The central market of Budapest is one of the city's 5 covered bazaars that were created in the 19th century. Of these, it is considered the most colorful, has the largest size. Tourists love this place. It is noisy here, there are many bright colors, pleasant smells of spices, a large selection of goods. You immediately feel how Hungary lives.
History
Almost every guide tells the visitor about the Central Market of Budapest. Its history begins after the formation of the city, when there was a need to provide people with food. The bazaar was created in order to streamline trade. Tours are regularly held here today.
Visitors rarely manage to pronounce the name of the Központi Vásárcsarnok bazaar correctly the first time, observing all the subtleties of Hungarian pronunciation.
On the square. Fövam (formerly S alt), where this vast complex is located, come on their own or with a guide. Previously, there were warehouses with s alt in this area. There were also buildings for storing tobacco, which were dismantled after falling into disrepair.
Today the square is called Customs Square. In 1870, a building was built here, in which the customs service worked. It was located on the Pest side of the Danube River.
Nearby was the Freedom Bridge. Now this building has become the building of the University of Economics.
The pavilion that appeared at that time was stylized in the Parisian manner. The creator of the project was S. Petz. Construction began in 1894. The opening was scheduled for 1896. When the work was completed, a misfortune happened - a fire that destroyed the roof in half.
During the year, the Central Market in Budapest was repaired, finalizing the last details. The opening of the building, built of red brick, took place on March 15, 1897. It, decorated with beautiful ornaments, occupied a whole block. Towers were placed in the corners. Tiles of different colors were made in ovens at the Folnai factory. Everyone who wants to has access to it. The building of the market was significantly damaged during the hostilities that took place in the 20th century, for some time it did not work at all.
Interesting facts
Restoration of its functioning took place in the 90s of the last century, after restoration. There are several factors that can attract tourists to this place:
- The architectural style of the market building is no less striking than the abundance of products sold in it. The roof is curved. Colored paintings are dazzling. Openwork stairwells go to great heights.
- Date of last reconstruction - 1994. In 1999, the building was awarded the FIABCI Prix d'Excellence, the most honored among architectural awards.
- It is interesting that in the slang of the inhabitants of Budapest there is an expression "it stands like a cast-iron market." Speechis about the high cost of building a building because of a fire. So the final amount came out much more than planned.
This is a must-see when visiting Budapest. Tourists began to visit the Central Market as one of its most memorable sights. After the renovation, all the luxury shone in its former light.
Description of the first level
Now there are three levels here. On the ground floor they sell meat and sausages. The choice is truly impressive: several dozen varieties of salami, Viennese sausages, pork, lamb, sausages, pate, foie gras, capable of competing with the works of French culinary specialists.
When entering, visitors notice an appetizing aroma that invites them to come inside and take a good look at everything. It is almost impossible to leave here empty-handed. The Central Market (Budapest) is also a place of active sale of dairy products. You can see whole mountains of cheese. Nearby stalls with rustic pastries, lagos. Vegetables and fruits are consistently fresh. The prices are attractive. Compared to other markets in Europe, they are much lower.
Reviews
Tourists who have been here say that there are always a lot of people here buying groceries at home, exploring the meat and vegetable rows. Visitors are delighted by the central shopping mall, which is decorated with salami sticks, like New Year's toys. This is where foreigners enter and leave the market.
Sausages, dried paprika, fruitvodka, Zwack Unicumc brand balms. As a result of such shopping, shoppers usually have a good dinner after a long day full of interesting but tiring city walks.
Many people buy delicacy sausages, for which mold is more of an advantage than a disadvantage. Such products are produced by Peak's factories. Herz products have a smell similar to juniper smoke. Literally curtains of meat products sway over the counters. Moreover, not randomly, but distributed in color from Viennese sausages to pink sausages from Debrecen, made from finely chopped pork in the skin of sheep's intestines. They give off such a strong fragrance that it can transfer to other purchases in the bag.
However, despite this risk, it is highly recommended to try them. People who took advantage of this opportunity claim that it is especially good to serve such a dish with Hungarian wine. Entering the left compartment, people see muzzles and various parts of carcasses. The spectacle is not for the faint of heart.
