quit high. Compared to
Belgium , we would even say it is warm.
Even swimming in open air and sunbathing
in swimwear was possible.
Check the weather here - go with your mouse
where you think Budapest is.
A good excersize as well.

Anyway. People told me that the weather
by the end of october could be like freezing cold.
Where am I heading for...
I made this picture behind heroes square.
There seems to be this dry lake , behind the
bridge. (I made the picture from the side where
there was still water). That is the ice skating
place. In front of that palace like building ,
a gigantic iceskating lake appears.

It was the favorite activity for the middle class.
I think it must be amazing to have a look...

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Behind the monument of the Heros' Square one of the largest green areas of Budapest can be found. It’s worth mentioning not just becuse of its hundred years old oak trees and relaxing pathways but some intresting buildings and important amusement places also hide there

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Sometimes being on vacation doesn't mean to go from one place to another in a hurry in order to make the best of one's journey, so if you want to admire one of the nicest places in Budapest while still doing something touristy, take a walk on the City Park.

The City Park is a green oasis where you can walk, jog, play ping-pong, rent a boat and paddle or just relax and look at the beautiful buildings, the Vajdahunyad Castle and the Museum of Agriculture. Or why not take a walk and then take a dip on the Széchenyi Bath?

Edit: I finally found out what the name of the church on the first picture is, thanks to VT member Laszlo aka csordila: "The Chapel of Ják was built in Romanesque style for the millenary celebrations in 1896, as part of the fairy-tale-like Vajdahunyad castle, which represents architectural styles practised in Hungary from the Middle Ages to the Baroque period. The decorated doorway is an exact copy of the still-standing 13C Benedictine church at Ják in western Hungary. Over the door stand statues of Christ and ten of His apostles (the other two watch from the towers.)"

Thanks a lot Laszlo!

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City Park is at the end of Andrassy UT and can be easily reached using public transport. We spent several hours at this large park which has many attractions. The parklands are very relaxing with the attractions spread throughout giving you an easy and pleasant walk. We did not go into the Amusement park, Circus or Zoo but enjoyed the Botanical Gardens, Szechenyi Medicinal Bath, Vajdahunyad Castle and the lake.

We did not swim in the Szechenyi Bath but went inside the building entrance and admired the magnificent decorated ceiling and walls. It is a do not miss sight.

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This centrally located park was created in 1896 for the Millenium from an area of swampy ground previously a royal hunting enclave. Today, its relatively small 1.2 km acreage contains multiple attractions including an artificial lake which is a winter skating rink, thermal baths, a zoo, an amusement park, and scattered museums as well as the remarkable Vajdahunyad castle ( see below ). The main entrance from Heroes Square includes a bridge over the lake. On a warm afternoon we strolled along the lake, nodding to people we met, and enjoying a subdued relaxed moment. Small kiosks sold balloons and refreshments along the main walkway.

Some things are difficult to express in simple words. It is not much more than 15 years since Hungary freed itself from the shackles of Communist rule. As "nice" as Budapest is, and as nice as the park is, the years of neglect and disinterest manifest themselves in the least likely places. Varosliget is a lovely respite from the city, but today there are still the signs remaining of neglect and disrepair - uncurbed walks, poorly tended lawns, a general shabbiness of the amusement park and sales stands. The past is never far behind us.

The large City Park was originally designed to celebrate the Hungarian Millennium Exhibition (in 1896) and is the end of the monumental Andrassy street. The park includes the Vajdahunyad Castle and a small artificial lake as well as other popular attractions such as the Széchenyi baths, Heroes' Square and Vidam Park. Budapest ZOO is also located on the edge of the park.

The Varosliget, located behind the Hosok tere, is the City Park of Budapest and it is very nice. Inside it you can find a small lake, a castle (Vajdahunyad vara), gardens...
Inside this big park there is also the zoo, built in the 1866, it was restored between 1907-1912 and at the entrance were put stutes of elephants. Near the zoo there is a Luna Park and a termal bath (Szechenyi Gyogy-es Strandfurdo.
In the park there is statue of George Washington, a present gave from the Hungarian emigrants of the USA.
In the south-side of the park there is the Kozlekedsi Muzeum (Museum of transports) locate in a building built in 1896 by Jrisztian Ulrich.

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Check out my photos below


City Park (Varosliget) situated on the Pest Side of Budapest,
used to be an area of marshland which
served as a royal hunting ground, but in the 19th century it was
changed into a huge English-style park. A fairytale-like building
(Vajdahunyad Castle) and a picturesque lake offer a genuine
lesson in the history of architectural styles, as well as a calm
relaxation zone for tourists and locals alike.
The park is a vast green space with a lake The City Park also contains the Museum of Fine Arts, the Palace of Art, the City Zoo, the Szechyeni Bath and the Municipal Great Circus. Also in the park is the Vajdahunyad Castle located on an island in the lake. Outside the nearby Jak Chapel is a statue of a hooded monk called Anonymous, who chronicled the activities of the early Magyar tribes.

Városliget or City Park is a public park (302 acres or 1.2 km²; a rectangle 0.9 mile by 0.6 mile, or 1.4 km × 900 m) in Budapest, Hungary close to the city centre. It is located in Zugló, District XIV of Budapest. City Park was the main venue of the millennium (1896) celebrations of Hungary, by which time Andrássy Avenue, Millennium Underground and the Grand Boulevard were built. Its main entrance is Heroes' Square, one of Hungary's World Heritage sites. City Park proper includes the following notable sights: The Vajdahunyad Castle, The Széchenyi Medicinal Baths and Swimming Pool, The Municipal Zoological and Botanical Garden, The Municipal Grand Circus, The Budapest Amusement Park, City Park Pond (used as an ice rink in winter), etc.

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In the City park you can find (beyond the buildings, I`ve already spoken about) a huge park, the Amusement park (not really big and modern) with one of the oldest roller coasters of the world, the Circus of Budapest, the famous Zoo(1th and 2th pic), the most famous restaurant in Budapest, the Gundel, and two other lakes. On the one, that you see on pic N.4, there is another particular restaurant, built on one of the lakes. I`ve already tried it, and the food is exellent>;-)
On the 3 th. pic you can see the bridge wich connects the Heroes Square with the City Park, and on the 5.th, on the left side, you see the building of the skating rink. I hope that it will be functioning this winter, because it`s currently under renovation, so I have some doubts about it.
In summer you can boat also on this lake, but at the moment there is no water inside, because of the recontruction.