Planning a trip to Budapest next year? You might want to add the Citadella to your to-do list. The monument, which towers above the city on Gellért Hill, is reopening next year after a huge renovation.
It’s one of the city’s most enduring landmarks, standing as a symbol of freedom. The goal is to transform the former military structure into a brand new attraction that celebrates its history.
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One of its most exciting new features will be the pedestrian bridge built entirely of glass – something rarely found in Europe. A large-scale, walk-through exhibition named ‘The Bastion of Freedom’ will also be installed in the spacious rondella, where visitors can learn about Hungary’s fight for its liberty over the course of history.
The inner courtyard will feature a water feature and an eternal flame, and the outside spaces will have twice as much green space as before.
There’ll also be a new café and gift shop, alongside communal areas – the aim is to create a kind of urban oasis at the top of Gellért Hill. The panoramic city views here have long been a favourite spot for wedding photos.
What is the Citadella?
The Citadella was originally a fortress built by the Austrians in the wake of the Hungarian Uprising of 1848, but has since become a symbol of the nation’s many struggles for sovereignty over the centuries. It has been under Budapest’s control since 1899, except when it was occupied by Soviet troops during Hungary’s 1956 revolution. Clearly, it’s a spot with serious historical significance.
The restoration of the whole Citadel complex, which was taken over by the state in 2014, began in autumn 2020. During the works, Celtic, Roman and Turkish finds were unearthed, and the walls had to be strengthened. Designers used as much original stone and Habsburg-era technology as they could, but also integrated contemporary materials for a fresh look.
It will reopen to the public on Hungary’s Independence Day, March 15.
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