The Guardian’s readers have bestowed the Hungarian House of Music with the esteemed title of one of Europe’s most inspiring tourist destinations, as announced by the Városliget Ltd. on Thursday.
In the statement, it was revealed that in a public vote by the renowned international newspaper, which boasts nearly 200 million readers worldwide, the Hungarian institution realized within the Liget Budapest Project joined the ranks of eminent landmarks such as the Roman amphitheatre in Spain, Hadrian’s Wall in England, or Kronborg Castle in Denmark.
‘The spectacular House of Music is in Budapest’s beautiful City Park. After going through the mushroom-like main entrance, you find a museum dedicated to the history of music. From the beginning of music to the modern day via Gregorian chanting and Hungarian folk, the House of Music is a fascinating place. With a superb audio guide, and for just 1,000 forints (£2.25), it is well worth a visit,’ notes The Guardian in its article.
The accompanying statement highlights that the prestigious British publication collected reader opinions on European locations that had the greatest impact on them. The resulting list spans from Spain to Denmark, from ancient times to modern arts, featuring the most exciting and inspiring cultural destinations according to the readers.
‘We are extremely proud of the Hungarian House of Music’s latest recognition, reaffirming the success of our endeavour, a primary goal since the planning stages of the Liget project: to make the City Park a ‘must-visit’ attraction for those coming to Budapest. Not only Fujimoto’s masterpiece but also, based on the increasing numbers of foreign visitors to the Ethnographic Museum and the Balloon Lookout, it is evident that we have placed ourselves on the international tourism map. Our long-term aim is for the park to consistently offer renewing cultural content and recreational experiences, making it worthwhile for individuals to journey to Budapest and spend extended periods here, and even return repeatedly,’ quoted the statement from Benedek Gyorgyevics, the CEO of Városliget Ltd., in response to The Guardian’s acknowledgment.
The Hungarian House of Music has notched its place on prestigious international lists before, being hailed as the world’s most anticipated building by CNN even before its opening.
In 2022, Time Out magazine included it among the world’s best cultural attractions.
The institution found a place on Architectural Digest Magazine’s list of the most influential international attractions in 2023, while the globally recognized Time Magazine, alongside the Ethnographic Museum, selected it for the ‘World’s Greatest Places’ collection, influencing the travel decisions of millions of readers. As a culmination of these recognitions, the Liget Budapest Project received the first tourism-themed award in 2023 at the International Travel Awards, being chosen as the world’s best tourism development.
Since its opening in January 2022, the Hungarian House of Music has rapidly become one of Hungary’s most visited cultural institutions, welcoming an unprecedented 1.3 million visitors within an exceptionally short period. Judging from the performances of artists, audience feedback, and attendance figures, it is unequivocal that the Hungarian House of Music has not only established itself as a unique architectural masterpiece but has also successfully integrated into the bloodstream of Budapest’s cultural life through its diverse programme offerings. The house, in addition to its outstanding attendance, has become one of Hungary’s most shared structures, featuring prominently in numerous photos and videos across social media platforms, both domestically and internationally, thanks to its iconic glass façade and perforated roof.
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Sources: Hungarian Conservative/The Guardian
