Noble Palaces in Budapest

As a result of the stormy turns of history following World War II, much of the Hungarian aristocracy emigrated abroad. The former country castles and city palaces were typically given some kind of public function; the castles became sanatoriums and orphanages, while offices or cultural institutions were relocated to the city palaces. Many buildings have been demolished or are no longer accessible as they now serve as residential buildings or event venues.

Now, we would like to highlight some palaces worth visiting during your stay in Budapest, all conveniently located within walking distance of Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest.

Currently, the Pallavicini Palace on Andrássy Avenue, near Kodály Körönd, is owned by a Hungarian bank. Although it appears as an imposing private palace from the outside, it was originally intended as a luxury apartment building when it was built – of course, the marquis family of Italian origin also owned properties within it. Incidentally, the aristocratic family received the plot in exchange for the Sándor Palace in the castle area (currently serving as the office of the president of the republic). Today, visitors can enjoy lunch or even a slice of cake at the restaurant or cafeteria operated by the bank within the Pallavicini Palace.
 

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Relatively close, at Oktogon, is the former Batthyány Palace, which stands out unmistakably from its surroundings. The count who commissioned the building liked the Renaissance Palazzo Strozzi in Florence so much that he simply copied it. Once one of the most luxuriously furnished buildings in the city, it can now only be visited during temporary exhibitions; otherwise, it serves as the district's marriage hall.
 

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In the vicinity of the National Museum, there are also two buildings open to the public, one of which is the majestic Wenckheim Palace. This legendary and beautiful building was once the venue for balls and receptions – even the Emperor of Austria, Franz Joseph, visited here. The count’s family sold it to the city of Budapest in 1927 to establish the largest public library. The building’s sumptuous ballroom and salons have now been transformed into reading rooms, accessible with a reading ticket. However, the Palace is not only visited by readers but also by filmmakers. The atmosphere of the past can be restored by moving a few pieces of furniture, and the magnificent neo-Rococo building is a potential location for several production companies. For example, it served as the backdrop for a couple of scenes in The Alienist starring Daniel Brühl in 2018, and in the same year, Jennifer Lawrence shot some scenes for Red Sparrow in Budapest. Decades ago, in 1972, Richard Burton also filmed some scenes of his film Bluebeard here. Some stars fall so in love with the building that they tour its magnificent rooms. Additionally, many tourists specifically visit the former Wenckheim Palace to see the spaces that appear in the films. They often ask the librarians for help in finding the wonderful rooms they saw in the movies.
 

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The Wenckheim Palace is a popular event venue, and our catering service, The Kitchen Caters, has had the pleasure of collaborating on functions held here several times.

Not far from here, the Károlyi Palace is definitely worth a visit. The Petőfi Literary Museum operates here, regularly organising exhibitions focusing on Hungarian literature. The palace is notable because it once belonged to the country's first president of the republic, Count Mihály Károlyi, and his wife, Katinka Andrássy (whom posterity refers to as the Red Countess). The palace garden (Károlyi-kert) is an extremely popular public park among Budapest residents.

 

Our guest writer, the Budapest Curator by Kempinski Corvinus: Balázs Pécsi, publisher of The Gentleman's Review luxury & society magazine.

Be sure to head back to our Budapest Travel Tips page to discover more of what to see and do in Budapest. Of course, our Clefs d'Or Member concierges and our entire staff at Kempinski Hotel Corvinus will be more than happy to assist in any way they can during your stay too.

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