Hungary is a country that has a rich and diverse cultural heritage. It is home to many artists, chefs and scientists who have contributed to the world in various fields. Hungary has a long history of artistic excellence, from the classical composers Franz Liszt and Béla Bartók to the modern painters Victor Vasarely and Judit Reigl. Hungarian cuisine is also known for its spicy and hearty dishes, such as goulash, paprikash and lángos. Hungarian chefs have won several international awards, such as the Bocuse d'Or and the World Pastry Cup. Hungary also has a strong tradition of scientific innovation, especially in medicine, mathematics and physics. Some of the most famous Hungarian scientists are Albert Szent-Györgyi, who discovered vitamin C; John von Neumann, who pioneered computer science and Edward Teller, who helped develop the atomic bomb.
Hungary is not only a nation of artists, chefs and scientists but also inventors and masters of the silver screen. Hungary has produced many inventions that have changed the world, such as the ballpoint pen, the Rubik's cube, the hologram and the electric motor. Some of the most influential Hungarian inventors are László Bíró, Ernő Rubik, Dennis Gabor and Ányos Jedlik. Hungary has also given birth to many talented actors and filmmakers who have achieved fame and success in Hollywood and beyond. Some of the most notable Hungarian stars are Zsa Zsa Gabor, Tony Curtis, Adrien Brody and Béla Lugosi.
Listed below are the most famous Hungarians.
- Ági Mészáros. Ági Mészáros was a Hungarian actress who appeared in 27 films between 1940 and 1977. She was born as Ágnes Éberli on 24 May 1914 in Budapest, Hungary. Her daughter Ági Voith is also an actress.
- Mária Telkes. Mária Telkes was a Hungarian-American scientist and inventor who worked on solar energy technologies. She was born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1900. She studied physical chemistry at the University of Budapest and the University of Geneva, earning her Ph.D. in 1924. She moved to the United States in 1925 and became a citizen in 1937.
- Houdini. Houdini was a famous magician and escape artist who lived from 1874 to 1926. He was born in Budapest, Hungary, as Erich Weisz, but later changed his name to Harry Houdini in honor of his mentor, Robert Houdin. He moved to the United States with his family when he was four and grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin.
- Simon Hantaï. Simon Hantaï was a painter born in Hungary in 1922 and moved to France in 1948. He became a French citizen in 1966 and died in Paris in 2008. He is generally associated with abstract art but also explored other styles and movements, such as surrealism and conceptualism.
- Dennis Gabor. Dennis Gabor was a Hungarian-British electrical engineer and physicist. He invented holography, a technique for creating three-dimensional images and won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1971 for this achievement.
1. Ági Mészáros
Ági Mészáros was a Hungarian actress who appeared in 27 films between 1940 and 1977. She was born as Ágnes Éberli on 24 May 1914 in Budapest, Hungary. Her daughter Ági Voith is also an actress. Ági Mészáros started her acting career in 1934 when she joined a theater company in Szeged. She stayed there until 1939 when she moved to Budapest and became a member of the National Theater. She quickly gained recognition for her roles in comedies and dramas, such as Tacskó, Beatrice and Eliza.
Ági Mészáros achieved nationwide popularity in 1948 when she starred in the film Treasured Earth. The film, based on a novel by Zsigmond Móricz, depicted the life of a poor peasant family in rural Hungary. Mészáros played the role of Mari, the eldest daughter who struggles to keep the family together. Ági Mészáros continued working in theater and film throughout the 1950s and 1960s. She won two Kossuth Prizes, the highest state honor for artists in Hungary, in 1949 and 1954. She also received the titles of Merited and Outstanding Artist in 1950 and 1953, respectively. Some of her notable roles during this period were Rozika, Puck, Adela and Elisabeth Proctor.
Ági Mészáros was also active in television and radio. She appeared in TV dramas and comedies, such as The Bridge of Life, Twenty Hours and Dark Dove. She also voiced characters in animated films like The Little Fox and The Little Mermaid. She was known for her expressive voice and charming personality. Ági Mészáros retired from the National Theater in 1983 after almost 50 years of service. She died on 8 March 1989 in Budapest at the age of 74. She was buried in the Farkasréti Cemetery. She is remembered as one of the most beloved and respected actresses in Hungarian cinema and theater history.
2. Mária Telkes
Mária Telkes was a Hungarian-American scientist and inventor who worked on solar energy technologies. She was born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1900. She studied physical chemistry at the University of Budapest and the University of Geneva, earning her Ph.D. in 1924. She moved to the United States in 1925 and became a citizen in 1937. Mária Telkes worked as a biophysicist at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, where she invented a device that recorded brain waves using photoelectricity. She then became a research engineer at Westinghouse Electric, where she developed instruments that converted heat into electrical energy. In 1939, she joined the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to work on the Solar Energy Conversion Project.
During World War II, Mária Telkes created one of her most important inventions. a solar distiller that could turn seawater into drinkable water. This device was used by the U.S. Navy to save the lives of stranded sailors and airmen. She also designed a larger version of the solar distiller for the Virgin Islands, where fresh water was scarce. After the war, Mária Telkes continued to work at MIT as an associate research professor in metallurgy. She collaborated with architect Eleanor Raymond to create one of the first solar-heated houses, the Dover Sun House, in 1948. The house used a solar collector and a phase-change material to store heat during the day and release it at night.
