Dreams blossom here. This is Virányos, a district within Budapest’s District XII. It whispers stories of transformation and resilience.
Virányos got its name in 1847. Döbrentei Gábor named a flowery part of the German Sauwinkel this way. He did this during a vintage christening. Before that, it was simply a part of Zugliget known as Sauwinkel.
In 1849, Virányos played a role in the Hungarian Revolution. Görgei Artúr, the military leader, moved his headquarters here. He moved it from a Városmajor inn to the Laszlovszky-major. However, he soon moved again. He relocated to the Óra-villa on Nagy-Sváb-hegy. The major didn’t offer a good view of the battlefield. The famous author Jókai Mór immortalized this event. He wrote about it in his novel “The Stone-Hearted Man’s Sons.” An interesting fact is that in 1927, an memorial plaque was erected. The Virányos-Kútvölgyi Economic and Cultural Association initiated it.
The 1850s brought cultural vibrancy to Virányos. József Széchenyi, István Széchenyi’s collaborator, leased the major. He was a key figure in Pest’s cultural scene. Széchenyi invested heavily in cultural and social gatherings. He built a bath in the Laszlovszky-major. In 1852, he established a lending library and reading room. An omnibus service transported guests to the major.
In 1989, Virányos became a haven for refugees. The Hungarian Maltese Charity Service opened a camp here. It provided aid to German refugees.
The Virányos civil servant colony emerged in the 1910s. It was built around Dániel Road and Kiss Áron Street. The Virányosdűlői Civil Servant House Building Cooperative funded the construction. Most houses were designed by architect Árpád Jakab. Records indicate that 27 plots were developed.
The Zugliget Association was founded in 1892. Its mission was to promote Zugliget. It aimed to enhance its cultural and economic interests. The association also focused on improving social life. They organized events and improved infrastructure. István Eperjessy, the secretary, wrote a publication. It was titled “Zugliget and its Surroundings”.
Transportation shaped Virányos too. The first horse-drawn railway to Virányos started in 1868. The railway’s terminal building was constructed between 1885 and 1886.
The Szarvas Street got its name in 1899. It was named after the Szarvas Inn famous for its Transylvanian timber yard. The inn was located at today’s 10 Zugligeti Road. Legend says the Szarvas also had a bath. A warm sulfuric spring fed it. Later, Mrs. Róbertné Schmidt Etel Klóze acquired it. After renovation, it reopened as an inn in 1911. It could accommodate 200 guests. It operated until 1928.
Today, Virányos is also home to the Moholy-Nagy University of Art. Although located on Zugligeti Road, it belongs to Virányos. Virányos blends history, culture and community. It is a vibrant part of Budapest. A place where the echoes of the past resonate.