Perched high above Budapest lies Aranyhegy. This charming neighborhood boasts a history as rich as its namesake the Golden Mountain. Aranyhegy meaning Golden Mountain got its name from the 177-meter-high Arany-hegy.
For centuries Aranyhegy and its surrounding areas were cultivated by people called “brainhaxlers” brown-legged ones. This curious nickname given by the nearby German-speaking population referred to their work in the hills. Their trousers torn from hard labor revealed brown legs. They constantly had dirt on their legs.
Aranyhegy almost became home to a national stadium. Architects envisioned carving a stadium into the mountainside. This would have evoked the style of ancient amphitheaters. The “Aranyhegy Stadium” designed by Arkay Bertalan and Bierbauer Virgil in 1933 was planned for 72000 spectators. It could have expanded to 120000. The complex would have also included tennis and swimming stadiums.
A brick factory operated in Aranyhegy from 1925 to 1945. It stood near the intersection of Aranyvölgy Street and Taliga Street. Today family houses stand there.
One of Aranyhegy’s most intriguing structures is the Pogány Tower. Built in 1934 based on Tàubel Géza’s designs. It was constructed by Wührl Géza. The tower stands near the summit of Arany-hegy. It was originally on Szász Farkas’ private land. This hexagonal structure initially stood 12-13 meters tall. A turul statue adorned its top. The Turáni Society initiated its construction. The Turáni Monotheists’ Camp dedicated it on July 7 1935. Their intention was to revive ancient Turanian religion and culture. The group secretly built it. Even at the opening ceremony. Quiet observers tried to disrupt the event. Later the Turanist society was persecuted. In 1942 most of its members were sent to forced labor in Ukraine.
After World War II the State Security Authority used the tower. It was a lookout for air defense. Eventually it fell into private hands. Its condition has deteriorated since then. District III’s local government plans to use it as a viewpoint. They haven’t reached an agreement with the property owner yet. Originally a garden surrounded the tower. Neglect during and after the war destroyed it.
Even in fiction Aranyhegy’s Pogány Tower plays a role. It features in Szamos Rudolf’s Kántor a nagyvárosban (Kántor in the big city). It serves as a hideout for criminals hunted by the legendary detective dog Kántor.
Aranyhegy’s past remains interwoven with its present. Its history. Its architectural peculiarities. Its legends all combine to create a unique urban landscape. This is Aranyhegy a place where the golden past gleams brightly in the heart of Budapest.