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In the spring of 2026, the completely renovated Citadel will open to the public, where the former fortress will be replaced by a more freely accessible, greener public park, the Castle Captain’s Office reported.
According to Lánszki Regő, Chief Architect of Hungary, the renovation of the Citadel and the Liberty Statue is not merely an investment, but also an act of responsibility. He emphasized that with the opening of the walls of the former closed fortress, the Citadel is now truly opening up in the spirit of freedom, becoming not only Budapest’s but the entire nation’s.
During the renovation, the green space will be increased by 50%, with more than 20,000 square meters of landscaping and a 6,000-square-meter public park featuring a café, ice cream parlor, and gift shop.
New staircases and viewing terraces will be built, offering breathtaking panoramic views of Margaret Island, the Buda Castle, and the Pest side of the city, among other sights.
The western cannon tower will house an exhibition entitled “Bastion of Freedom,” which will showcase the Hungarian struggle for freedom, with a glass bridge as its central feature. The roundel courtyard will feature an artificial water surface and an eternal flame in honor of the heroes of history.
Staircase built into the cut-out section of the main wall behind the Liberty Statue, shown during a press tour of the renewed Citadel. Photo: MTI/Zsolt Szigetváry
Almond, Judas, magnolia, and pomegranate trees will be planted in the inner courtyard, and in the spirit of sustainability, green roofs, drought-tolerant plants, and a rainwater irrigation system will be installed.
The renovation also includes the complete restoration of the Liberty Statue: it is cleaned using modern, gentle technology, and the Soviet soldier was replaced with a cross, symbolizing 1,100 years of Hungarian statehood and Western Christianity.
The interior of the bastion (roundel) shown during a press tour of the renewed Citadel. Photo: MTI/Zsolt Szigetváry
The aim is to make the Citadel a lively, open, and welcoming place once again, where both Budapest residents and tourists can spend their time in a meaningful way.
View from the Citadel towards the Tabán district and Buda Castle. The photograph was taken around 1876. Photo: Fortepan/ Budapest Főváros Levéltára/ Klösz György.
Via MTI; Featured photo: MTI/Szigetváry Zsolt