Posts Tagged ‘Budapest’

Citadel on top of Gellért Hill – The Bastion of Freedom has opened @ Budapest.

The Bastion of Freedom has opened and from April 5, the renovated Citadel one of the capital’s most famous attractions, can be visited again. With the opening of the former fortress, which had been closed off and in a dilapidated state for years, a new community space offering new experiences was born at the World Heritage site, where visitors can enjoy a quality time and also admire the panorama of Budapest. An interactive exhibition entitled The Bastion of Freedom has been created, which presents outstanding events and figures in Hungarian history, highlighting the Hungarians’ struggles for freedom. After a complete reconstruction, the iconic symbol of the capital, the Statue of Liberty, has also been renovated.

As part of the renovation, new viewing terraces and viewpoints have been built, from which a panorama of the entire capital can be enjoyed. During the landscaping of the courtyard and the promenades, dozens of flowering ornamental trees and shrubs were planted, and the inner park is enriched with a flowering lawn, roses, lavender, climbing plants and vines.

In the spirit of full accessibility, an elevator was installed in the western rondelle and in the park area, using which guests with limited mobility can comfortably reach all levels of the fortress, the viewing terraces and the walkways leading along the fortress walls.

Photo – Castle Captaincy

Update by Aggie Reiter

Herald News … Enyedi Ildikó – The Silent Friend Awarded the Order of the French Knighthood.

Ildikó Enyedi, the director of the Golden Bear-winning and Oscar-nominated In Body and Soul, received the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres award from the French Ministry of Culture last night.

France’s iconic cinema and film archive, the Cinémathèque française in Paris, is also paying tribute to her life’s work. The director’s entire cinematic oeuvre has been scheduled to be shown on the occasion of the premiere of her latest film, The Silent Friend, which won 6 awards at the Venice Film Festival, in France Cinemas The Silent Friend will be shown from the 1st of April. The film is still showing in Hungarian cinemas, with more than 44,000 viewers buying tickets for it so far.

The French Order of Merit for Arts and Letters was founded in 1957 and is under the control of the French Ministry of Culture. The Order is awarded to “persons who have distinguished themselves for their artistic or literary work, or for their contribution to the spread of art and literature in France and the world.”The Cinémathèque française will screen the following films from Enyedi’s oeuvre: The Mole (1986), My 20th Century (1989), The Magic Hunter (1994), Tamás and Juli (1997), Simon the Magician (1999), Of Body and Soul (2017), The Story of My Wife (2021) and The Silent Friend. Ildikó Enyedi received a prestigious award after the screening of The Silent Friend, receiving the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres (Chevalier of Arts and Letters) from the French Ministry of Culture. A few days later, she will give a master class after the screening of My 20th Century.

In Enyedi’s new film, The Silent Friend, an old tree stands in the middle of a botanical garden. It is lonely, like the other inhabitants of the garden – thousands of kilometres away from their original habitat, so that we can admire and observe them. As we observe them, they observe us. They witness our short, tangled, noisy and troubled lives. The film tells three stories, three hesitant encounters between man and plant, when these two radically different perceptions are truly connected for a moment. Our human heroes, like the plants in the garden, are outsiders, lonely souls. And they yearn for connection just as they do.

The film also stars Tony Leung Chiu-Wai (Strictly Dirty, In Love), Luna Wedler – who won the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best New Actor at the 82nd Venice Film Festival for his performance – and Enzo Brumm. The supporting cast includes internationally renowned actors such as the lead actor of My Wife’s Story, Léa Seydoux (Spectre, No Time to Die), Johannes Hegemann (New Opportunities series), Sylvester Groth (Inglourious Basterds, Darkness series), Rainer Bock (Haneke: The White Ribbon) and Martin Wuttke (Inglourious Basterds).

Update by Aggie Reite

King of Pop – Michael Jackson story begins @ Worldwide Theaters – April, 24.2026.

The upcoming Michael Jackson biopic is set to hit worldwide movie theaters as well in Budapest and throughout Hungary on April 24. The original premiere had to be postponed after the crew reshot some scenes due to legal hurdles.

The original film would have featured scenes featuring Jackson’s accuser in the child molestation case. However, he had previously reached an agreement with Jackson’s estate, stipulating that he would not appear in any dramatized productions of Jackson’s life.

