Citadella Gift Shop
Liberty Gift Shop
Citadella Café
Chimney Cake
Liberty Café
EN 
When we look out from the observation terraces of the Citadella onto the Pest panorama, our gaze inevitably catches on a remarkable silhouette glowing in emerald and gold above the line of the southern rooftops. This is the Museum of Applied Arts, envisioned by Ödön Lechner and Gyula Pártos — the boldest and most iconic architectural masterpiece of Hungarian national Art Nouveau. Handed over for the 1896 millennium celebrations, the palace is not merely a functional exhibition space, but an epochal cultural statement: instead of copying Western historicism, Lechner created an independent, proud visual identity.
The building's exterior and interior worlds rest on an unparalleled symbiosis of materials and motifs. The radiance of the durable Zsolnay pyrogranite and eosin-glazed elements covering the façade and the roof structure proclaims from afar the revolutionary ceramic innovation of the Pécs factory. Upon entering, the visitor is greeted by a snow-white central hall evoking the atmosphere of Eastern bazaars and the airy elegance of Indian courtyards, where the floral ornamentation of Hungarian folk embroidery patterns blends into perfect harmony with the virtuoso iron structures. From the wrought-iron railings to the very last door handle, every single detail conveys the same dynamic, organic formal language that made Budapest one of Europe's most exciting metropolises at the turn of the century.
At the Citadella, we offer not only this breathtaking panorama, but also the opportunity for visitors to come closer to the city's defining eras. To complete the visual experience, we created our Hungarian Art Nouveau collection, available in our gift shop. The selection carries the finest elements of the Lechner legacy — the green-and-gold shades of the iconic roof tiles and the turn-of-the-century tendril motifs — over into contemporary everyday objects. Whether premium silk scarves, quality stationery or refined design objects, the pieces of the series represent real value and artistic continuity instead of formulaic souvenirs. After scanning the rhythm of the Pest rooftops from above, take with you a tangible piece from the golden age of Hungarian design.
