The Károlyi–Csekonics Palace – from a wedding gift to a university building

In the heart of Budapest, in the 8th district, in the area bordered by Múzeum Street and Reviczky Street, we invite our readers to discover the Károlyi–Csekonics Palace, which opens onto both streets. The currently visible building complex is the result of an exceptionally exciting reconstruction project, completed and handed over on 1 September 2021. The building at Múzeum Street 17 underwent a complete heritage restoration. The Ballroom, the Grand Staircase, the Smoking Room, the Csekonics Hall and the Aula were all restored to their former splendour¹. Visitors are welcomed by true aristocratic magnificence, as they are transported back to the atmosphere of the 1880s. The Ballroom’s fresco, The Triumph of Bacchus by Károly Lotz, has been brought back to life. The original artwork was completely destroyed during the bombings of the Second World War and later functional alterations to the building. The inlaid parquet flooring was recreated, the walls received artificial marble coverings, and the plaster stucco decorations were restored². The breathtaking Grand Staircase, with its steps and gallery carved from oak and linden wood in the 19th century, fortunately survived partly intact. Today, visitors can admire the original staircase after careful restoration. In the Smoking Room, the Károlyi–Csekonics family once hosted balls and social gatherings for their aristocratic friends. Contemporary photographs, postcards and architectural drawings were invaluable during the historically accurate renovation process, allowing art historians and restoration specialists to study the palace’s architectural past through original sources³. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, the representative rooms and private apartments of the count’s family were located here⁴. Today, the building houses the rector’s office, the senate office and additional ceremonial spaces⁵.