After a long search, the most suitable person for the lead role was finally found within the family. The lead role in the biopic is played by the singer’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, whose voice and movements faithfully evoke the pop icon.

Director Antoine Fuqua said King of Pop, Michael, takes the viewers on a spiritual journey which shouldn’t be missed even love his videos or not.

Director Antoine Fuqua is known mainly for his action and crime films (Sniper, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The White House, The Defender), but he also made a documentary about Muhammad Ali. He started his career with successful music videos, and as a child, he liked Michael Jackson’s music videos the most on Music Television, partly because he was the first black artist to appear regularly on the music channel.

The film is produced by Graham King and distributed by Lionsgate and Universal

Check the movie theaters in Hungary around you … grab your seat … take a break … enjoy … step out of your everyday’s life within 2 hours and 10 minutes entertainment.

Reminder …. The day after the premiere, Sony Music will release the film’s soundtrack in multiple formats, with a collector’s edition LP available in multiple colorways. It features thirteen tracks, including recordings by the Jackson 5 and Michael’s biggest hits from the beginning of his solo career.

Recommended by Aggie Reiter

The 15th Badacsony wine regions in New York Palace @ Budapest 2026

“Badacsony in New York” is a traditional, annual, outstanding spring wine tasting event that brings the finest wines from Lake Balaton – Badacsony wine region to the elegant surroundings of the New York Palace in Budapest.

The Badacsony Tourism and Wine Route Association invites you to the Badacsony New York event in Budapest on Saturday, April 11, 2026. The Badacsony wine region will be appearing together in Budapest for the fifteenth time.

Well noone can say there will not be enough wines to taste from a rich volcanic region. Here is the list to make you already thirsty:

Badacsony Hill
Békássy Winery
Békési Cellar
Borbély Family Winery
Domaine Edegger Winery
Edvi Illés Badacsony
Éliás Estate
First Hungarian Wine House – Szeremley Estate
Fata Cellar
Jakab Badacsony
Kalinics Estate
Laposa Estate
Málik Cellar
MATE Viticulture and Oenology Institute Badacsony
Patányi Winery
Pátzay Wine Estate
SkizoBor – Balázs Sike’s Cellar
Villa Sandahl
Weller Wine House

Saint George Hill
2 HA Vineyard Estate
Fischer Wine House
Gilvesy Winery
Three-headed Cellar
Horváth Cellar
Nyári Cellar
Szászi Estate

Kisörs Hill
Csanádi Winery
Quiet Vineyard Estate
Folly Arboretum and Winery
Four80
Ormai Wine Estate
Sipos Wine House
Válibor
Varga Winery

Ábrahámhegy
a’Capella Vineyard Estate
Barna Cellar Ábrahámhegy

Tóti Hill
Büttner Winery
Istvándy Winery
Sabar Wine House

Csobánc Hill
Illés Winery
Kállai Wine House
Pálosi Cellar
Villa Tolnay Wine House

The anniversary event is further enhanced by the fact that the City of Badacsonytomaj and the settlements of Weißenkirchen in der Wachau are concluding a twinning agreement, the ceremonial signing of which will also take place on this day.

The wine region review will once again hosted by the prestigious Rome Hall on the Vivaldi Hall of the New York Palace (Budapest) where a record number of exhibiting wineries from the Badacsony wine region, as well as wineries from Wachau, awaiting wine lovers.

Recommended by Aggie Reiter

SZIGET the Island of Freedom – August 11 -15. 2026. Budapest.

The list includes one of the most talented singers of contemporary British R&B, Jorja Smith, the British rap star, the Norwegian pop star, Sigrid, the Belgian electronic legend, Soulwax, the charismatic icon of the grime genre, Skepta, the globally celebrated DJ, Peggy Gou, and Natasha Bedingfield, who exploded with the song Unwritten.
The organizers have previously announced world stars such as Twenty One Pilots, Florence + The Machine, SOMBR, Lewis Capaldi, Bring Me The Horizon, Tash Sultana or Zara Larsson, and around a hundred bands and performers are already known to be performing at Sziget… here… 2manydjs, Alizade, Altin Gün, Ana Frango Elétrico, Black Country, New Road, Bratri, BUNT., Calle Mambo, Chadia, CURTISY, Deki Alem, Dressed Like Boys, Evening Elephants, FAEDA, Fcukers, HAAi, Idiotape, Ikkimel, Illbucks, Jorja Smith, Koikoi, Luke Black, Max Baby, Melina, MISSIO, Natascha Polké, Natasha Bedingfield, Night Tapes, Peggy Gou, Rossi., Sigrid, Skepta, Soft Loft, Soulwax, TEEN MORTGAGE, The Zawose Queens, Wild Wild Women, YARIMA, YT, ZEP, as well as the Hungarian acts Jazzbois and Duckshell.

