Hungarian Army Museum
By Robert Kelly
This is my latest museum report from last year’s Grand Tour of Europe. I had always heard that Budapest was a city worth visiting and it didn’t disappoint. Budapest has many things to see and do and is quite inexpensive compared to places like London, Paris, or Copenhagen. The Hungarian Army Museum is located on Castle Hill near the Buda Castle.
There are two ways to get to the top of the hill. To ensure that you go right to the museum first, you take the minibus/golf carts that are parked at the base of the hill. They are inexpensive, rather fun, and will drop you off at the entrance to the museum before it heads over to the castle (with the rest of the family). The second option is the funicular. It won’t drop you off right at the museum but it was impressive.
(Below) The funicular. My photo from the moving Hop On, Hop Off bus doesn’t do it justice. It looked spectacular and I’m sure the views from it were as well.
Map of the Castle District.
There is a WW1 Museum at the bottom of the hill. 1914 (elsovilaghaboru.com) I didn’t have time to go in, but it looked very interesting. Maybe next time.
Fisherman’s Bastion and Palace (aka Buda Castle) as seen from the Pest side of the Danube.
Took this shot of a Hungarian Hussar (I assume) but when I turned around he had vanished, so I couldn’t get a frontal shot.
This is the entrance to the Presidential Palace.
View from the palace area of the Parliament. There is so much to see on the Castle Hill and the views of the surrounding city are amazing.
The usual cannon shot from outside the museum. Pardon the pun.
The entrance to the museum.
The museum was very quiet the day I arrived. I pretty much had the museum to myself. There was one armed guard at the entrance who looked like he had been there since the days of communism and his pistol could have been from before WW2. I did have to pay, but it was not very much. I had heard there was a large toy soldier display at the museum, but it must have been temporary as I couldn’t find it. Some of the temporary display areas were closed. Probably due to Covid. Maybe this summer those areas will be open again.
The museum displays start in the year 1815 with some well-done dioramas.
Like many museums I’ve been to, they have a WW1 trench display.
Interwar Hussar Colonel’s dressing room. Again, the glass played tricks with my camera.
The WW2 area was very well done. If you want to do a Hungarian army for Flames of War or Bolt Action you will find all the inspiration and references you need.
This city fighting display was particularly well-detailed.
Some Gulag photos.
There was a small area dedicated to the 1956 uprising.
Molotov cocktails anyone?
A little something for the Russian small arms enthusiast.
Like most European museums there are very few vehicles displayed. This BRDM was the only vehicle on site. Most European museums have a separate vehicle location.
Pro-tip. If you are in Budapest and need some time to yourself to visit the museum or any other places that don’t interest the wives of girlfriends, drop them off at the New York Café Budapest for high tea. It’s known as the most beautiful cafe in the world. My wife will vouch for it and is very glad that I did drop her and the female members of her family there. It was the highlight of their trip.
Should you need a second day to look at something, drop them off at the 2023 Széchenyi Thermal Spa Once again you will be thanked profusely.
If you are in Budapest you must visit this museum. It’s near the Presidential Palace on Castle Hill that you will be visiting anyways. It will be especially interesting for anyone with an interest in a Flames of War or Bolt Action army that is a little bit different than the usual armies.
More photos can be found here. Hungarian Army Museum 2022 | Flickr
Next up will be an article on the Household Cavalry and Fusiliers Museums in London, England.