Dairy department
After walking past the sellers of alcoholic beverages, you find yourself in the dairy department, where it is already calmer. For sale milk, milked in the morning of the same day. You can come up with a can, and the seller will fill it with a ladle.
A lot of cheese makes the mountains look like bricks or bags of cement stored in a storage area, which delights people who have never seen such a sight. Tourists like to try lagos baked in oil, one of the favorite Hungarian delicacies. In the chilly winter, which is typical for this state, such food warms andbrings a feeling of comfort. In large jars they sell pates - a creamy substance with fatty streaks. They will be stored for at least three months.
Lower level
Descending to the lower level, people enter the supermarket. According to the stories of tourists, it is not particularly different from those that are on almost every street. Much more interesting is the nearby counter with spices. They call it the "Colonial Shop".
When approaching it, people catch the smell of spices and herbs with their sense of smell. Saffron, Thai herbs, Sumatran coffee, zira, barberry and sumac beckon with their smells. Vendors here could compete with Istanbul market vendors.
Exaggerated jars and flasks look especially beautiful. It seems as if he was in a pharmacy from the Middle Ages. Rosemary oil is sold inexpensively, which the Hungarians use as an elixir. Salads are seasoned with this green substance. Next is the bakery. Visitors to the city love to try delicious baguettes, cinnamon and aniseed bun.
Excellent to reinforce such products of strength after a walk, drinking coffee, tea or juice. The muffin here is the best in all of Budapest.
Central Market - a place where you can shop with mushroom pickers. There are earth mounds and aquariums. Here, mushrooms are not only sold, but also directly grown. You can see how a whole colony of mushrooms or mushrooms grows. If in our latitudes the stem of a mushroom is cut off with a knife, then in Hungary it is pulled out of the ground. Then it is placed in a low temperature cellar.or an aquarium where it is stored for three days without turning black. In this part of the bazaar, a rather unusual smell of dampness reigns for most people. It is worth noting that there is a risk of stumbling upon fake truffles, so it is better not to take them here.
Top level
On the upper gallery there are catering establishments and shops with souvenirs. Author's crafts, national costumes, woven towels and tablecloths, hand-made dolls are on sale.
According to people who have been here, all these products cost a lot, but they bring great pleasure to the owners or those who just passed by and decided to stop and look. There are always a lot of people in restaurants and cafes, even despite the relatively high cost of dishes.
Goulash, strudel with cottage cheese and cherries, sausages and coffee are popular. The central market of Budapest is a huge shopping complex. Walking along it, willy-nilly, you will get hungry.
Address and opening hours
Not only the Central Market of Budapest is interesting, but also the picturesque river bank. It is interesting to ride on a pleasure boat. But first you need to get here.
Once in an unfamiliar city, it is not easy to find your way without a guide and a sightseeing bus. How can a tourist get to the Central Market (Budapest)? Bazaar address: Budapest, Vámház krt. 1-3, 1093. The nearby Liberty Bridge, built over the Danube, will serve as a landmark.
From public transportbus 15, trams 2 and 2a, 47, and 49 are suitable. Also use the blue metro line to get to the Central Market (Budapest). Its opening hours differ on different days of the week: Monday - 6:00-17:00, Tuesday to Friday - 6:00-18:00, Saturday - 6:00-15:00. The market is closed on Sunday.
Tourist impressions of the market
In order to admire the architecture and the impressive scale of the building, tourists often come to the Central Market of Budapest. Reviews indicate that people get a triple pleasure: get acquainted with the style of the building, get the opportunity to buy original products and spices, and also eat deliciously.
This is a place where people enjoy walking in any weather, because there is a roof over their heads. The guests of the city are impressed by the scale of the establishment.
Three floors of the building never cease to amaze and delight with the range of products. It feels like trading is treated like an art and not just a business.
Having been here, people look at shopping as an interesting adventure, not an urgent need. If before that a person was reluctant to go to the market for a few kilograms of potatoes, then here he goes as if to a museum or to a bright fair.
Hungary, Budapest, the Central Market is a wonderful place for both a curious tourist and a practical and thrifty city dweller.