The ousted Hungarian prime minister moved into the building in Buda Castle in 2019, a structure that symbolized the regime in many ways.
The Carmelite Monastery in the Buda Castle District, which served as the Prime Minister’s Office, will be opened to the public on weekends, Prime Minister Péter Magyar announced on Friday.
Speaking at a press conference in front of the building, Magyar stated that the complex would be accessible to visitors for an extended period. Tickets can be booked through a dedicated website, szabadkarmelita.hu.
The Carmelite Monastery as a Symbol
The building became a potent symbol of the previous administration. According to the official tour registration site:
“The outgoing government prioritized the establishment of a new government center in the Buda Castle over the development of essential public services such as healthcare, child protection, and the national railway system. These renovations were carried out with a level of luxury and aesthetic finish far exceeding average public investment standards. While the funds spent on these reconstructions cannot be returned to the public or redirected, the government wishes to express through this gesture that these buildings belong to the Hungarian people and are freely available to them.”
While the long-term fate of the Carmelite Monastery remains undecided, its function is set to change fundamentally. Péter Magyar has already confirmed that he will not move into the office complex built for his predecessor.
Historical Context
The 18th-century Carmelite Monastery is a historic building complex that originally served as a Catholic monastery and later as a theater. In 2014, the building was transferred to the Prime Minister’s Office, followed by extensive renovations. Viktor Orbán and his staff moved into the premises in 2019. Since then, the building had been viewed as a hallmark of his administration; today, its opening to the public is intended to symbolize a new political era.
Update:
András Arató, known to the world as “Hide The Pain Harold,” also visited the newly opened Karmelita in Budapest.
The world-famous Hungarian meme wrote the following caption alongside the photos in his Facebook post:
“I made it here too! This is all that’s left of the barrier.“