And many more enjoyment such as … circus … theater… performing atrs so not just plan but get your entry ticket and hit the road to Budapest this summer.

You don’t want to miss a thing … do you?!

Recommendation by Aggie Reiter

Value and Quality Grand Prize Competition out now – 2026.

In 2026, the Call for the Value and Quality Grand Prize Competition was announced for the 9th time, which is accepting applications from businesses in more than 100 categories across 48 main groups of the economy and culture until May 28. Today, nearly 200 partners feature the Certification Trademark on more than 1000 products and services – proving that certified quality creates tangible market value.

The awards of the Value and Quality Grand Prize – the “symbol of certified quality” – will be presented on September 10, 2026, in the Upper House Assembly Hall of the Parliament.

“Despite the economic challenges of recent years, the Certification Trademark of the Value and Quality Grand Prize still holds unchanged prestige. Striving for high quality is not only about the perfection of the final product, but about an entire business process. It is gratifying that the demand for reliable and economical solutions is increasing: manufacturers, distributors, and conscious consumers are increasingly choosing quality,” said Ildikó Kiss KárolynéFounder of the Value and Quality Grand Prize Certification Trademark. Continued by saying “Currently, covering almost the entire spectrum of the economy, nearly 200 of our partners use the Value and Quality Grand Prize Certification Mark for more than a thousand products/product groups and services We are convinced that the economic strength of a country is also enhanced if the emblem of excellence is visible on as many of its products and services as possible. In 2025, the prestigious award was earned by 40 applications from 34 applicants. Agriculture remained the most significant sector; according to a representative survey, 86.6% of consumers prefer products made in Hungary when it comes to food. At the same time, alongside the rise of automation and digitalization, solutions that increase efficiency and reduce costs, as well as sustainable operational models integrating a circular economy approach, have received increasing emphasis. Last year, for the first time, a civil community was among the awardees. We, the organizers. We strive to ensure that equally the most active companies operating throughout Hungary, as well as beyond our borders, in the Carpathian Basin, participate in the work of the tender system, thereby strengthening economic relations. We are confident that outstanding tenders will arrive in 2026 as well,”

Attending the press conference were: János Latorcai, Vice President of the National Assembly, main patron of the event. András Tállai, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture. Lőrinc Nacsa, Secretary of State responsible for national policy.

Based on the decision of the Board of Issuers, the applications deemed outstanding are entitled to the use of the Value and Quality Grand Prize Certification Trademark, along with the right to bear the honorary title of the Value and Quality Grand Prize for the duration of trademark use. The use of the trademark is certified by a certificate of distinction in Hungarian and English, designed by graphic artist Károly Balázs, and by a unique applied art trophy decorated with the Value and Quality Grand Prize emblem, designed by industrial artist Dr. Andrea Szőcs. The most outstanding applications are also awarded special prizes by the Board of Issuers.

Latest update by Aggie Reiter

2Days until Saint Patrick’s Day around the world.

St. Patrick’s Day also called Feast of St. Patrick, and St. Patty’s day is observed on March 17 and marks the death date of Saint Patrick who is the patron saint of Ireland. In the early 17th century, it was made an official Christian feast day observed by the Church of Ireland, the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and Lutheran Church. The day celebrates the arrival of Christianity in Ireland as well as the culture of Ireland, and commemorates the death of Saint Patrick.

Saint Patrick born in Roman Britain in the late 4th century, he was kidnapped at age 16 and taken to Northern Ireland as a slave as an enslaved person. So no he was not Irish. He was then brought to Slemish Mountian in County Antrim to herd sheep and escaped. He returned about 432 ce to convert the Irish to Christianity. He ended up staying in Ireland preaching, baptizing and building churches until his death in the year. By the time of his death on March 17, 461, he had established monasteries, churches, and schools. Many legends grew up around him … for example, he drove the snakes out of Ireland and used the shamrock to explain the Trinity.

