Kossuth Lajos tér, Pest

On the northern edge of the center of Pest lies Kossuth Lajos tér, surrounded by monumental buildings. On the west side stands Parliament Building and on the east side the Neo-Renaissance Ethnographical Museum and the neo-classical Ministry of Agriculture and Food building.

On the northern lawns of the square stands a monument commemorating Lajos Kossuth by Zsigmond Stróbl (1952); on the southern lawn is an equestrian statue of Count Ferenc Rákóczi by János Pásztor (1935). On the square in front of the north front of the Parliament Building the famous sculptor Imre Varga unveiled a statue in 1975 of the politician Mihály Károlyi (1875-1955).

To the south of Parliament Building stands a pleasing statue of the great lyricist Attila József by László Márton.

Kossuth Lajos ter Map

Related Attractions

Ethnographical Museum

The Ethnographical Museum is housed in the former Palace of Justice, which had been built in 1896 to the designs of Alajos Hauszmann.

Over the tympanum, which is supported by six tall columns, can be seen a troika with the Goddess of Justice by K. Senyei. The frescos in the entrance hall are by K. Lotz.

The museum's extensive Hungarian collection includes articles of rural life, implements for handwork and craft, as well as unusual examples of craft and textiles. Special exhibitions are concerned with ethnic groups from central Asia and Siberia who are related to the Magyars, as well as with the development of various cultures.

Also of interest are the New Guinea collection of Biró and Fenichel, the African collection of Teleki and Torday and the more recent exhibits from Central Asia, Siberia, South America and, most importantly, those from the South Pacific.

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Banknote and Coin Collection

The history of Hungarian coins and banknotes are exhibited - from the oldest Hungarian coin, a deanrius issued by Hungary's first king, St. Stephen, to the coins and banknotes of the present day. A special section deals with the monetary history of Transylvania.

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