Perhaps the name Budatétény rings a bell. It is a place where scattered houses and villas define its character. Until 1915, it was known as Kistétény. It was a vineyard of Nagytétény until 1873.
Budatétény became an independent settlement. The old village started being called Nagytétény instead of Tétény after the separation. Budatétény is now part of Budapest’s District XXII. This district covers 43 square kilometers.
Budafok-Tétény is the official name of the district. It was formed in 1950. Budafok town was merged with Nagytétény and Budatétény villages. This created Budapest’s District XXII.
Budafok, Nagytétény and Budatétény each have unique stories. They blend together into the district we know today. Let’s delve into the broader history of Budafok to understand the context.
Budafok, historically known as Promontor, was ideal for wine production. The Tétényi plateau and its slopes along the Danube were perfect. It became the most important vineyard in the greater Budapest area and Central Hungary.
In 1880 commercial wine production increased. A union of wine producers created a cellar network. This network was hollowed out of the limestone beneath Budafok. The cellar system spans 25 kilometers. It is the largest in Europe. Budafok is often called “Cellar Town” because of this.
Today, a huge wine-cellar system still exists. It contains hundred-year-old casks. József Törley & Co’s wine cellars are a leading historical site. They are open for visits.
Budafok’s history stretches back centuries. After the Turkish rule, Prince Eugene of Savoy acquired the area in 1698. It was part of the Csepel Island estate as a vineyard called Promontorium.
Promontor became an independent village in 1739. Most of its inhabitants were German winegrowers. They came from Csepel. They built their first houses in the Brunnthal valley. This is now Péter-Pál utca.
The village’s rapid development was due to viticulture and quarrying. These activities led to the creation of the district’s unique cellar system. The phylloxera epidemic of 1886 halted this progress. It nearly destroyed the vineyards.
Budafok became an important winemaking center in the 20th century. Even today, winemakers are trained here. In 1987, Budafok received the international title “Town of Grape and Wine”.
The population of the settlements grew significantly in the early 20th century. The German character diminished. A Hungarian majority emerged. Most of the German population was deported to Germany after World War II. However, German traditions are now reviving.
Despite industrial development and integration with Budapest, the district retains its garden-city character. It preserves the heritage of its constituent settlements. Our ancestors left us a legacy of monuments. Budatétény is one of these settlements. It contributes its unique history to the larger area.