Budapest Great Market Hall (Nagycsamok)
The Great Market Hall or Central Market Hall (Hungarian
"Nagyvásárcsarnok") is the largest and oldest indoor market in
Budapest, Hungary. The idea of building such large market hall arose
from the first mayor of Budapest, Károly Kamermayer, and it was his
largest investment. He retired in 1896 so when the building was
completed, he participated in the opening ceremony as a citizen.
It is located at the end of the famous pedestrian shopping street
Váci utca and on the Pest side of the Liberty bridge at Fővám square.
The building was designed and built by Samu Pecz around 1897.
The market offers a huge variety of stalls on three floors. The
entrance gate has a neogothic touch. A distinctive architectural
feature is the roof which was restored to have colourful Zsolnay
tiling from Pécs. The area size of the building is 10,000 square
meters, which is covered by steel structure. During the World Wars it
was completely damaged and then closed for some years. Throughout the
1990s restoration works brought back the market to its ancient
splendour. The building was awarded with FIABCI Prix d’Excellence in
1999. The Central Market Hall is one of the most popular tourist
attractions of the city.
Photo 1890, Sept 2008