Museums Obuda Hungary - Attractions

Budapest is so full of history that it's easy to forget the Romans were here two thousand years ago. Their settlement was known as Aquincum, and the Aquincum museum brings its' history to life. A large outdoor area full of ruins gives us a clear picture of building layouts and patterns, while the museum itself houses some real treasures, including the world-famous portable water organ. This musical device clearly shows just how advanced the Romans actually were.

This small museum is dedicated to displaying the life and work of Lajos Kossak, a talented and fiery avant-garde artist, writer and poet. He firmly believed in the power of the working class and lived-through choice-in a fairly rough workers' area of Budapest. The museum displays most of his work.

If you thought that Budapest had every possible type of museum, you would be right. This museum opened to cover one area that had previously been left out: textiles. It is situated in Obuda, in the well-known Goldberger houses, and the history of the substantial Hungarian textile industry is traced and recorded here. Huge machines used in the manufacture of textiles are on hand and it's all quite fascinating stuff.

This cute little museum takes only ten minutes or so to see and is located right where all the metro lines connect at Deak ter. They have several old carriages on display as well as some equipment and detailed drawings of the plans for this old system (the first underground on the continent). You can punch a ticket to cover the admission charge.

The building itself has had a long and varied history. It was presented to the city as a gift in 1935. Today, it houses a wide-ranging and rather eclectic collection. The exterior of the building is in beautiful baroque style, while the interior has been renovated with tasteful simplicity and the emphasis has been placed on the exhibits. These range from an old printing press where you can get a personal copy of the revolutionary 'Arise Hungarians!' to more contemporary paintings and turn-of-the-century furniture displays.

Vasarely may be Hungary's most famous contemporary artist. Even if you don't know his name, you've certainly seen some of his work as well as the work of many artists his style has influenced. Wild geometric patterns and lines trick the eye as they bubble and swell (or appear to do so) and then all of a sudden you notice objects in the paintings (like the well known 'zebras'). This is an interesting gallery set in a beautiful home.

Thousands of people are charmed by the public statues and sculptures of Imre Varga as they walk about Budapest. This museum dedicated to him contains replicas of these as well as sketches and other items. Among his works is the memorial statue dedicated to Raoul Wallenberg, which was put in place in 1987, as well as the Holocaust memorial of 1991.

This museum displays various exhibits from the iron smelting and casting industry. It's housed in a building that could be straight out of a Dickens novel. The original machines and equipment used for this torturous yet necessary work are on display and the atmosphere is one of a real factory. Some of the cast-iron items are truly astounding, bringing art to functionality.

This is a fascinating little museum that is well worth a look. It shows how the modern pharmacy developed from the study of alchemy, as well as actual counter layouts and shelf displays from around a century ago. If you like unusual and interesting little bottles, containers and other such things, then this is the museum for you. Some of the working pharmacies in Budapest are also beautiful and fairly unchanged in the last century - why not pop in and take a look? If you're someone who thinks they don't like museums, this one may well suit you, as it is small and unique. It makes a very nice break from the bustle of Castle Hill.

This museum traces the development of the Hungarian Ambulance Service. Budapest seems to have just about every other kind of museum you can think of, so why not this? And since the fire brigade has a museum, the ambulance folks couldn't be left out. Dozens of photos and historic signs and notices as well as actual equipment make up the bulk of the exhibit. Admission is HUF 60.

This small museum (once the home of the famous doctor) is beautiful from the outside as well as from the inside. Ignac Semmelweis made his name by discovering a cure for pre-natal fevers (which hinged around sanitary and aseptic conditions), thus saving the lives of many women. He became known as the "saviour of mothers". The museum houses more than just mementoes to him; there are pharmacy items, a mummified skull and other objects as well as models of dissection.

This museum contains a large collection of bibles in various languages. It traces the history of the bible through archaeological and other major discoveries. There is also a collection of Hungarian bibles, in which written Hungarian was used for the first time. The museum is also of interest to calligraphers, as the bibles are mainly hand-written and illustrated (and illuminated).

This museum is definitely worth a visit, especially if you have been enchanted by the beauty of Budapest and you want to learn more about it. It is housed in one of the wings of the actual palace. You will find several exhibitions retelling the city's long and turbulent history as well as sections that have been renovated to show what the palace used to look like in medieval times. There is also a fine collection of statues. Do be aware that the museum has changing opening hours and days; from mid-May to mid-September, it is open every day; during the rest of the year it is closed on Tuesdays.

This museum is unique in that it specializes in just one area and that is electricity. The wide range of historical devices on display is actually rather fascinating (especially the old lamps). The museum traces the history of electricity by examining its generation, distribution and most interestingly, its consumption. There are a variety of weird and wonderful devices, which go into action once a switch is flicked. Admission is free.

This museum's architecture alone warrants a stop, but it also played a major role in Hungary's history; Petofi recited his famous 'national song' from the steps here in 1848; there is a plaque to commemorate this famous event. The inside of the museum is also stunning, with lavish use of marble and ceremonial architecture. The displays give a thorough account of the history of the Hungarian nation.