Since we freeze to our bones during the winters, why not take advantage of it? The City Park Ice Rink, near Vajdahunyad Castle, is one of Budapest’s greatest attractions. If we are brave enough to go on the ice, we can enjoy the wonderful atmosphere of the rink, but viewing the skaters from the bridge can also give us a unique experience, as we are skating with them in our thoughts.
Budapestians have a great history with skating which starts from the second half of the 19th century. Are you interested in the history of our ice?
Figure Skating World Championship in February 1939, the world champion Megan Taylor performs a form. Source: fortepan.hu
Skating opportunities for the Budapestians!
The Budapest Skating Club was founded in 1869 by Géza Kresz and they immediately requested to use a part of the City Park lake. The Ice Rink opened in 1870. At that time, only a small, two-room wooden booth was built next to the rink. After the booth burned down in 1874, the City Council ordered a new one to be built. The famous architect, Ödön Lechner was delegated with the designing and executing works.
The beautiful building of the Budapest Skating Club, designed by Ödön Lechner in 1875. The photo was taken around 1880. Source: Budapest City Archives: HU.BFL.XV.19.d.1.05.147. Photographer: György Klösz. fortepan.hu
On the first floor, there was a huge hall, on the ground floor, a skate tying room, a warming center, cafeteria, and a stage which opened towards the lake. Of course in the 19th century skating was only an option when the lake was frozen, therefor on warmer winters, Budapestians could only enjoy this activity for a short period of time. Skating quickly became popular, and the ice rink, as a hotspot of social life, drew crowds on a daily basis.
As a consequence, in spite of the beauty of the building designed by Ödön Lechner, the City Council decided to expand the building. In 1895 a new, Neo-Baroque building was built in the place of the old one by the plans of Imre Francsek the Elder, serving skaters loyally ever since.
Budapestians were all over the place! This was the first open air ice rink at such a large scale in the world. The photo was taken in 1907 by Frigyes Schoch. Source: fortepan.hu
Girlfriends on ice in 1910. The ice rink was a crowded place of socialisation. Source: fortepan.hu
The 5600m2 ice rink was finished in 1926 as the second mechanically frozen ice rink in the continent (the first was in Vienna). A huge crowd, young and old, were enjoying the ice on this picture in 1930, and even more people are watching them from the bridge. Source: fortepan.hu
Skating couple in 1934. Source: fortepan
Who said you couldn’t go skating in a suit? Source: 1935 fortepan.hu
And in shorts? Source: 1935, fortepan.hu
Speeding and spinning looks spectacular in a skirt. Source: fortepan.hu
The ice rink hosted numerous sport events. In this picture the Canadian Kimberley Dynamiters hockey team is playing against the Hungarian team on 10th January 1937. Source: fortepan.hu
Ede Király, one of the most successful Hungarian form skaters in 1940. Source: fortepan.hu
Fashion changes, skating is forever! Source: 1940, fortepan.hu
During the II. World War the ice rink has suffered severe damages, and became unusable in 1945. As this photo proves, in 1954 people could use it again. Source: fortepan.hu
The building of the ice rink in 1959, behind an archer’s sculpture made by Zsigmond Stróbl Kisfaludi in 1929. Source: fortepan.hu
An almost familiar view: long line at the entrance of the ice rink. In 1972 a lot of skaters wanted to get in. Source: fortepan.hu
Hurray, skating! Source: 1977, fortepan.hu
Today it’s still a popular dating place, this fact hasn’t changed much since 1977. Source: fortepan.hu
Guys, have a little fun, smile for the camera! Source: 1983, fortepan.hu
The City Park Ice Rink’s most recent renovation was finished in 2011. Since then, it functions as a popular venue for those who fancy some sports time, or just relaxation. Source: varosligetcafe.hu
