Budapest Guide
Lipótváros and Újlipótváros
Post Office Savings Bank
Address: Hold utca
The former Post Office Savings Bank (Postatakarékpénztár) features a tiled facade patterned like a quilt, with swarms of bees (symbolizing savings) ascending to the polychromatic roof, which is the wildest part of the building. Its architect, Ödön Lechner, once asked why birds shouldn't enjoy his buildings too, and amazing roofs are a feature of his other masterpieces in Budapest, the Applied Arts Museum and the Geological Institute. Now an annex of the National Bank, its foyer is accessible during banking hours but the rest of the interior is only open to the public on European Heritage Day sometime in September (ask Tourinform for details).