Budapest Guide
Terézváros and Erzsébetváros
Terézváros
Laid out in the late nineteenth century, Terézváros was heavily influenced by Haussmann's redevelopment of Paris, and at that time it was one of the smartest districts in the city. Under Communism, the area became pretty run-down, but the appeal of the old apartment blocks lining its streets is now bringing in the middle classes; the villas near the park have recovered their value and café society flourishes around Liszt Ferenc tér.
Andrássy út was inaugurated in 1884 as the Sugár (Radial) út, but was soon renamed after the statesman Count Gyula Andrássy, and it was this name which stayed in popular use throughout the years when this was officially Stalin Avenue (1949–56) or the Avenue of the People's Republic (1957–89). The first point of interest as you head out along the boulevard is at no. 3, where the Post Office Museum (Posta Múzeum; Tues– Sun 10am–6pm; 500Ft) occupies a fabulous old apartment complete with parquet floors, marble fireplaces, Venetian mirrors and frescoes by Károly Lotz; its owners fled to the US in 1938. Besides offering a window into how wealthy Budapestis lived before World War II, it also features a wealth of postal exhibits including a compressed-air mail tube, vintage delivery vehicles and a display on the inventor and telephone pioneer Tivadar Puskás, a colleague of Thomas Edison. Press #10 on the entry-phone to gain access to the building.