Mária Telkes also invented other solar energy devices, such as a solar oven, a solar still and a solar pump. She received several patents and awards for her work, including the Society of Women Engineers Achievement Award in 1952 and the National Academy of Sciences Building Research Advisory Board Lifetime Achievement Award in 1977. She was also inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2012. Mária Telkes retired from MIT in 1977 and moved to Texas, where she consulted for several solar energy companies. She died in Budapest, Hungary, in 1995 at 94. She is considered one of the founders of solar thermal storage systems and is often called the “Sun Queen” by her colleagues.
3. Houdini
Houdini was a famous magician and escape artist who lived from 1874 to 1926. He was born in Budapest, Hungary, as Erich Weisz, but later changed his name to Harry Houdini in honor of his mentor, Robert Houdin. He moved to the United States with his family when he was four and grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin. Houdini started his career as a trapeze performer in circuses and then as a vaudeville performer in New York City. He married Wilhelmina Rahner, who became his stage assistant as Beatrice Houdini. He became famous for his daring feats of escaping from handcuffs, chains, ropes, locks, boxes, coffins and prison cells. He often performed his stunts in public, attracting large crowds of spectators.
Houdini was known for his physical strength, agility and skill at manipulating locks. He also used his knowledge of magic to expose frauds and charlatans who claimed to have supernatural powers. He wrote several books on magic and spiritualism, such as Miracle Mongers, Their Methods and A Magician Among the Spirits. He also made some movies, such as The Master Mystery and The Man from Beyond. Houdini was also interested in aviation and became one of the first pilots to fly a plane in Australia. He owned several aircraft and performed aerial stunts. He also collected books and memorabilia related to magic and escapology. He was the president of the Society of American Magicians and a member of the Magicians' Club of London.
Houdini died on October 31, 1926, in Detroit, Michigan, from peritonitis caused by a ruptured appendix. He had been punched in the stomach by a student who wanted to test his claim that he could withstand any blow to the abdomen. He refused to seek medical attention until it was too late. He was buried in Machpelah Cemetery in Queens, New York, with a bronze bust of his likeness on his grave. Houdini is widely regarded as one of the greatest magicians and escape artists of all time. He inspired many generations of performers and experts with his feats and legacy. He is still a popular subject of books, movies, documentaries and shows. His name has become synonymous with escaping from impossible situations.
4. Simon Hantaï
Simon Hantaï was a painter born in Hungary in 1922 and moved to France in 1948. He became a French citizen in 1966 and died in Paris in 2008. He is generally associated with abstract art but also explored other styles and movements, such as surrealism and conceptualism. Simon Hantaï studied at the Budapest School of Fine Art and traveled through Italy on foot before settling in France. He had his first exhibition in Paris in 1953, with a preface by André Breton, the leader of the surrealist group. However, he broke with the surrealists in 1955 over their rejection of Jackson Pollock's action painting. He then experimented with different techniques and materials, such as collage, ink and oil.
In 1960, Simon Hantaï developed his signature technique of “pliage” (folding). he folded and scrunched the canvas, painted it with a brush and unfolded it, revealing a pattern of color and negative space. He said this method was inspired by the marks left by folding on his mother's apron. He also noted that it combined the surrealist principle of automatism with the abstract expressionist gesture. Simon Hantaï applied his folding technique to different paintings, each with a specific theme and style. For example, the Mariales (Cloaks) (1960-62) were large canvases with bright colors that evoked landscapes. The Meuns (1967-68) were smaller paintings with darker tones that suggested figures. The Etudes (Studies) (1969) were monochrome works emphasizing the contrast between the white ground and the colored folds. The Blancs (the Whites) (1973-74) were almost entirely white, with only a few traces of color. The Tabulas (from 1974) were square paintings that explored the geometric possibilities of folding. The Laissées (Leftovers) (1981-94) were made from the scraps of canvas that remained after the folding.
Simon Hantaï's work was recognized and exhibited in prestigious venues like the Centre Pompidou, the Venice Biennale and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. He also received several awards, such as the Grand Prix National de Peinture in 1981 and the Praemium Imperiale in 1997. He influenced many other artists like Daniel Buren, Christian Boltanski and Martin Barré. However, he also had periods of withdrawal and silence when he refused to show or sell his paintings. He said he wanted to avoid the commercialization and institutionalization of his art. Simon Hantaï's work is considered a major contribution to the history of modern art. He created a unique and original language of painting based on the interaction between chance and control, surface and depth, presence and absence. He challenged the traditional notions of composition, representation and expression. He also explored art's philosophical and spiritual dimensions, drawing from various sources, such as Eastern mysticism, Christian theology and psychoanalysis. He was a painter who constantly reinvented himself and his art, searching for new forms and meanings.
5. Dennis Gabor
Dennis Gabor was a Hungarian-British electrical engineer and physicist. He invented holography, a technique for creating three-dimensional images and won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1971 for this achievement. He also made many other contributions to science and technology, such as electron microscopy, plasma lamps and information theory. Dennis Gabor was born in Budapest, Hungary, on June 5, 1900. His original name was Dénes Günszberg, but his family changed it to Gábor in 1902. He studied engineering in Budapest and Berlin and obtained his doctorate in 1927. He worked for Siemens, a German company, until 1933 when he left Germany because of the Nazi regime.