In Europe, Ireland, England, HUNGARY, Malta, Russia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Scotland, and Switzerland all celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Other countries around the world celebrating the Day are Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Canada, Mexico, Argentina and the United States. Celebrations include recognition of the local Irish populations and a tribute to their culture and Christian religion.

Update by Aggie Reiter

Spring’s Nationwide Restaurant Week 2026.

Up-to-Date …. The Spring is at our doorstep and open its door to yummy menüs from the 12th of March until the 29th of March not just in Budapest … excellent representatives of Hungarian restaurants will present their multi-course menus composed for the National Restaurant Week, at fixed prices.

The Spring’s National Restaurant Week, open its doors from the 12th of March which will last until March 29, has started, and a total of 252 top Hungarian restaurants have joined the event nationwide, including the booking period. The excellence of the participants is demonstrated by the fact that a good number of them can be found in the Top 100 elite of Hungarian gastronomic publications, 16 of which also have an international Michelin recommendation. This time, the renowned restaurants will spare neither the idea nor the first-rate ingredients from their menu lines.

At the event, the fixed menu price will be 6900HUF including service charge at Top category restaurants, 8900HUF at Premium category restaurants, and 10000HUF at Exclusive category restaurants. As visitors to the popular event have already become accustomed to, some of the participating restaurants will also offer an even wider selection for gourmet guests for a favorable additional surcharge.

In the National Restaurant Week program, the participating restaurants will once again prepare their dishes from selected ingredients, from truffles to Argentine beef steak to lobster. Those following special diets will find vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free or dairy-free dishes on offer, while international cuisines will include classic Hungarian, Italian, French, Lebanese, Indian, Japanese, Georgian, Mexican and Moroccan flavours.

Table reservations for the event can only be made on the website http://www.etteremhet.hu. According to the undisclosed intention of the organizers and participating restaurants, the event aims primarily to present quality hospitality to the general public, which is why, unlike mass events, places are limited during the National Restaurant Week.

Update by Aggie Reiter

“By the Bog of Cats” premiere @ the Centrál Theater Budapest

Marina Carr the Irish playwright, known for her play “By the Bog of Cats” (1998) and now her play comes to one of Budapest’s favorite thearter Centrál Thearter. Will be shown on the 21st anniversary of the domestic premiere on the 13 th of March. The play is in Hungarian language.

A short overall to the play to be seen at the Centrál Thearter (Hungarian title:”A Macskalápon“).. The play takes place in the Irish Midlands in an unspecified time in the modern era. It is loosely based on the  Greek myth Medea. In this myth, the sorceress Medea marries the hero Jason and has two children with him. When Jason leaves her for another woman, Medea kills their children, Jason’s new bride, and the bride’s father. By the Bog of Cats contains many mystical and mythical elements, including ghosts, curses, and references to witchcraft. It includes themes of land ownership, mothehood, betrayal/abandonment, and ethnic prejudice. On stage staring in addition to Dorina Martinovics, who plays the main character, may can see such great actors on stage as Juli Básti, Judit Csoma, Tamás Szabó Kimmel, Sándor Gáspár, Mariann Hermányi and Tamás Fodor.

The play is translated and directed by Samu Puskás.

In breif about Carr was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1964, but spent most of her childhood in Pallas Lake, County Offaly, adjacent to the town of Tullamore. Carr’s father, Hugh Carr, was a playwright and her mother, Maura Eibhlín Breathnach, was an Irish poet. As a child, Carr and her siblings, John and Deirdre, built a theater in their shed.

Tickets can be purchase on the spot of the Centál Theater.

Recommendation by Aggie Reiter

16th Francophone Film Days … 40 screenings coming again adding 23 films @ Budapest Cinemas!

The movie lovers community will be able to see the works of nine female directors and Enyedi-Maraton at the 16th Francophone Film Days. Cinema fans will have plenty to choose from… The thriller Private Case starring Jodie Foster and Daniel Auteuil, Stitches with Angelina Jolie and her work, The Little Girl, which won the Best Actress award and the Queer Palm at the Cannes Film Festival. Among others, a truck road movie from Canada, the story of a mother believed to be dead from Morocco and a film depicting deep poverty from Switzerland will arrive. On the occasion of International Women’s Day, there will be a roundtable discussion entitled Women, Media and Film.

