Last
week we visited the Royal Palace in Gödöllő. The weather was very
nice and sunny in the middle of November. We went by suburban train.
The journey take about one hour.
The Royal Palace of Gödöllő is located about 26 kilometersNortheast of Budapest . The Palace is the largest baroque palace in Hungary and the second biggest surfaced palace after Versailles. The building was designed by András Mayerhofer in the 1740's.
The
Palace was ordered by Count Antal Grassalkovich in 1773.
Count
Antal Grassalkovich was the the richest nobleman of Hungarian
aristocracy in the 18th century, a president of the Hungarian
Chamber and the royal confidant of the Hungarian queen Maria
Theresia.
During
the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the building served as a summer
residence for Emperor Francis Joseph and Queen Elisabeth between
1867 and 1916. The royal couple spent a lot of time there, especially
empress Elisabeth with her children.
The
palace was used as summer residence by governor Miklós Horthy
between 1920-1944.
After
World War II, the Soviet Union occupied Hungary and confiscated the
royal palace. The beautiful symbol of the former monarchy was used as
a barracks for Soviet troops and later there was a nursing home for
the elderly. By
the time Hungary declared independence from the Soviet Union in
1989, Gödöllő Palace was in a terrible state of disrepair.
Recently,
the castle was beautifully restored to its original splendour.
The
Grand Hall is resplendent in white and gold painted rooms, a red marble
bath, conservatory, a riding school, a baroque theatre and a large
park.
Riding school, long ago and ......
today.
Baroque theatre
The
palace gives home a permanent exhibition, as well as seasonal
exhibitions of the historical and contemporary art all year round.
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