Dennis Gabor moved to England in 1934 and joined the British Thomson-Houston Company, where he worked on various electron optics and communication projects. He married Marjorie Louise Butler in 1936 and became a British citizen in 1946. He also became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1956. Dennis Gabor's most famous invention, holography, was inspired by his attempt to improve the electron microscope's resolution. He realized that he could record the interference pattern of an object illuminated by a coherent light source, such as a laser and then reconstruct the image by illuminating the pattern with the same light source. He published his idea in 1948, but it was not until the 1960s that holography became practical with the development of lasers.
Dennis Gabor was also interested in science and technology's social and philosophical implications. He wrote several books and essays on the future of industrial civilization, the role of creativity and the human condition. He was a member of the Club of Rome, an international organization that promotes global awareness and sustainability. Dennis Gabor died in London, England, on 9 February 1979 at 78. He was buried in the Golders Green Crematorium, where his epitaph reads. “Inventor of Holography”. He received many honors and awards for his work, including the IEEE Medal of Honor, the Rumford Medal and the Young Medal and Prize. He is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of modern optics and imaging.
6. Master MS
Master MS was a 16th-century painter who worked in Central Europe. He is known for his late Gothic and early Renaissance style, which combines dramatic depth and colorful decoration. His actual name is unknown, so he is named after his monogram, MS, which appears on some of his paintings. Master MS was active in Selmecbánya, now Banská Štiavnica, in Slovakia, which was part of the Kingdom of Hungary at the time. He probably led a workshop there and may have collaborated with other artists, such as Veit Stoss, a German sculptor. He is sometimes identified with J. Brieu, a painter from Augsburg or Matthäus Zaisinger, a goldsmith from Munich.
Master MS’s most famous works are the panel paintings that decorated the high altar of a church in Selmecbánya. The altar was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and depicted scenes from her life and the Passion of Christ. Only seven of these paintings are known today and they are scattered in different museums and churches in Hungary, Slovakia and France. One of his paintings, The Visitation, shows the meeting of Mary and Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. The painting is in the Hungarian National Gallery in Budapest. It is a fine example of his art, which uses natural elements, such as rocks, trees and flowers, as symbols of the divine. The painting also shows his attention to detail and his skill in rendering the human figures and their expressions.
Master MS also created three large wooden sculptures of Mary, Catherine and Barbara, which were part of the same altar. The sculptures are now in the Slovak Mining Museum and the Saint Catherine Church in Banská Štiavnica. They are carved and painted with realism and elegance and reflect his influence from German art. Master MS was one of the most important and original painters of his time and region. He left a lasting legacy of artistic excellence and innovation. His paintings and sculptures are admired for their beauty, expressiveness and fusion of Gothic and Renaissance elements. He is a master of both form and color and a representative of the rich cultural heritage of Central Europe.
7. Albert Szent-Györgyi
Albert Szent-Györgyi was a Hungarian-American biochemist who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1937. He is famous for isolating vitamin C and discovering the reactions of the citric acid cycle. He also studied the biochemistry of muscle contraction and the causes of cell division and cancer. Albert Szent-Györgyi was born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1893. He came from a family of scientists and was interested in science from an early age. He studied medicine at the Semmelweis University in Budapest, but his studies were interrupted by World War I. He served as an army medic and wounded himself to escape from the war.
Albert Szent-Györgyi resumed his studies after the war and earned his medical degree in 1917. He then pursued research in biochemistry in Germany and the Netherlands. He worked at the University of Cambridge and the Mayo Foundation in the United States, where he isolated an organic compound called hexuronic acid from plants and animals. Albert Szent-Györgyi returned to Hungary in 1931 and became a professor at the University of Szeged. He proved that hexuronic acid was identical to vitamin C, which prevents scurvy. He also identified the main steps of the citric acid cycle, the process that converts nutrients into energy in the cell. He received the Nobel Prize for his discoveries in 1937.
Albert Szent-Györgyi then focused on the biochemistry of muscle action. He found a protein in muscle that he named actin and showed that it interacts with another protein, myosin, to cause muscle contraction. He also demonstrated that adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the energy source for muscle contraction. Albert Szent-Györgyi moved to the United States in 1947 and became the Institute for Muscle Research director in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. He researched the factors that regulate cell division and growth and explored the role of free radicals and antioxidants in cancer. He died in 1986 at the age of 93.
8. Lajos Szathmáry
Lajos Szathmáry was born on June 2, 1919, on a train heading from Transylvania to Budapest. His parents were fleeing the Hungarian–Romanian War after World War I. He graduated from the University of Budapest with a master's degree in journalism and a doctorate in psychology. He also attended a chef's school and wrote manuals for cooking. Lajos Szathmáry served in the Hungarian army during World War II. He was first a psychologist, then a private and later a prisoner of war. He escaped to the American zone in Germany, where he worked as a cook and a journalist. In 1951, he emigrated to the United States with only €1.10 ($1.23, £0.89) in his pocket.
