The City Park
Behind Hôsök tere lies the City Park, the largest park
on the Pest side, covering exactly one square kilometre
(0.4 sq.m). The area was once part of the sand and
grass-covered Field of Rákos, where in former days
the Diets and the national markets were held; at the
beginning of the last century it was converted into a
park. By the turn of the century it had already become
a place of entertainment popular with all layers of
society: members of the aristocracy drove out here in
their carriages and exercised their horses; the middle-classes
came here for a day out; and here the workers
organised their meetings and their May Day demonstrations.
Behind Hôsök tere and the Museum of Fine Arts,
on Állatkerti körút (Zoo Boulevard) is the Zoo with
the Municipal Circus next to it; further down is the
Amusement Park and on the opposite side are the
Széchenyi Baths. Immediately behind Hôsök tere is the
artificial lake: used for rowing in summer, it becomes
an artificial skating rink in winter. Around the lake
there are a wooded park and a children's playground ˇ
on a small island in the lake we find an interesting group
of buildings, Vajdahunyad Castle.