11/09/2015

Visit - Castle Garden Bazaar

In the Castle Garden Bazaar I was last time at the end of the 70s. At this time here was the famous Ifi Park ( Youth Park ) Many - later they became a classics - beat bands came here to play first time in front of a big audience. The park was closed down on 23rd September 1984. I read a lot that it will be newly renovated, but the years passed and it looked quite deplorable  at the foot of the castle. Now I had an opportunity to visit the rebuilt garden with my cousin again.

In the 19th century Pest was in progress, but no development happened in Buda, so the reconstruction of the area in the neighborhood of the Chain Bridge (Lánchíd) and the Castle has been decided in 1872-1873. In order to have place enough for the construction of Castle Garden Bazaar (Várkert Bazár) all the old and ruined small houses had to be demolished. The Castle Garden Bazár (Várkert Bazár) was build between 1875 and 1883 in Neo Renaissance style.



 In the 2nd World War many parts of the Bazaar were destroyed (lions at the gate, statue of winter, pergola, vases and paintings of the recesses), caused by a bomb attack in the neighborhood. In the 1950s, the original condition was planned to be restored, but it wasn't successful (original parts were demolished, concrete stairs were built and during the restoration the scales were missed). From 20 August, 1961 to 1984 the Youth Park was operated here where several concerts were held.

However, the place finally had to be closed down due to the continually deteriorating structure of the building.

Luckily this almost forgotten gem of Budapest is fully renewed and was opened August 2014 with shops, exhibitions halls, restaurants and cafes.






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