If anything better demonstrated the vibrance of Budapest then it was my visit this morning to the Great Market Hall just 400 metres further along the western bank of the Danube in Pest. It was a pleasant stroll in bright sunshine along the bank of the Danube. Incidentally did you know that the name 'Blue Danube' derives from the reflection of the blue sky on the waters of the river! It was a clear blue sky so yes; the Danube was blue!!
It turned out to be the hottest day so far, reaching 27 Centigrade by the afternoon!!
The architecture of the market building is impressive. It was built in 1897 and offers a large variety of stalls on three floors. The entrance gate has a neogothic touch. Another distinctive architectural feature is the roof which was restored to have colourful Zsolnay porcelain tiles manufactured in Pécs. The size of the building is 10,000 square metres and is covered by a steel structure resembling that of a Railway Terminus. During World War II the market was significantly damaged and remained in a deteriorating condition until renovation to its original splendour began in 1991. The building re-opened in 1997 and judging by the number of people browsing the market stalls this morning, it continues to be one of the most popular tourist attractions of the city.
Sadly, I don't have any photos to support my impression but this link will take you to a site that shows images of both the inside and outside: https://budapestmarkethall.com/great-market-hall-budapest
I only found 2 floors. The third turned out to be in the basement catering for fishmongers and specialist meat stalls. The hundreds of stalls sell: fruits, vegetables, dairy products, salamis, pickles, fresh fish, Hungarian paprika, Tokaj wines, souvenirs of all kinds, bags, clothes, pans and pots, and even home style meals, or Hungarian snacks at the upper floor food stands and eateries.
Above are a few photos of my own as a memory of this colourful marketplace.
Watch this space for the next couple of posts which will all be about the amazing engineering behind the Main-Danube Canal and the 68 locks through which we we passed on our 1811 km cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest.
