Four Seasons Hotel (Gresham Palace

Still from hydrofoil, Four Seasons Hotel (Gresham Palace)

Commissioned by the Gresham Insurance Company of London in 1904, Zsigmond Quittner's extravagant Art Nouveau Palace is situated at the very foot of the Lánchid on Roosevelt tér.

Although the richly decorated façade crumbled during post war years, it was still easy to appreciate just what a remarkable addition to the riverbank the building was at the time. Completed in 1907, and undoubtedly state of the art for the period, the Palace was fitted with all the latest mod-cons including central heating and a unique central vacuum system. Despite the building being heavily damaged in both World War II and the 1956 uprising, the beautiful wrought-iron 'peacock' entrance gates survived intact. Inside, on the second floor, Miksa Róth's fine stained glass window depicts the Hungarian reformist politician Lajos Kossuth.

Now, after being purchased by the Four Season's chain, over $85 million has been spent on turning the building into a luxury hotel.

Photo 1336, Sept 2008

Four Seasons Hotel (Gresham Palace

Photo 1335, Sept 2008

Four Seasons Hotel (Gresham Palace

Photo 1726, Sept 2008

Four Seasons Hotel (Gresham Palace

detail

Photo 1719, Sept 2008