Heroes' Square: All The Famous Hungarian Historical Figures At One Place
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Almost the entire Hungarian history is waiting for you at the Heroes’ Square in the heart of Budapest. This open-air location with monumental sculptures is part of the World Heritage. It is worth getting to know it virtually first, so that you can absorb Hungary's history in person.
What do the Heroes’ Square’s sculptures teach you about?
At the end of Andrássy Avenue, on Heroes’ Square, in the second half of the 20th century, there was originally an ornamental fountain designed by the famous Hungarian architect Miklós Ybl. This well, named Gloriette, was eventually transferred to Széchenyi Hill (where it has been part of the Széchenyi Memorial since then), because an imposing monument was planned for the 1000th anniversary of the conquest: the Millennium Monument. Architect Albert Schickedanz and sculptor György Zala were asked to design it by then Prime Minister Sándor Wekerle.
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The monument consists of two semicircular colonnades and a central group of statues. Today's sculptures in the colonnades are only partially identical to the originals: some of them have been replaced over time for historical reasons.
Let's see what's waiting for you today in the Heroes’ Square!
In the middle, there is a statue of the Archangel Gabriel on a 36-meter column. He holds a double cross in his left hand and the Holy Crown in his right - according to the legend II. Pope Sylvester had a dream in which the Archangel Gabriel suggested that he would give the crown to be handed over to the first envoy who came to him the next day, so even though the pope promised it to the Polish prince Mieszko, the Hungarian prince Stephen received it instead, thus Saint Stephen became the first Hungarian king. The work was not only liked by Hungarians, but also won the grand prize at the Paris World Exhibition of 1900.
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Under Gábriel's column are equestrian statues of the leaders of the seven Hungarian tribes - the seven conquering leaders, headed by leader Árpád.
In the colonnades, there are 2.8-meter bronze statues of historical figures who played an active role in the creation of modern Hungary. Each is accompanied by a relief depicting a historical scene typical of the age or activity to which the person belongs.
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The following statues and reliefs can be seen in the left colonnade (first the statue, then the subject of the relief):
King Saint Stephen; István receives the crown from the Pope on Christmas of the year 1000.
King Saint László; László defeats the valiant Kun who steals girls.
King Kálmán the Book; Kálmán forbids the burning of witches.
II. King Andrew; II. Andrew leads a crusade to liberate Jerusalem.
ARC. Béla; Béla rebuilds the country after the Tatar invasion.
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King Robert Charles; the Second Moravian Battle. (The only relief without an inscription, not by chance: this battle did not take place during the reign of Charles I. So it is a mistake, which they tried to disguise by not writing anything under the work.)
King Louis the Great; Louis the Great enters Naples, 1384.
The following statues and reliefs were located in the right colonnade (first the statue, then the subject of the relief):
Governor and general János Hunyadi; Hunyadi stops the Turkish invaders with his victory in Nándorfehérvár.
King Matthias Hunyadi; King Matthias among his scholars.
Transylvanian prince István Bocskai; Bocskai in the Hajdú battle with the imperial mercenaries.
Prince Gábor Bethlen of Transylvania; Bethlen makes an alliance with the Czechs, 1620.
Thököly Imre Kuruc leader and Transylvanian prince; The Kurucs of Thököly defeat the Labans in the battle of Sikszo, 1679.
II. Ferenc Rákóczi, prince of Transylvania; Tamás Esze welcomes Prince Rákóczi, who is returning from the Poles, with his army of serfs.
Lajos Kossuth; the call to arms of the people of the Great Plains with the Cegléd recruitment speech.
On top of the two semicircular colonnades, you can see the two-horse chariots of War and Peace, as well as the allegorical bronze figures of Work and Prosperity, and Knowledge and Glory.
The Heroes' Memorial Stone was added here later: the robust memorial stone was placed in the square in honor of the heroes of World War I.