The House of Terror is a museum in Budapest, Hungary, that commemorates the victims of the fascist and communist regimes in the 20th century. It is located at Andrássy út 60, a building that was used by both the Arrow Cross Party and the State Protection Authority (ÁVH) as a headquarters, prison and torture site. The museum opened in 2002 and has a permanent exhibition that showcases the history and atrocities of these regimes, as well as temporary exhibitions on related topics. The museum also aims to raise awareness of the importance of democracy and human rights.
If you want to visit the House of Terror Museum, here are some useful information:
- The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 18:00. It is closed on Mondays and national holidays.
- The admission fee is 3000 HUF for adults, 1500 HUF for students and seniors, and free for children under 6 years old. You can also buy a combined ticket with the Castle Garden Bazaar for 4000 HUF.
- You can get to the museum by metro (line M1), bus (number 4, 6, 16, 105 or 979) or tram (number 4 or 6). The nearest metro station is Vörösmarty utca.
- You can book a guided tour in advance for groups of at least 10 people. The tours are available in Hungarian, English, German, French, Italian and Spanish. The tour fee is 5000 HUF per group plus the admission fee per person.
- You can also rent an audio guide for 1000 HUF in Hungarian, English, German, French, Italian, Spanish or Russian. The audio guide lasts about an hour and a half and covers the main parts of the exhibition.
- Some tips for your visit are: wear comfortable shoes, bring a bottle of water, respect the silence and dignity of the place, do not take photos or videos inside the museum, and leave your bags and coats in the cloakroom.
The House of Terror Museum is not only a museum but also a memorial. As you walk through the exhibition halls, you will see various objects, documents, photos and videos that tell the stories of the people who suffered under the dictatorships. You will also see some symbolic elements, such as the black wall with the names of the victims, the iron curtain with the Soviet star, and the T-54 tank in the atrium. One of the most impressive parts of the museum is the basement, where you can see the original cells and torture chambers used by the ÁVH.
One of the highlights of the museum is the Hall of Statues, where you can see a collection of statues of Hungarian kings and national leaders that were removed or destroyed by the communist regime. Some of these statues are:
- King Stephen I (975-1038), the first king of Hungary and the founder of the Hungarian state
- King Matthias Corvinus (1443-1490), one of the most popular and successful kings of Hungary
- Prince Francis II Rákóczi (1676-1735), leader of an uprising against Habsburg rule
- Lajos Kossuth (1802-1894), leader of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848
- Ferenc Deák (1803-1876), statesman and architect of the Austro-Hungarian Compromise
- István Tisza (1861-1918), prime minister and reformer
- Miklós Horthy (1868-1957), regent of Hungary between 1920 and 1944
- Imre Nagy (1896-1958), prime minister during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956
- János Kádár (1912-1989), communist leader who ruled Hungary from 1956 to 1988
The House of Terror is a unique and powerful museum that offers a glimpse into a dark chapter of Hungarian history. It is also a place to remember and honor those who fought for freedom and democracy. If you are interested in learning more about this topic, you should definitely visit this museum when you are in Budapest.
