The Iconic Budapest Library, Highly Popular among Hollywood Filmmakers

One of the rooms during a concert

One of Budapest’s many architectural landmarks, the former Wenckheim Palace on Szabó Ervin Square, is as adventurous in its past as it is interesting in its present, writes Magyar Nemzet. The legendarily beautiful building was once the venue for balls and receptions, and since 1931, it has been home to the Budapest Library, or, as we know it today, the Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library.

The interesting thing is that the library, which was remodeled in the aristocratic cultural style of the period between the two world wars, is not only visited by readers but also by filmmakers. Although the large ballroom has been transformed into a reading room, the dining room into a magazine reader, the small ballroom into a catalogue room, the silver drawing room into a reference room, the gold drawing room into the home of the Budapest Collection, and the smoking room into the room of the Eastern Collection, the atmosphere of the past can be restored by moving a few pieces of furniture.

Several newspapers have recently taken a look at the library, with a statement by its recently appointed director, Ágnes Kovácsné Koreny, explaining how filming takes place in the library. Of course, there is much to talk about,

as the magnificent neo-Rococo building is a potential location for several production companies, and when a film is being made in which the grand mansion atmosphere could play a role, they are happy to use the library.

For example, the Mirror Room was the location for a ball scene in the hugely successful Semmelweis film, the location for a couple of scenes in The Alienist starring Daniel Brühl in 2018, and the same year Jennifer Lawrence shot some scenes for Red Sparrow in Budapest. In The Spy, the former ballroom was transformed into a casino, but decades ago, in 1972, Richard Burton shot some scenes of his film Bluebeard here.

Some stars fall so in love with the building that they wonder what goes on in the former palace outside of filming. Many tour the magnificent rooms and even ask for a souvenir.

Some actors, once there, also get to know the library, like Jennifer Lawrence, who was so direct during the filming of Red Sparrow that she even asked for a library card as a souvenir,

the Director General told website Énbudapestem.

It was also revealed that the films are promoting the impressive library building abroad.

Many tourists visit the former Wenckheim Palace specifically to see the spaces that appear in the films. According to Koreny, they often show the scenes on their mobile phones and ask the librarians for help in finding the wonderful rooms they saw in the movies.

Via Magyar Nemzet; Featured image via Facebook/FSZEK Központi Könyvtár