Budavári Labirinthus

Buda Castle Labyrinth - Labyrinth of the Buda Castle

Useful Information

Location:	Budapest, Castle Hill quarter, entrances at Úri utca and Lovas út corner.
Open:	JAN to 15-JUN daily 9:30-19:30. 16-JUN to AUG daily 9:30-21:30. SEP to DEC daily 9:30-19:30. [2005]
Fee:	Adults HUF 1,500, Students HUF 1,100. Groups: Adults HUF 1,200, Students HUF 1,000. [2007]
Classification:	Cellar Tufa cave
Light:	electric, lanterns, hand held lanterns.
Dimension:	L=10,000 m.
Guided tours:	V=50,000/a [2000]
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Budavári Labirinthus, Uri utca, 9, District I, Budapest 1014, Tel: +36-212-0207, Tel: +36-212-0287, Tel: +36-212-3281, Fax: +36-212-3282. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

Middle Ages	constructed as cellars.
1930s	converted into a shelter accommodating up to 10,000 people.
1960s	used as a secret military installation during the Cold War.
1980s	exhibition of wax figures.
1996	restored to its pre-war condition.
1997	opened to the public.

Description

Budavári Labirinthus is generally translated as Buda Castle Labyrinth. Located in the Castle Hill quarter of Budapest, this caves do not really belong to the castle, but they are more or less below it. The warm thermal springs of buda hill produced huge travertine or tufa deposits, which are typically honeycombed with small caves. Later, people settling in the area used the caves and the springs for various purposes. A habit which continued over millenia.

Since Medieval times the small natural caves were enlarged to form cellars and warehouses. The system of (mostly) artificial caverns, cut out of the soft tufa, but sometimes even of the much harder limestone, is said to be ten kilometers long. A small part is now open to the public.

This new venture is, after the end of the communist regime, and with the opening up for western tourists, a fine way to earn some money. But also it is a sort of artwork, a underground gallery for local artists. The World Axis or the Ivy Grotto are impressive installations, with an esoteric touch. The Personal Labyrinth is a completely dark underground maze, a place to explore other senses than vision, and probably to explore oneself.

Other parts of the labyrinth are interesting for people with less esoteric ambitions. The Prehistoric Labyrinth shows reproductions of famous Neolithic art from France and Spain. The Historic Labyrinth informs about the history of Budapest during the last 2,000 years. But despite all historic references, the whole labyrinth is definitely more on the artistic side than being a stuffy museum.