Ever wondered why Budapest is known for its many fountains? Let me tell you about 9. K\u00fat. This ornate drinking fountain is more than just a source of refreshing water. 9. K\u00fat tells a story of resilience and rediscovery.
This fountain has a couple of names. It is called Fishermen’s Fountain or Fishmonger Girl’s Fountain. In Hungarian it is “Hal\u00e1sz-k\u00fat” or “Hal\u00e1rusl\u00e1ny-k\u00fat”. The 9. K\u00fat we see today is a reconstruction of an older fountain. The talented Hungarian sculptor S\u00e1ndor Lovas restored it in 1985.
The original Fishermen’s Fountain was created by L\u00e1szl\u00f3 Dunaiszky in 1862. It was made for the fishing guild of Pest. Imagine Hal t\u00e9r a bustling Fish Square. This square no longer exists but was once a fish market. The original fountain provided drinking water to the citizens of Pest.
However Hal t\u00e9r was eliminated in 1899. This happened during the construction of the old Erzs\u00e9bet h\u00edd Elizabeth Bridge. The original fountain was moved to N\u00e9pliget People’s Park.
During roadworks in 1964 the statue was dismantled. There was a promise to rebuild it later. This promise was broken. The artwork was removed from the official monument list.
Fate intervened in a lucky coincidence. Gy\u00f6rgy Rajna found the sculpture’s pieces in a N\u00e9pliget park warehouse. S\u00e1ndor Lovas reconstructed the statue based on these original parts. In 1985 the restored 9. K\u00fat was placed downtown not far from its original location in Krist\u00f3f Square.
So next time you are in Krist\u00f3f Square take a moment. Admire the Fishermen’s Fountain. Remember its journey through time. It is a symbol of Budapest’s spirit a testament to the city’s ability to rebuild and restore its treasures. 9. K\u00fat a beautiful reconstruction now stands as a reminder of old Pest.