In New York, Lajos Szathmáry started as a short-order cook and soon became a caterer for the East Coast's elite. He moved to Chicago in 1959 to work for Armour and Company, a meatpacking and food processing company. He developed frozen food lines for various brands, including Stouffer's. Some of his creations were used by NASA for space missions. In 1963, Lajos Szathmáry opened a restaurant in Chicago called The Bakery. It served continental dishes with American influences. The restaurant was very popular and attracted celebrities and dignitaries worldwide. Szathmáry was known for his beef Wellington, a pastry-wrapped filet mignon. He ran The Bakery until 1989 when he retired.
Lajos Szathmáry was also a prolific writer and a media personality. He wrote several cookbooks, including The Chef's Secret Cookbook, which was a New York Times bestseller. He edited two historical book series and wrote essays for them. He published articles and columns in many newspapers and magazines. He appeared on over 150 television shows and 1,000 radio shows. Lajos Szathmáry was a collector and a philanthropist. He amassed a large collection of cookbooks, manuscripts, artworks and Kossuth memorabilia. He donated many of his items to various libraries and museums. He also supported the publication of Hungarian books in the West. He died on October 4, 1996, in Chicago. He was 77 years old.
9. László Berczeller
László Berczeller was a Hungarian food physiologist and a pioneer of soyfoods in Europe. He was born in Budapest in 1890 to a wealthy Jewish medical family. He became interested in soy foods after attending a dinner at the Japanese Club in Berlin in 1913. He later studied their nutritional value and developed a high-quality soy flour called Edelsoja. László Berczeller was a professor of biochemistry at the University of Budapest and obtained several patents for his soy flour process. He also arranged for its production in various countries and promoted its benefits for human health and the economy. He envisioned a larger role for soyfoods in Europe than anyone had before him.
Most scientists and nutritionists throughout Central Europe praised László Berczeller's soy flour. It was used in various foods such as bread, biscuits, cakes, soups, sauces and beverages. It was also used to feed animals and to make industrial products such as paper, glue and paint. It was considered a valuable source of protein, vitamins and minerals. László Berczeller faced many challenges and difficulties in his work with soyfoods. He had to deal with the prejudice and ignorance of the public and the authorities. He had to compete with other soy flour producers who copied his methods or used inferior-quality soybeans. He had to cope with the political and economic turmoil of the World Wars and the Holocaust.
László Berczeller was a humanitarian and a visionary. He believed that soyfoods could help to solve the problems of hunger, malnutrition and poverty in the world. He also believed that soy foods could improve the health and well-being of people and animals. He dedicated his life to his work with soyfoods and hoped to make a positive difference in the world. László Berczeller died in 1955 in Paris, where he had moved after the Second World War. He left behind a legacy of scientific research and innovation in soy foods. He also left behind a message of hope and peace for humanity. He was one of the most important pioneers of soyfoods in Europe and the Western world.
10. Károly Lotz
Károly Lotz was a painter who lived from 1833 to 1904. He was born in Germany but moved to Hungary with his family when he was young. He studied art in Budapest and Vienna and became a professor and dean at various art academies in Budapest. Károly Lotz painted in different genres and styles, such as historical, romantic and academic art. He was influenced by the Venetian master Tiepolo and created many murals and frescos for churches, palaces and public buildings. He also painted portraits and nudes, using his wife and daughters as models.
Károly Lotz’s most famous work is the self-portrait he painted in 1875. It shows him as a confident and elegant artist, holding a palette and a brush in his hands. He wears a dark suit and a white shirt and looks directly at the viewer. The painting is in the Hungarian National Gallery in Budapest. The other famous work is the fresco of the Apotheosis of the Habsburg Dynasty, which he painted in 1903 for the Habsburg Room of the Royal Palace in Budapest. It depicts the history and glory of the Habsburg family, who ruled over Hungary and other parts of Europe for centuries. The fresco covers the entire ceiling of the room and is full of allegorical figures and symbols.
Károly Lotz was married twice in his life. His first wife was Antonie Höfflich, whom he married when he was 21. They had eight children, but only four survived to adulthood. His second wife was his brother's widow, whom he married when he was 58. He changed his name to Károly Jacoboy-Lotz after his second marriage. Károly Lotz died in 1904, one year after he finished the Habsburg fresco. He was an honorary member of the Academy of Pictorial Arts in Vienna and a respected and influential artist in Hungary. His works are displayed in many museums and galleries and are admired for their beauty and skill.
11. Olga Gyarmati
Olga Gyarmati was a Hungarian track and field athlete who competed at three Olympic Games in four different events. She was born in Debrecen on 5 October 1924 and died in Greenfield, Massachusetts, United States, on 27 October 2013. She was married twice, first to István Várkonyi and then to Tamás Aczél, both writers. Olga Gyarmati started athletics in 1941 in Debreceni TE, a local club. She won her first Hungarian Athletics Championships title in the 100-meter dash that year. She moved to Budapest and joined Vasas SC in 1947, after a hiatus due to World War II. She won 31 individual national titles in various sprint and jumping events and three team titles.
Olga Gyarmati's greatest success was winning the gold medal in the long jump at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, the first Olympic long jump competition for women. She set a new Olympic record with 569.5 cm on her third attempt. She also competed in the high jump, finishing 17th. Olga Gyarmati also succeeded at the Universiade, winning the gold medal in the long jump in 1949 and the 200 meters in 1951. She also won six other medals in these championships. She participated in the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, where she placed 10th in the long jump and did not finish in the 100 meters and the 4 by 100 meters relay.
