BUDAPEST GO LOCAL: Design street - off the beaten path courtyards and shops in Király street

Saturday, 25 September 2010

Design street - off the beaten path courtyards and shops in Király street

A few days ago, on the occasion of the European Union's Cultural Heritage Day, some free guided tours were organized in Budapest. I strolled along with a huge Hungarian group on Király utca, one of the oldest and still most developing streets downtown.
Let's check what the most hidden gems were!

First of all, a little history and situation. Király utca leads from Deák Tér (centre centre) till the City Park, crossing over the Grand Buolevard (Nagykörút). However, the historically richer part is inside the boulevard, so till the 4-6 tram's stop.

It is situated in the once called Jewish quarter. Király utca itself became populated by many Jewish during the 19th century. Before, they were not allowed to live downtown, but things started changing slowly - but they were mostly allowed to do only commercial activity. This street started being full with important shops of every kind, housed also important business centres and you could even find places of every kind to go out and find pleasures.

This mixed history marked some building : a good example is the current National Music Academy building, which was the former Institute for the blind, and even before, a whorehouse (kupleráj in Hungarian) :)

Nowadays, Király utca earned its title as design street as you can find many designer shops and cool clubs. The VAM design centre is worth a visit - Hungarian contemporary designers and artists work are on display in this beautiful building which used to be a wine-house.

You will find cool bars like Kuplung and Sirály (the latter one is a cafe, culture theatre - Király utca 50), hidden cafe paradises, theatres, or even hundred-year-old badge museums/shops.

http://www.ruinpubs.com

Going inside the courtyards is a must, in Budapest in general, but in Király utca especially! You can get a glimpse of incredible architectural beauty (classicist, art nouveau or 20th century, depending when the reconstructions were carried out).

If you visit many of the houses inside, in one of the courtyards you will spot memory table for the Jewish ghetto wall which used to stand here for few months.