8 Fascinating Facts About Budapest’s 140-Year-Old Keleti Railway Station
Budapest’s Keleti Railway Station, a stunning example of Eclectic architecture, has been a central hub for passengers since it first opened on 16th August 1884. While renowned Hungarian painters Károly Lotz and Mór Than adorned the station with beautiful frescoes, there are several more fascinating facts about this historic Hungarian transport hub.
According to Descending, the Keleti Railway Station was constructed on three thousand piles due to high water levels discovered during its building. Architects Gyula Rochlitz and János Feketeházy designed the station to withstand these challenges.
On its inaugural day, the first train departed from Keleti Railway Station on 16th August, headed for Miskolc, pulled by a steam engine. Notably, the station was equipped with electric lighting from the start, featuring 644 bulbs that illuminated both the interior and exterior for passengers.
Originally named ‘Budapest Central Station’, it was later renamed Keleti in 1892. During the Second World War, Allied bombings caused significant damage to the station, particularly affecting the waiting rooms and main halls.
In front of the station, a pool on Baross Square served as a firewater tank for protection purposes. The station’s façade reaches 43 meters in height, with an allegorical figure sculpted by Hungarian artist Gyula Bezerédi adorning its crown. Bezerédi’s other works can be found in Pannonhalma and Budapest’s City Park, including a notable statue of George Washington.
Interestingly, Budapest boasts statues of three American presidents: Washington, Ronald Reagan, and George Bush. The original Bezerédi sculpture on Keleti’s façade had to be replaced in the 1990s. Additionally, beneath the station lies an extensive network of cellars that served as a shelter during wartime.
Keleti Railway Station remains a shining symbol of Budapest’s rich history and architectural heritage. Its significance is not only historical but also cultural, making it a must-visit landmark for locals and tourists alike.