Olga Gyarmati's last major event was the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, where she finished 11th in the long jump. She did not return to Hungary after the Olympics and settled in England. She moved to the United States with her second husband in 1966. She lived in Orange, Massachusetts and later in Greenfield, Massachusetts. Olga Gyarmati was a versatile and talented athlete who set several Hungarian records in her career. She was the first Hungarian woman to run 100 meters in less than 12 seconds, the first to run 80-meter hurdles in less than 12 seconds and the first to jump over six meters in the long jump. She was the second Hungarian woman to win an Olympic gold medal in athletics after Ibolya Csák.
12. Krúbi
Krúbi is the stage name of Horváth Krisztián, a Hungarian rapper and singer who was born on November 17, 1994 in Pomáz, a town near Budapest. He started his musical career as a metal vocalist in the band Pregnant Whale Pain but switched to rap in 2017. He is known for his witty lyrics, unique style and diverse influences. Krúbi rose to fame after winning the Kikeltető talent show in 2017, which earned him a contract with the underground rap label ScarcityBP and the major record company Universal Music Hungary. He released his debut album, Nehézlábérzés, in 2018, which featured his most famous song, “Nehézlábérzés”, with a banana as its symbol. He followed it up with an EP, Zárolás Feloldva, in 2019.
Krúbi's second album, Ösztönlény, came out in 2020 and marked a hiatus in his rap career as he announced that he wanted to start a new project. He also revealed that he had heart problems that prevented him from performing live. In 2021, he launched a new project called 6608xi, which was more experimental and progressive than his previous work. Krúbi's rap songs often deal with social and political issues, personal experiences and emotions. He has criticized the Hungarian government, the media and the education system and praised his fans and collaborators. His lyrics also referenced pop culture, literature and history.
Krúbi's musical influences include Hungarian and international artists, such as Killakikitt, Eminem, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Danny Brown, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Between the Buried and Me and Alice in Chains. He also plays guitar and keyboard and produces some of his beats. Krúbi has won several awards and nominations for his music, including three Fonogram Awards, the most prestigious Hungarian music prize. He has also collaborated with other Hungarian rap artists, such as Trix, Bandezan, Mirror Glimpse and ScarcityBP. He is considered one of Hungary's most innovative and influential rap artists.
13. Azahriah
Azahriah is a Hungarian musician and YouTuber born on January 28th, 2002. He is also known as Paul Street, which is his real name. He started playing guitar as a child but became more serious about writing and sound mixing at the end of 2017. Azahriah is best known for his self-produced EP ‘Silbak,' which was released on all streaming platforms in 2022. The EP contains four songs. ‘Four Moods,' ‘figyelj,' ‘gát,’ and ‘3korty.' The songs are in Hungarian, but they have English subtitles on YouTube. The EP showcases Azahriah's versatile style, which blends rap, pop, rock and electronic music.
Azahriah has a large fan base on YouTube, where he has over 469,000 subscribers. He uploads music videos, behind-the-scenes footage and vlogs. He also collaborates with other Hungarian artists, such as DESH, Gyémi and Young Fly. His most popular video is ‘3korty', which has over 28 million views. Azahriah is also a live performer who has played at various venues and festivals in Hungary and abroad. He has performed at the Papp László Aréna in Budapest, where he attracted a crowd of 15,000 people. He has also toured in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, where he has a growing fan base.
Azahriah is not only a musician but also a creative entrepreneur. His clothing line, called ‘camouflage.' features hoodies, t-shirts, caps and masks. He also has a podcast called ‘mind1', where he talks about his life, music and opinions. He is active on social media, interacting with his fans and sharing his insights. Azahriah is one of the Hungarian music scene's most influential and innovative artists. He has received several awards and nominations, including the Fonogram Award for Best New Artist in 2022 and the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Hungarian Act in 2023. He is constantly working on new projects and experimenting with new sounds. He is a self-made star who has succeeded through talent, hard work and passion.
14. Zoltán Lajos Bay
Zoltán Lajos Bay was born on July 24, 1900, in Gyulavári, Hungary. He studied physics at the Pázmány Péter University in Budapest, where he obtained his PhD in 1923. He then joined the Tungsram Ltd., a research laboratory for improving light sources, mainly electric bulbs. He worked with other scientists on metal-vapor lamps, fluorescent light sources and silicon carbide light-emitting diodes. In 1930, Zoltán Lajos Bay became a professor of theoretical physics at the University of Szeged. He collaborated on biophysical research with Albert Szent-Györgyi, the Nobel laureate in medicine. He also developed the photoelectron multiplier, a device that amplifies weak light signals by using secondary emission of electrons. He applied this device to measure the intensity of starlight and the sun's ultraviolet radiation.
During World War II, Zoltán Lajos Bay was involved in the resistance movement against the Nazi occupation of Hungary. He helped many Jews escape from persecution and deportation, for which he was later recognized as one of the Righteous Among the Nations by the State of Israel. He also worked on developing radar technology, which was used for military and scientific purposes. After the war, Zoltán Lajos Bay moved to the United States, where he became the head of the Department of Nuclear Physics at the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) in 1955. He continued his research on measuring the velocity and frequency of light and proposed a new definition of the meter based on the wavelength of a specific spectral line of krypton-86. This definition was adopted by the International Committee of Weights and Measures in 1960 and remained in use until 1983.
