President’s Office Opens Its Doors to the Public

This weekend, the Sándor Palace in the Buda Castle district, home to the Office of the President of the Republic, will open to the public on the first anniversary of the inauguration of President Katalin Novák.

President Novák wrote in a Facebook post on Monday that the Sándor Palace will reopen its doors to the public on Saturday and Sunday – May 13 and 14 – to mark the first anniversary of her inauguration. On these two days, the palace will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Entry is free of charge.

The Open Days will start at St. George’s Square in front of the palace: at noon there will be a changing of the guard, and at 10:00 and 2:00, the Central Orchestra of the Hungarian Defense Forces will perform on the square.

Visitors will also be able to learn about the history of Sándor Palace and visit the room where Hungarian President Katalin Novák had a private meeting with Pope Francis during the head of the Catholic Church’s visit to Hungary. They will also find out where the president receives visiting heads of state and where she gives or receives letters of credentials from ambassadors.

Visitors can also see the historical rooms that have been representative for centuries, such as the Hall of Mirrors or the Red Salon with its painting of Queen of Hungary Maria Theresa.

This is not the first time that the president’s office is open to the public; visitors were able to see the prominent Sándor Palace and the inside rooms last year as well.

Sándor Palace, located next to Buda Castle, was built in 1806, and its puritan elegance contrasts sharply with the grandeur of the Royal Castle.

In the winter of 1945, however, a swarm of planes bombed the historic buildings, leaving only a pile of stones, and the valuables were taken away as spoils of war. Only after the fall of communism was Sándor Palace renovated, and the stately building that now houses the Office of the President of the Republic was eventually rebuilt in 2002.

The most magnificent room in the hall row has always been the neo-Baroque furnished Blue Salon, also known as the Gobelin or Boucher Hall. Its relaxed, soothing atmosphere makes it an excellent backdrop for less formal gatherings.

The magnificent Mirror Hall is usually the venue for particularly solemn events, such as the presentation of credentials to ambassadors on their arrival in the country, the most impressive events of protocol, and banquets for the diplomatic corps.

Featured photo via Facebook/Katalin Novák