Hungarian National Gallery

The Hungarian National Gallery (Magyar Nemzeti Galeria) in Budapest contains several historical art collections including medieval and gothic pieces, such as stonework, sculptures and altars.

Located within Buda Castle, the Hungarian National Gallery is also home to the Habsburg Palatinal Crypt (Nadori kripta), the burial place of the Hungarian line of the Habsburg Dynasty. Note that the crypt can only be visited by prior arrangement and is located on the ground floor of Building C.

History of Hungarian National Gallery

Located in several wings of Buda Castle, the Hungarian National Gallery was established in 1957 as the country’s national art museum. The aim in establishing the museum was to present Hungarian art across a range of its history, from the settlement of the Magyars in the 10th century, through medieval ages, until the present day.

The collection is extensive, being formed of more than 6000 paintings and 2100 sculptures, as well as 3100 medals, 11,000 drawings, and 5000 prints.

There is a range of more historic art, with Medieval, Renaissance, Gothic, and Baroque Hungarian art being a part of the exciting works that the museum features. Paintings from the 18th and 19th centuries are among the most popular that the museum features, as they visualise the turbulent experience of Hungary during the Turkish and then Austrian occupations.

The collection also includes wood altars from the 15th century, as well as more contemporary works by Hungarian sculptors, painters, and photographers.

Hungarian National Gallery Today

Today, the gallery is enjoyed by tourists and locals alike who wish to delve into Hungarian art and history. There is a regular schedule of rotating exhibits, as well as permanent exhibits which display paintings by old masters such as Cezanne, Pissarro, and Monet.

There is also a Dome Terrace, from where visitors can enjoy breathtaking views over the Pest side of the city and the river Danube.

For those who wish to expand upon their knowledge of Hungarian artists, the primary museum for international art in Budapest is the Museum of Fine Arts.

Getting to Hungarian National Gallery

The gallery is reachable in around 5 minutes by car via the Palota út road. There is also a regular schedule of buses which depart every 15 minutes from Budapest Nyugati Palyaudvar, and take around 45 minutes to reach the museum. By foot, the museum is around 7 minutes from the centre via Sikló u.

A number of boat tours along the nearby river Danube are also popular.