Imagine, for a moment, standing on the highest point of Pest Plain. That is in XVII. ker\u00fclet. It is called Erdő Hill. Welcome to Rákosmente also known as District XVII of Budapest.
XVII. ker\u00fclet is Budapest’s largest district. Rákosmente is home to almost 90,000 people. This makes it the seventh most populous district.
The towns here were different. They were closely connected though. In 1950, they were annexed to the capital. It was part of the Greater Budapest plan.
The area of XVII. ker\u00fclet is almost entirely hilly. Erdő Hill reaches 241 meters. Gellért Hill is 235 meters high. It is one of the most beautifully located districts of Pest.
Most of the XVII. ker\u00fclet is a green area. Per capita, the green and forest areas are well-served. District XVII, Hegyvidék and District II are the best in the capital.
There are several nature reserves here. One is the 40-hectare Merzse-marsh. It is full of plant rarities. It is also full of rich birdlife. Keresztúr Forest is a vast green area. Lake Naplás is another reserve. It is the second largest nature reserve in Budapest. It has 150 hectares. It is one of the most valuable ecological areas in the area.
Public transport is well-supplied in XVII. ker\u00fclet. Buses take 15–20 minutes to reach Örs vezér tere. It takes about 25 minutes from the eastern part of the district. Metro Line M2 is accessible from there. Kőbánya-Kispest metro station is directly accessible by bus. Metro Line M3 is accessible too. The city center is easily accessible at night. Night buses cover almost the entire district. There are six train stops nearby. Budapest Keleti railway station is reachable in 15 minutes. The trains are modern suburban trains.
The neighbourhoods in Rákosmente have interesting names. They come from the original villages. Newly built neighborhoods were added as well. These include Rákoskeresztúr and Rákosliget.
In terms of economy, XVII. ker\u00fclet is developed. It belongs to the Central Hungary region. Rákosmente is a supply center for Budapest. It attracts surrounding settlements. These include Ecser and Maglód. It provides administrative and cultural services. It also provides health functions. There are two major industrial facilities in Rákosmente: DAF Trucks and Volvo. There is one fruit processing plant: Rauch. Agricultural activity is negligible.
In 2011, there were many operating enterprises in Rákosmente. The local economy is dominated by service firms. There were retail stores and petrol stations. There were also vehicle shops.
Many people living in Rákosmente work outside the district. The commuting time is 39.5 minutes on average.
XVII. ker\u00fclet was established on January 1, 1950. The district is twinned with many towns. These include Gheorgheni in Romania and Krosno in Poland.
Rákosmente derived its name from the Rákos Stream. The Erdős Renée mansion is at Rákoshegy. The Church of the Holy Cross is monumental. It was built in 1894. It stands in the square of the same name.
Several notable people have lived in XVII. ker\u00fclet. These include Béla Bartók and Renée Erdős.
From its hilly terrain to its green spaces, XVII. ker\u00fclet offers a unique blend of suburban charm and natural beauty. It’s a testament to Budapest’s ability to incorporate nature into city life.