Visit the Roma Parlament

The Springfield street is a colorful and real time-worn place to visit in the 8th district. The original Hungarian name of the street is Tavaszmező (means springfield). Once it was the centre of the Budapest prostitutes. Now it is a well known place by the students of Budapest Tech Polytechnical Institution which takes place at Tavaszmező as well. During the II. World War first Nazi, than Russian soldiers tore the neighborhood. In 1956 the Russian soldiers left their marks againe on the fascades with AK47 machine guns.

After the democratic change happened in Hungary (1989) the first official minority-roma institution the Roma Parlament (RP) was founded. And in the story of the famous house a new chapter has began. The political representation is only one of the important functions of the RP. Social case-work, law assistance and funding talented gipsy students are held here as well. The RP is giving place to the only permanent Roma art exhibition in Hungary. It is highly recommended to see who they are. Before visiting, please write an e-mail, but weekdays you can find the RP opened at the first floor.
The staircase of the building hides a secret surprise for You, let's check it all out!

Where to find? Halfway between the Horváth Mihály square church and the Mátyás square.
From the city centre: by Bus no. 109 or no.9 from Astoria or Deák square; get off at Horváth Mihály tér. Or you can also take the trolley no.83 from Fővám tér (Great Market Hall)
Please validate Your tickets, thanks!


e-mail the organisation: roma.parlament@chello.hu
1084 Budapest Tavaszmező utca 6.
Hungarian site of the Roma Parlament:
http://www.romaparlament.hu/

Only in Budapest

If you live in Budapest or you plan to visit the Hungarian capital in this new year 2009, there is one thing you will certainly need. The brand new styled"Only in Budapest" guidebook.

I am Hungarian. I live in Budapest for 27 years. I work as a guide for a few years. And still the book gives me new clues to understand Budapest and new pieces of information about the capital too.

You surely know the average guidebooks which tell you the exact dates, must to know details and stories of the buildings in a perfect yet perfectly booring way.

The "Only in Budapest" guidebook is just the opposite. It puts every story and date in a context, in an understandable background. And this approach explains much more than just a normal description of a sight.

The "Only in Budapest" does not only talks about the famous sights but looks for some more adventuorus although less popular, less touristic places as well. I feel the book gives a more realistic and more colourful picture of Budapest. Why don't you chose to see this human faced Budapest rather than the shiny, for tourists Budapest?

I don't meant this to be an advertisement. I just love the book, and if I were a tourist in a foreign capital I would chose this way to look around.

The auther of the book: Duncan J. D. Smith seems to be an intreseting figure as well. He tarvelled all around the world and specified in 'urban exploring'. He knows a lot, that's for sure.

Check out his website: http://www.duncanjdsmith.com/

Just one more praise of the book: it's beautiful. I mean the outlook. It is full of amaising pictures. The book feels good to hold it.

It is indeed a quality work!

Journalists in the 8th

It was our honor to guide 16 journalists from all over the world to the 8th district. The guests were invited to Hungary by The Palace of Arts. Instead of visiting glittering avenues we discovered some hidden places. The group was invited by the Molnár Anni Gallery to familiarize with contemporary Hungarian art. We could not miss the cafe and cakes at Horváth Mihály square pastry shop. Finishing the program we visited a gipsy musician family to have a real face-to-face experience. Presented by Budapest Beyond Sightseeing in the 8th district.

Architectural tours

Budapest Beyond Sightseeing as the sponsor of the 100 rooms - 100 models I. International Festival of Architectural Models proudly presents two tours to the 8th district. The walking tours will be held for the praticipants of the model festival. The program is organised by the KÉK - Hungarian Contemporary Architecture Center between the 7th-9th November.

For further information and registration please visit: www.kek.org.hu

Downtown ART

Let's see what Budapest Beyond Sightseeing recommends You next. There is a renewing cultural area in town. Of course it is in the 8th district. The 'Palace district' of the 8th hides some great art spaces between the National Museum and the Combino trams. In the street of a former hungarian minister Horánszky opened a new flat-gallery: K. Pertrys. Refreshing and obscene what You are looking for now. It is Attila Stark's exhibition: Kaka, kulo, pedo, pis. Attila is colouring Budapest with his street art works, making applied art paintings and finally made a 'normal' exhibition with outstanding pictures. Now we hope You are ready to run till the gallery. Before that call Anikó Robitz +36 20 470 99 93 or write to her galeria@petrys.hu.

Adress: K. Petrys Ház 1085 Budapest, Horánszky street 13. II. 19.

http://www.kulocity.com/

www.petrys.hu/

Green Peace

It is autumn time and it is time to slow down. What would be the best place to get relaxed? A nice park, that is for sure! If you do not have the time to get out of the noisy city visit the ELTE Botanical Garden our 'Füvészkert'. Unique Budapest experience in september with banana trees. The park is opened from 9am to 17pm every day. The entrancy fee is friendly: 500HUF (2Euro) adults, 250HUF students. If you have already visited our 'flat land' it will be easy to find. If not, here is your helping map.

The hungarians know the 'Füvészkert' very well from the famous Molnár Ferenc novel 'Pál utcai fiúk'. The atmosphere of the garden still reminds to the young boys and their heart-piercing story. However the garden changed a lot, the famous lake disappeared. What is still original is the 'Festetics hunting-seat' built in 1802. The squirrels and Ginko trees are waiting for You.
Do not be lazy, get your shoes on. If You have already visited the place: comment it!

Flat land

You will find an amazing view if visiting a hidden post-communist block. The "Szigony Lakótelep" is surrounded by the modern city area, the eclectic style facades and the clinic area. The neighbourhood is famous among the Hungarians. What Hungarians surely know about the ' Szigony lakótelep' is, that the poverty rate and the drog users number is higher than any other average block of flats. A huge Chinese colony and musician gipsies also live behind the concrete walls. In the 18th and 19th century this was a marchland with a cemetery and a hunting forest. As the city grew at the turning of the 20th century it became an important commercial and industrial area. At the second world war many of the houses nearby were damaged. The communist regime forced to build block houses instead of renovation. That's how the 'Szigony Lakótelep' was born in the '70s. If you visit the plase we recommend you a very unique, very local pub. It is called the 'Tisza presszó' , named after the second biggest river of Hungary.

Are you curious? It is easy to get there: just jump on the bus 9. or 109 at Astoria or Deák tér and get off at the Koszorú utca station. Do not forget to validete your BKV ticket.

See what's Beyond Budapest!