Ybl Budai Creative House, Budapest

A listed World Heritage site, this tiny palace was built in the late 19th century. A combination of Renaissance and Baroque styles, it was created by Hungary's most influential architect, Mikl贸s Ybl. At a glance, you can never guess that this charming building is, in fact, a pump house originally designed to supply water to the nearby Royal Palace. In 2009, during a canal construction, a six-room cistern system was discovered, by then completely forgotten, revealing the gravel layer that filtered Danube water for the use in the palace, predating the canalization system in Budapest. Later, when that system became fully-fledged, the cisterns lost their purpose, but the building remained and was reassigned to a new role, a music-n-dance pavilion for public entertainment. Upon that, in the early 20th century it was rebuilt as an elegant cafe-restaurant and served in that capacity for 40 years. People say that once it had a large garden with a dance floor at the front and a band playing on the terrace. For another 15 years, up until 2007, it functioned as a casino where modern-day gamblers came to enjoy themselves in an aristocratic setting.

In 2016, the building came into the possession of the Pallas Athena Foundation and changed its profile once again. This time around, though, the new owners not only masterly restored the facade and inner parts of the property, but also gave it a whole new life as an arts venue. Thus, the Ybl Budai Creative House came into being, a historic monument and cultural spot hosting art exhibitions, interactive events, performances, workshops, concerts, movie screenings and family programs. Moreover, just as in the old days, visitors here can enjoy good food at an on-site restaurant or simply kick back with a cup of coffee on the terrace with a panoramic view of the Danube.

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Sight Name: Ybl Budai Creative House
Sight Location: Budapest, Hungary (See walking tours in Budapest)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Buda Introduction Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Budapest, Hungary

Create Your Own Walk in Budapest

Creating your own self-guided walk in Budapest is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Buda Introduction Walking Tour

The Hungarian capital Budapest is a relatively young city, emerged only in the late 19th century as a result of the merger of two neighboring towns - Buda on the western bank of the Danube and Pest on the eastern bank. Set on the hills, Buda represents a historic part of the city and is a home to the grand Hapsburg palace which still breathes the imperial air of old-time wealth.

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles

Jewish Quarter Walking Tour

Budapest's Jewish Quarter is a neighborhood filled with contradictions. Despite being the smallest, this district has the highest population density. As well as being home to a conservative Orthodox Jewish community, it's an eclectic mix of hedonistic nightlife. Of all of the city's neighborhoods, it is the Jewish Quarter that tends to leave the biggest impression on visitors, so... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles

Pest Introduction Walking Tour

Separated from its western neighbor Buda by the magnificent river Danube, the eastern part of Budapest, formally known as Pest, takes up almost two thirds of the Hungarian capital. Unlike hilly Buda, Pest is predominantly a flat plain with a pretty buzzing and bourgeois setting. It houses some truly magnificent architectural sights, including the Hungarian Parliament itself. In part, this is... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.3 Km or 2.7 Miles

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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles

Margaret Island Walking Tour

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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles

Andrassy Avenue Walking Tour

Dating back to 1870 and recognized as a World Heritage site, Andr谩ssy Avenue is a long, wide boulevard named after Prime Minister Gyula Andr谩ssy (served 1867鈥�71) that connects Budapest's downtown with the City Park. The entire stretch is lined with caf茅s, restaurants, luxury shops, as well as cultural institutions, elegant neo-Renaissance apartment blocks, mansions, and embassies with... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles

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