Zoltán Lajos Bay retired from the NBS in 1970 but remained active in scientific and educational activities. He became a professor emeritus at George Washington University, where he taught physics and philosophy. He also visited his homeland several times and received many honors and awards for his achievements. He died on October 4, 1992, in Washington, D.C., at 92. He is buried in Gyula, Hungary, where a bust and a plaque commemorate his legacy.
15. Imre Földi
Imre Földi was a Hungarian weightlifter who competed at five Olympic Games, a record in his sport. He won a gold medal in 1972 and silver medals in 1964 and 1968. He also set 21 world records and coached his daughter to become a European champion. Imre Földi was born in Kecskemét, Hungary, in 1938. He lost his mother in World War II and moved to Tata when he was 17. He worked as a locksmith in a mine and started weightlifting at the Tatabányai Bányász club. He won his first national title in 1957 and his first international medal in 1959.
Imre Földi competed in the bantamweight (56 kg) and featherweight (60 kg) categories. He was the best in the world in the press exercise. He participated in his first Olympics in 1960, finishing sixth. He won his first world title in 1965 and his first European title in 1962. Imre Földi had a dramatic battle with Aleksey Vakhonin at the 1964 Olympics, where he set a world record in the clean and jerk but lost the gold medal by 2.5 kg. He also won silver at the 1968 Olympics behind Waldemar Baszanowski. He failed a doping test at the 1970 World Championships and was disqualified.
Imre Földi achieved his greatest success at the 1972 Olympics, winning the gold medal with a world record total of 397.5 kg. He was the first Hungarian weightlifter to win an Olympic gold medal. He competed at his fifth Olympics in 1976, where he placed fifth. He retired from active sport in 1977 after an injury. Imre Földi received many awards and honors for his achievements, such as the Weightlifter of the Century by the International Weightlifting Federation and the Sportsperson of the Nation in Hungary. He became a coach and trained his daughter Csilla, who won the European title in 1988. He died in 2017 at the age of 78.
16. Adrien Brody
Adrien Brody is an American actor who won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in The Pianist (2002). He was born in New York City on April 14, 1973, to a photographer mother and a history professor father. He has Polish Jewish and Hungarian Jewish ancestry. Adrien Brody started acting as a child and appeared in several Off-Broadway plays and television films. He made his film debut in New York Stories (1989) and gained recognition for his roles in Restaurant (1998), The Thin Red Line (1998) and Summer of Sam (1999).
Adrien Brody's breakthrough came with his portrayal of Władysław Szpilman, a Jewish pianist who survived the Holocaust, in Roman Polanski's The Pianist. He won the Oscar at 29, becoming the youngest actor to do so. He also won the César Award for Best Actor, becoming the second American to receive the French honor. Adrien Brody continued to work with acclaimed directors such as Spike Lee, Barry Levinson, Peter Jackson, Woody Allen and Wes Anderson. He starred in films such as The Village (2004), King Kong (2005), Hollywoodland (2006), The Darjeeling Limited (2007), Midnight in Paris (2011), The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) and The French Dispatch (2021).
Adrien Brody also ventured into television and earned Emmy Award nominations for his roles as Harry Houdini in Houdini (2014), Luca Changretta in Peaky Blinders (2017) and Josh Aaronson in Succession (2021). He played Pat Riley in Winning Time. The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty (2022–2023) and Charles Boone in Chapelwaite (2021). Adrien Brody is not only an actor but also a producer, composer and writer. He produced and composed the music for Stone Barn Castle (2015), a documentary about his restoration of a 19th-century farmhouse in New York. He also wrote and directed a short film, Protect You + Me (2008), which won the Tribeca Film Festival award.
17. Count Almásy
Count Almásy was a Hungarian explorer and airman who mapped the deserts of Libya and Egypt in the 1930s. He was also a spy for Nazi Germany during World War II. He is best known as the main character of the novel and film The English Patient. Count Almásy was born in 1895 in Austria-Hungary into a noble family. He studied in England and became interested in aviation and geography. He joined the Austro-Hungarian army and served as a pilot in World War I. After the war, he worked as a car salesman and a secretary for a bishop. Count Almásy became fascinated by the Sahara desert and joined several expeditions to explore and map its unknown regions. He made friends with local tribes and learned their languages and customs. He also had a love affair with Katherine Clifton, the wife of a fellow explorer. Their relationship ended tragically when Katherine died in a plane crash and Almásy buried her in a cave.
During World War II, Count Almásy offered his services to the German military intelligence. He helped transport spies and supplies across the desert, using his knowledge of the terrain and local connections. He was captured by the British and interrogated by Caravaggio, an old acquaintance who had lost his fingers because of Almásy's betrayal. Count Almásy was severely burned in a plane crash and taken to an Italian villa, where he was cared for by Hana, a Canadian nurse. He could not remember his name or past and was assumed to be an Englishman. He only had a copy of Herodotus's Histories, which he had annotated with his memories and drawings. He gradually revealed his story to Hana and Kip, an Indian sapper who defused bombs. Count Almásy died in 1951 in Salzburg, Austria. He was a controversial figure who was admired for his adventurous spirit and despised for his collaboration with the Nazis.
