Andrássy út 3. szakasz (Oktogontól Erzsébet térig)

Amit zárójelbe írtam, azok csak ilyen “időkitöltő” részek. J

We have finished the second section of the road and have arrived at the Octagon, at the square which has 8 corners. After the big square there are 2 smaller one, on both sides of teh avenue. On the right you can see the Mór Jókai square, which was nemed after the most famous Hungarian writer of the alst century. We can see his bronze statue here.

The square, opposite, was named after Franz Liszt, as the present Academy of Music is located here, at the other end of the square. (On our left we can see the statue of Endre Ady, who was one of the greatest poets at the aend of 19^th century.)

There is the oldest department store of Pest to be seenon our left, called Divatcsarnok (Fashion Hall), built originally in 1882 (by Austrian architect). It was used first as a gentlement’s club.(Nowdays it is called Parisian Department Store again.)

The next street we are crossing (at the moment) is the Nagymező Street. It has traditionally been one of the centres of Budapest night life and quite a few theaters ate also lecated here, such as the Operetta Theater (in our right), several small theaters, as well as cabaret, the Thalia Theater and the Hungarian Photographer House too. (The Nagymező Street is called Broadway.)

We are approaching slowly the tvo most attractive buildings of the avenue: the State Opera on our right and the Balette Institue on our left.

The Hungarian Stae Opera House is one of the grandest buildings in the country. The Architect was Miklós Ybl. The construction took 9 years, they started in 1875 and completed in 1884. The faced of the Opera is decorated with some fine statues. Right and left from the main entracse we can see the portrais of Franz Liszt and Franz Erkel. There are more (exactly 18) statues on the second floor outside. The statues are represent world famous composers, whose operas or ballets are often performed here.

The building on the opposite side of the avenue is the State Ballet Institue. It dates from 1883, and desinged by Ödön Lechner.

Before we leave the avenue let me tell you two more things. First, that the road here is only 34 m wide. Remember, this is the third section, both former section we heve seen are 45 m wide. Here, there aren’t service roads, or gardens, and the houses are higher.

Second, the corner building at the very end of the avenue on your left is the small but attractive Postal Museum. Ther is som e pooortunity to “play” with the machines: sending messages through a dispatch-tube or operating an early telegraph tape machine.

The end of the Avenue, on your left you will see the Elizabeth Square, which is one of the biggest squares in the city center. It was first used as a cemetery, later a market-place. Today it is a coach station.