The Citadella in Budapest offers stunning new view following renovation – check out the latest photos!
Budapest’s iconic Liberty Statue and the surrounding Citadella are undergoing significant transformation as part of an extensive renovation project set for completion in 2026. This ambitious renewal aims to revitalise the historic fortress perched atop Gellért Hill, enhancing its cultural significance and visitor experience while preserving its rich heritage.
The restoration, launched in spring 2021 under the National Hauszmann Program, has now entered its final phase. Key efforts include reconstructing the fortress walls, restoring the Liberty Statue, and creating a large new park filled with greenery. More than 10,000 shrubs, 100,000 perennials, over half a million bulb plants, and 128 mature trees will be planted to cultivate a lush, vibrant environment around the landmark. The park will also feature a new terrace that blends seamlessly with the Citadella’s historic architecture, becoming a beautiful gathering spot for both locals and tourists.
In addition to landscaping and monument restoration, the project includes a new architectural exhibition space within the fortress called the “Bastion of Freedom.” The space will highlight Hungary’s historical struggle for independence. Visitor access will also improve, including a stairway behind the Liberty Statue that leads directly into the fortress park.
The Citadella’s renovation is part of a broader initiative to rejuvenate the Danube riverfront—an area on UNESCO’s World Heritage list—which includes the historic Buda Castle and Castle Gardens. Upon completion, the site will offer breathtaking panoramic views of the city, combining natural beauty with historical significance and contemporary cultural attractions. In a statement about the project, Várkapitányság Zrt., the agency overseeing the renovations, said the rejuvenated Citadella will be “freer and greener,” transforming the former Habsburg military fortress into a more welcoming space, with walls covered in flowers and greenery.
A striking and controversial new addition to the site is the massive cross placed on the base of the Liberty Statue. The cross symbolizes more than 1,100 years of Hungarian statehood, Western Christianity, and European culture. Despite protests from architects, artists, heirs of original sculptor Zsigmond Kisfaludi Strobl, and Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony—who criticised the move as a violation of the monument’s heritage—the cross was installed.
However, the government maintains that the cross does not infringe upon the rights of the original artwork and stands as a culturally significant symbol.
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