18. Gyula Zsivótzky
Gyula Zsivótzky was born in Budapest, Hungary, on February 25, 1937. He started his athletic career in 1952 when he joined the Kiskunfélegyházi Vasas club. He later moved to TFSE in 1955 and Újpesti Dózsa in 1958. He specialized in the hammer throw event and trained with coaches Harmati Sándor, Csermák József and Kapcsos Lajos. Gyula Zsivótzky competed in four Olympic Games, winning three medals. He earned silver medals in 1960 in Rome and 1964 in Tokyo, behind Soviet thrower Romuald Klim. He finally achieved the gold medal in 1968 in Mexico City, setting a new world record of 73.76 meters (242 feet). He also participated in the 1972 Olympics in Munich, where he placed fifth.
Gyula Zsivótzky also succeeded at the European Championships, winning one gold, one silver and one bronze medal. He claimed the bronze medal in 1958 in Stockholm, the gold medal in 1962 in Belgrade and the silver medal in 1966 in Budapest. He also competed at the Universiade, winning three gold medals, one silver medal and one bronze medal. Gyula Zsivótzky set two world records in his career in 1965 and 1968. He was the first man to throw over 70 meters (230 feet) in the hammer throw, achieving 70.01 meters (230 feet) on 4 September 1965 in Budapest. He improved his record to 73.76 meters (242 feet) on 16 October 1968 in Mexico City during the Olympic final.
Gyula Zsivótzky retired from athletics in 1973 and later worked in the clothing industry. As an administrator, he remained involved with sports, becoming a member of the Hungarian Olympic Committee and vice-president of his athletic club Újpesti TE. He married Magdolna Komka, an Olympic high jumper and had two sons. Attila, a decathlete and Gyula Jr., a football player. Gyula Zsivótzky died from cancer on 29 September 2007 in Budapest at the age of 70. He was buried in the Óbudai Cemetery. He was honored with several awards, including the Hungarian Sportsman of the Year in 1965 and 1968 and the Nation's Athlete in 2004. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest hammer throwers of all time.
19. Catherine Schell
Catherine Schell is a Hungarian-born actress who has appeared in films, TV shows and theater. She is best known as Nancy in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Lady Claudine in The Return of the Pink Panther and Maya in Space. 1999. She was also the first choice for Captain Kathryn Janeway in Star Trek. Voyager. Catherine Schell was born Katherina Freiin Schell von Bauschlott on 17 July 1944 in Budapest, Hungary. Her father was a Hungarian diplomat and her mother was a countess. Her family fled from the communist regime in Hungary and sought asylum in Austria and then the United States. Schell attended a convent school in New York and later moved to Munich, Germany, where she studied acting.
Catherine Schell made her film debut in Lana, Queen of the Amazons in 1964. She moved to London in 1968 after marrying actor William Marlowe, whom she divorced in 1977. She gained fame as a Bond girl in On Her Majesty's Secret Service in 1969, opposite George Lazenby. She starred in Moon Zero Two, Madame Sin and The Black Windmill. Catherine Schell worked with Peter Sellers twice in The Return of the Pink Panther in 1975 and The Prisoner of Zenda in 1979. She also appeared in TV series, such as The Persuaders, The Adventurer and Doctor Who. Her most notable TV role was as Maya, an alien shape-shifter, in the second season of Space. 1999, a sci-fi series starring Barbara Bain and Martin Landau.
Catherine Schell married director Bill Hays in 1982 and retired from acting in the late 1980s. She ran a small guest hotel in France with her husband until he died in 2006. She has written a memoir, A Constant Alien, which was published in 2016. She also appeared in the 2020 film The Munsters, based on the classic TV sitcom. Catherine Schell is unrelated to the famous Schell siblings, Maximilian, Maria, Immy and Carl, who are also actors. However, her brother Paul von Schell is the widower of actress Hildegard Knef. Schell has dual citizenship in Britain and Hungary. She speaks English, German, French and Hungarian fluently. She is also a skilled painter and sculptor.
20. Joci Pápai
Joci Pápai is a Hungarian singer, rapper and guitarist of Romani descent. He was born on 22 September 1981 in Tata, a town in northwestern Hungary. He started his musical career in 2005, participating in the second season of Megasztár, a Hungarian talent show. He did not win the competition, but he gained some popularity and recognition. Joci Pápai collaborated with other Hungarian artists, such as Majka, Caramel and Zé Szabó. He released his first solo album, Vigaszdíj, in 2005, which included the hit song Ne nézz így rám. He also had success with songs like Nélküled, Nekem ez jár, Mikor a test örexik, Elrejtett világ and Senki más.
Joci Pápai represented Hungary twice at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2017 and 2019. In 2017, he performed the song Origo, which he wrote himself. The song mixes traditional Romani music and modern pop, including a rap verse in Romani language. He finished in eighth place with 200 points. In 2019, he performed the song Az én apám, which is a tribute to his father. The song is a ballad with folk influences and is sung entirely in Hungarian. He did not qualify for the final, ending in 12th place in the first semifinal with 97 points. Joci Pápai is one of the few Romani artists who have achieved mainstream success in Hungary and abroad. He is proud of his heritage and often incorporates Romani culture and language elements in his music. He also advocates for social justice and equality and has spoken out against discrimination and racism.
