Hungarian National Museum

The museum was built after plans by Mihály Pollack, a renowned exponent of the contemporary Neo-classical style. Constructions were started in 1837 and completed ten years later, so that the museum was inaugurated in 1847. Between 1848 and 1849 the museum was a key location in the revolutionary turmoil of those years. Tradition has it that on 15 May 1848 Sándor Petofi sang the national anthem in the museum garden, while the Upper House of the first representational parliament held its sessions in the Ceremonial Hall of the museum, also in 1848.

Today it is the task of the Hungarian National Museum to collect, conserve and exhibit the historic antiquities – some reaching back to prehistoric times – from the Carpathian basin and Hungary. As well as world-famous archaeological finds, the museum preserves unique art treasures from Hungarian history and culture.  The collections of the nation’s premium museum are enriched by such world-famous artefacts as the Hungarian coronation mantle, showing the images of St Stephen and his consort Queen Gisela. The mantle is a symbol of the 1000 years of the Hungarian nation. The permanent exhibition follows the historical epochs of Hungary from the founding of the state until 1990. It includes such exceptional items as the Monomachos Crown from the eleventh century and the concluding document of the Warsaw Pact. The most opulent permanent archaeological exhibition in the country follows the history of the peoples living in the Carpathian basin prior to taking land in Hungary, including a Stone Age fire place and the tomb of the dynastic prince of the Avars. The Lapidarium has on show one of the foremost Hungarian collections of stone monuments from Roman times.