Museums around the world are opening up virtual tours of their permanent exhibitions, in response to the coronavirus. If you’re looking for some intellectual escape during these times of closure, here are some Budapest institutions that can now be explored from your home.
More than 60 exhibitions are currently accessible online, including paintings, art installations and photographs. Travel through the halls of this major gallery by clicking on arrows, which transport you into different rooms. From there, zoom in on each artefact and enjoy the whole museum all to yourself. The Műcsarnok was founded in 1877 and features the works of Hungarian and international contemporary artists with an agenda of constantly challenging temporary exhibitions.
Google Arts & Culture has three online exhibits on the Liszt Academy of Music, taking viewers through a slideshow of images highlighting the exterior architecture – including details such as the stone Atlases above the entrance and Egyptian/Assyrian elements along the roof – with an equally in-depth journey through the breathtaking interior. Video elements are also included, with the very first gala concert after the building’s reconstruction and a four-minute short film on the illustrious history of the academy.
With more than 600,000 digital records, this is probably the largest virtual exhibition in Hungary. Explore photography, local history, postcards, fashion, architecture, archaeology and so much more. There is a full exhibition on the Zwack dynasty – of herbal liqueur Unicum fame – with a history on the founding of the factory, family conflicts, advertising posters and lots of photos. Another interesting exhibition covers the renowned 19th-century physician Ignáz Semmelweis, after whom the hospital in Budapest is named today.
Experience all the items on display at the Museum and Library of Hungary Agriculture in their seamless virtual tour. Physically located within the ornate Vajdahunyadvár in the City Park, the museum tells the story of one of the most important sectors in Hungarian life and history. After all, we all need to eat! Archaeological findings in the Carpathian Basin explore the history of farming as far back as the Stone Age, and travelling towards present day through the subjects of farming, hunting-gathering and tool production. Even the evolution of pets is discussed.
If you really miss the thrills of the daily rat race with all this working from home, never fear! Metro 4 allows you to virtually walk between stations, starting from Kelenföld. You can spend a few minutes each morning tracing your commute so you don’t feel left out!