The 16th Francophone Film Days is organized by the French Institute, and will be held between March 4-14 at the Uránia National Film Theater and the French Institute, and the domestic audience will be able to watch 23 contemporary Francophone works in the original language with Hungarian subtitles.

The main patron of the event will therefore be Ildikó Enyedi, who is closely connected to French culture, and three of her films will be on offer. The audience will be able to see the works of nine female directors in total. The thriller Private Case starring Jodie Foster and Daniel Auteuil, Stitches with Angelina Jolie, and her work The Littlest Girl, which won the Best Actress award and the Queer Palm at the Cannes Film Festival. Among others, a truck road movie from Canada, the story of a mother believed to be dead from Morocco, and a film depicting deep poverty from Switzerland will arrive. On Sunday, March, 8 International Women’s Day 2026, there will be a roundtable discussion entitled Women, Media and Film.

On the 4th of March, 3 p.m., the 16th Francophone Film Days will open at the Uránia National Film Theater in Budapest with Amélie Bonnin’s feel-good film, Enjoy the Moment!, which opened last year’s Cannes Film Festival. It is about a reunion with a childhood love. Canadian Joëlle Desjardins Paquette’s Rodeo is a bittersweet, lyrical road movie, a film that explores the depths of a father-daughter relationship, in which a truck driver crosses the whole of Canada. The only problem is that he takes his nine-year-old daughter with him on the road, whom he should never see.
In Rebecca Zlotowski’s twisty film Private Matter – starring Jodie Foster, Daniel Auteuil and Virginie Efira – the renowned psychiatrist launches a private investigation into the death of one of her patients, who she believes was murdered. Jodie Foster’s acting is not only perfect, her French is also perfect.
In Moroccan Layla Triqui’s moving film Gone with the Wind, Sophia, who lives in Tangier, learns one day that her mother, who she thought was dead, is very much alive, having just moved back to France. So the woman travels to Europe to confront her family past.
In Swiss Jasmin Gordon’s drama Through Fire and Water, a not-so-smooth, single mother struggles on a daily basis to raise her three children in dignified circumstances – and at least to preserve her honor in front of them. A touching film about poverty, determination and inner human reserves.
Hafsia Herzi will also be in the lineup for her work, The Littlest Girl, which won two awards at the Cannes Film Festival – Nadia Melliti, the Best Actress award, and the Queer Palm. Fatima is 17 years old and grew up in a traditional, loving family with her two sisters. After graduating from high school, she moves from the suburbs to Paris, where another world opens up to her. This touching film adaptation of Fatima Daas’s coming-of-age novel is an ode to acceptance.
In Pauline Loquès’ deeply moving debut, Nino, the protagonist is given three days by doctors to prepare for the greatest ordeal of her life. And for those three days, she is given two tasks that could bring her closer not only to others but also to herself. So Nino takes on Paris. The fear of death often reminds us that there is still work to be done.
In Alice Winocour’s Stitches – starring Angelina Jolie and Louis Garrel – three women stumble upon each other in the hustle and bustle of Paris Fashion Week. The only thing the American filmmaker, the South Sudanese model and the French make-up artist have in common is that they all have their own problems. But solidarity is a strong bond, and it leads them to realize that it is time to set boundaries and take the thread of their own destiny into their own hands.

On Saturday, March 7th from 2 p.m till 11 p.m. there will be an Ildikó Enyedi Marathon at the French Institute. First, Simon the Magus, set in Paris, will be screened, then at 4 p.m. My Wife’s Story will be shown with Léa Seydoux in the lead role, and finally at 8 p.m.

Finally, the Silent Friend will be screened on Sunday, 9th of March at 3.30 p.m. at the French Institute within hosting a roundtable discussion.

Tickets are already on sale:
Uránia National Film Theater – HUF2800
(Concessional ticket: HUF2300). Discounted tickets are available for students, pensioners, teachers, people under 26 and people over 65 with ID.

French Institute – HUF2500.Ticket prices:
(Concessional ticket: HUF2300). Discounted tickets are available for students, pensioners, teachers, people under age 26 and people over 65 with ID.

Time goes by quickly so get your tickets in dvance before they will be sold-out.

Update by Aggie Reiter