A short bus ride from downtown Budapest will take the visitor to a unique museum – or, if you like – to a whole different world. Formerly called Statue Park, due to the addition of a new collection of items the sight is now known as Memento Park.This stunning historical sight presents a collection of public statues and memorials that were removed from the streets of Budapest after the collapse of socialism in 1989-90. Providing a glimpse behind the Iron Curtain, the park is one of the most thought-provoking sights of Budapest and a powerful reminder of the fall of tyranny in Eastern Europe. The gigantic and symbolic pieces of art displayed in Memento Park are powerful reminders of dictatorship. Facing them is the newly built „Stalin’s Tribune”, recalling the mythical longing for freedom.
Statue Park
Among the statues displayed are allegorical monuments of „Hungarian-Soviet Friendship” and „Liberation”, as well as statues of famous personalities from the labor movement, soldiers of the Red Army and other gigantic pieces: Lenin, Marx, Engels, Dimitrov, Ostapenko, Béla Kun and other „heroes” of the communist world.
A favorite with visitors is the Liberation Army Soldier. This 6-meter tall statue of the evil-eyed Soviet soldier once stood on the top of Gellért Hill in central Budapest, well-seen from every direction. A hammer-and-sickle flag in its hand and a cartridge-disc machine pistol hanging around its neck make the statue complete.
Main Entrance
When facing it, the main entrance bears the image of a monumental classicist building. Looking behind it, though, it resembles a 12-meter high, propped-up false scenery – a perfect introduction into the nature of communist dictatorship. As architect Ákos Eleod, the conceptual designer of Memento Park has put it: „This park is about dictatorship. And at the same time, because it can be talked about, described and built up, this park is about democracy. After all, only democracy can provide an opportunity to think freely about dictatorship. Or about democracy, come to that! Or about anything!”
Grandstand and Stalin’s Boots
The grandstand is a 1:1 replica of the tribune once located on „Felvonulási tér” in central Budapest. Communist leaders would stand here, waving at marching crowds that were forced to happily celebrate on state holidays. The tribune also served as the pedestal for the 8-meter-tall bronze statue of Soviet party secretary, head of state and general, Stalin. The crowd revolting against communist oppression pulled down the statue on the 23rd of October, 1956. The general’s boots, however, remained on the pedestal until the revolution was put down. The pair of boots displayed on the grandstand at Memento Park is an authentic replica of the original.
Red Star Store
This souvenir shop is a sure find for unique paraphernalia relating to the communist era. Soviet items, wristwatches, flasks, cigarette-lighters and other personal items, as well as fun t-shirts, mugs, postcards, posters depicting the „wise men” of communism and their slogans are all available. Other items include Trabant model-cars, Lenin-candles, authentic retro-souvenirs from the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s and the quirky Best of Communism music CDs, featuring communist movement marches. Red Army medals, posters, books, popular movies and documentaries from the era and other odd items are also for sale.
Trabant
The car known as the Trabant, its body made of pressed plastic units, was a unique product of Eastern Germany (German Democratic Republic – GDR). Visitors at Memento Park are welcome to get in and look around in this famous „people’s car” to get a first-hand experience of the „Trabant-feeling”. Although the one displayed at the park is out of order, the design is the original!
Northern Barrack
The periodical exhibition in this authentically-rebuilt barrack displays a photo collection on the 1956 Hungarian revolution, as well as the 1989-90 political changes and the design concept of Memento Park. These historical documents from the second half of the 20th century serve as a vivid illustration of Eastern-European nations’ longing for freedom. In the cinema, „The Life of an Agent” plays non-stop with English subtitles. This documentary, explaining communist secret service operation, its methods for collecting information and its network of informants, is also available in the gift shop in a DVD version.
Open daily from 10 a.m. until dusk.
http://www.mementopark.hu/
Budapest, 22nd district (Southern Buda), corner of Balatoni út and Szabadkai utca
Public transport connection to Memento Park
There is a once-daily direct bus from Deák tér at 11am (in July and August also at 3 p.m.). Return tickets cost 3,950 HUF/person (2,450 HUF/person with Budapest Card) and can be purchased from the driver. The price includes the ticket for Memento Park as well.
Other options:
From Deák tér take bus #47v or 49v to Etele tér.
From Batthyány tér take tram #19 to Etele tér.
From Ferenciek tere take bus #7 or 173 red (express) to Etele tér.
From Etele tér, Volánbusz Station (behind construction area): Take the Érd-bound bus from gate #7, which leaves every 15 minutes and get off at the „Szoborpark-Memento Park” bus stop, after an approximately 15-minute ride. For the Volán bus please purchase tickets at the Volánbusz station; day passes and Budapest Cards are not valid on these buses.
Due to the construction of Metro 4 and its above-ground stations, there will be changes in traffic in the center of Budapest up to 2010. These changes will affect bus and tram schedules. Please take note of information boards at the stops.