Today, thousands of cars rush along Kós Károly Promenade every day, but it has not always been like this here in City Park (Városliget), which was once well-known for its esplanades, pleasant picnics around the lake, and sweetly strolling couples. Countless people cherish charming memories and stories of those summer days spent here, which is why a few photos from family albums were dusted off for the new LIGETEMOutdoor Exhibition and Gallery. Among the many splendid photos on display, visitors may spot a grandfather, still as a child, playing in the shade of the park’s huge trees, and parents as university students strolling around the lake hand-in-hand.
Average turn-of-the-century citizens only took photos at special events, although photography became a more important part of the social gatherings of the ’20s and ’30s. Young men relaxing at Szecska, kids sipping on fizzy drinks in the ’50s, and lovebirds riding the roller coaster at the old Funfair all come alive in the pictures and short films of the alfresco exhibit, aiming to revive the memories of Hungarian families, according to the the exhibition’s accompanying information.
This touch of personality, and never-before-seen professional pictures, give a special charm to the exhibited pieces that awake nostalgic feelings, but about much more than just the belle-époque era, or the retro May 1st days of the ’60s and ’70s.
The pictures present an era when the residents of the city actually ‘used’ the City Park. If you walk through the park today in the daytime, you see that one side (near the Budapest Zoo, Robinson Restaurant, and Vajdahunyad Castle) is lively, but the other side is almost abandoned, excluding a few dog walkers.
The exhibition will remain on view until the end of May, and serves as a nice reminder of what a pleasant place City Park can be.
