General Information
Margaret Island is an island in the middle of the Danube in central Budapest. It is a popular recreational area, mostly covered by landscape parks. Its mediaeval ruins are reminders of its former importance as a religious centre. The island spans the area between the Margaret Bridge on the south and the Árpád Bridge on the north.
Additional Information
Today’s appearance was developed by connecting three separate islands, the Festő, the Fürdő and the Nyulak, during the end of the 19th century, to control the flow of the Danube. Originally, the island was 102.5 metres above sea level, but now has been built up to 104.85 metres to control flooding.
The island was called Nyulak szigete (Island of the Rabbits) in the Middle Ages, but was renamed after the daughter of Béla IV of Hungary, Saint Margaret (1242-1270), who lived in the Dominican convent on the island. Throughout different periods in its history, the island was also called Island of Our Lady, Island of Nobles, Buda Island, Danube Island and Palatine Island.
Since the 1980s, entry by cars has been limited; only a single bus line and taxis, alongside the service traffic of local stores and restaurants are allowed to enter. On the northern end of the island a car park houses the cars of hotel guests.
History: Highlights
The Knights of St John settled on the island in the 12th century. Several nunneries and cloisters were situated there until the Ottoman wars, when the monks and nuns fled and the buildings were destroyed. In the 18th century it served as a resort for palatines. Then in 1908 the island was declared a public garden.
Landmarks: Highlights
Among the present historical monuments of the island are the 13th-century ruins of a Franciscan church and a Dominican church and convent, as well as a Premonstratensian church from the 12th century. The Music Fountain and the Water Tower located on the island are protected UNESCO sites.
Landmarks: Explained
Among the attractions of Margaret Island the most interesting are the Centennial Memorial of 1973, commemorating the hundredth anniversary of the city’s unification; a tiny zoo featuring a wide range of exotic waterfowl and other animals; a small Japanese garden with a mildly thermal fish pond; and the “Music Well”, a small pavilion that was originally built for open-air concerts.
Two of the island’s landmarks were recognised by UNESCO. The first is the Music Fountain, a fountain near which music is played and light shows are performed in summer. The water springs out according to music, so that the fountain seems to dance to the various classical themes being played. The second one is an octagonal Water Tower of 57 metres. It was built in the Art Nouveau style in 1911, and today it functions as a lookout tower and an exhibition hall.
The island houses various sports establishments, like the Palatinus water park, the largest open-air swimming complex in Budapest; the Alfréd Hajós sports pool; a tennis stadium and an athletics centre.
Two hotels provide accommodation – the fin-de-siècle Grand Hotel Margitsziget, and the modern Thermal Hotel Margitsziget with thermal spa and various medical services. There is also an open-air theatre accommodating an audience of 3500, and several clubs and restaurants. For exploration and pastime, four-person cycle cars or small electric cars can be rented for use on the area of the island.