3 => Bosnyák tér

From a military training ground to a bustling marketplace, Bosnyák tér has transformed dramatically over the years. Bosnyák tér’s story begins in the early 20th century. Back then, the area was sparsely populated, mainly home to gardeners. Its name, bestowed in 1901, links it to a unique piece of history. Emperor Franz Joseph designated the area as a training ground for Bosnian soldiers serving in the Royal Palace’s bodyguard in Buda. These soldiers arrived after the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy’s occupation of Bosnia in 1878. Bosnyák tér quickly evolved into a key hub on Pest’s ever-expanding landscape. The Zugló tram depot arrived just before 1901. Established in 1899 by the Budapest railway company BKVT, the depot expanded significantly by 1907. A smaller depot and a two-story operating unit overlooking the square followed a few years later. In the summer of 1911, Bosnyák tér welcomed a vibrant market, a cornerstone of the community for over 50 years. This market evolved with the times. In the 1960s, a market hall was added, and a wholesale market joined the scene in 1965, operating there until the early 1990s. The 1960s also brought a sports complex beside the market and, in 1969, the office building that housed the Institute of Geodesy, Cartographia, and the Budapest Geodetic and Cartographic Company. Their successors still operate in this very building today. Dominating the square is the St. Anthony of Padua Parish Church, affectionately known as “Bosi.” This impressive structure, the second largest church in Budapest, holds a special place in the hearts of locals. Originally, residents had to journey to Rózsák tere for mass. In 1902, services began in a local school teacher’s apartment and later, in a converted restaurant. Archbishop János Csernoch designated the area for Zugló’s parish church in 1919. A smaller church briefly stood where the office building now stands, but it proved too small and unsafe, eventually being demolished in 1957. The foundation stone for the current church was laid in December 1941, blessed by Zoltán Meszlényi, the auxiliary bishop of Esztergom. Designed by Gyula Rimanóczy Sr., the church’s main structure was complete by 1944, receiving a blessing from Archbishop József Mindszenty in 1946. Interestingly, Rimanóczy’s original design was quite different, a smaller, more unique structure. Rejected due to its size and location, it makes one wonder what Bosnyák tér might have looked like had his initial vision been realized. But it’s hard to imagine the square without its beloved Bosi, a testament to the area’s rich history and enduring spirit. From a military training ground to a bustling hub, Bosnyák tér truly embodies the dynamic evolution of Budapest.