Joci Pápai is married and has three children. He lives in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. He is a devout Christian and has a cross tattoo on his chest. He plays the guitar and the piano and likes to draw and paint. He enjoys rock, soul, R&B and hip-hop music. Joci Pápai is one of the most popular and influential musicians in Hungary. He has won several awards and honors, such as the Petőfi Music Award, the Golden Giraffe Award and the Bravo Otto Award. He has also performed at various festivals and events, such as the Sziget Festival, the Balaton Sound Festival and the MTV Europe Music Awards. He has a loyal fan base and is active on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
21. Mihaly Munkácsy
Mihaly Munkácsy was a Hungarian painter who lived in Paris. He was famous for his paintings of everyday life and biblical scenes. He was born in 1844 in Munkács, a town in the Austrian Empire, now part of Ukraine. He used Munkácsy as a pseudonym, meaning “from Munkács”. Mihaly Munkácsy started his artistic career as an apprentice to a traveling painter, Elek Szamossy. He then moved to Pest, the largest city in Hungary, where he received a grant to study abroad. He studied at the Academy of Vienna, the Munich Academy and the Düsseldorf Academy. He learned from various masters, such as Karl Rahl, Ludwig Knaus and Andreas Achenbach.
Mihaly Munkácsy's early paintings were mostly scenes of peasants and poor people. He followed Hungarian genre painters' colorful and theatrical style, such as Károly Lotz and János Jankó. He also noticed the landscape around his figures and showed different emotions in his characters. His first masterpiece was The Last Day of a Condemned Man, painted in 1869. It won the Gold Medal of the Paris Salon in 1870. Mihaly Munkácsy moved to Paris in 1872 and lived there until his death. He continued to paint genre pictures, such as Making Lint, Woman Gathering Brushwood and Pawnshop. He also married the widow of Baron de Marches in 1874 and became a wealthy and respected artist. He changed his style and painted more colorful and elegant works, such as salon paintings and still lifes.
Mihaly Munkácsy's most famous works are his large-scale biblical paintings, such as Christ before Pilate, Christ on Calvary and Christ in the House of Martha. He spent years on these paintings and used hundreds of models and sketches. He also traveled to the Holy Land to study the scenery and costumes. These paintings were exhibited around the world and attracted huge crowds and admiration. Mihaly Munkácsy died in 1900, at the age of 56, in Endenlich, Germany. He suffered from mental illness in his last years and was confined to a sanatorium. He was buried in Kerepesi Cemetery in Budapest, Hungary. He is regarded as one of the greatest Hungarian painters and his works are displayed in many museums and galleries. He influenced many other artists, such as László Paál, Gyula Benczúr and Tivadar Kosztka Csontváry.
22. Tony Curtis
Tony Curtis was an American actor with a long and successful career in the film industry. He was born as Bernard Schwartz on June 3, 1925, in New York City, to Jewish immigrants from Hungary. He had a difficult childhood, marked by poverty, family problems and the death of his younger brother, Julius. Tony Curtis joined the Navy in 1942 and served in World War II. After his discharge in 1945, he used the GI Bill to enroll in an acting school in New York. He auditioned for the New York Dramatic Workshop and impressed the director with his pantomime skills. He studied acting for two years and changed his name to Tony Curtis.
Tony Curtis moved to Hollywood in 1948 and signed a contract with Universal Pictures. He appeared in minor roles in several films, mostly adventure or comedy. He gained popularity as a handsome and charming leading man, often paired with attractive actresses. He married his first wife, Janet Leigh, in 1951 and had two daughters, Kelly and Jamie Lee, who became actresses. Tony Curtis proved his versatility as an actor in the late 1950s and early 1960s, when he took on more challenging and diverse roles. He earned critical acclaim and an Oscar nomination for his performance as a convict in The Defiant Ones (1958), co-starring Sidney Poitier. He also showed his comedic talent in Some Like It Hot (1959), playing a musician who disguises himself as a woman, opposite Marilyn Monroe and Jack Lemmon. He also starred in the historical epics Spartacus (1960) and Taras Bulba (1962).
Tony Curtis's career declined in the mid-1960s as he struggled to find good scripts and roles. He attempted a comeback in 1968 with The Boston Strangler, where he played the notorious serial killer. He received positive reviews for his dark and disturbing portrayal, but the film was not a commercial success. He also ventured into television, starring in the series The Persuaders! (1971-1972), with Roger Moore. Tony Curtis had an unstable personal life, marked by six marriages, six children, drug addiction and financial troubles. He divorced Janet Leigh in 1962 and married his second wife, Christine Kaufmann, in 1963. They had two daughters, Allegra and Alexandra, who became actresses. He divorced Kaufmann in 1968 and married his third wife, Leslie Allen, in 1968. They had two sons, Nicholas and Benjamin. Nicholas died of a drug overdose in 1994. Curtis divorced Allen in 1982 and married his fourth wife, Andrea Savio, in 1984. They divorced in 1992 and he married his fifth wife, Lisa Deutsch, in 1993. They divorced in 1994 and he married his sixth and final wife, Jill Vandenberg, in 1998. He remained married to her until his death.
Tony Curtis died of a heart attack on September 29, 2010, at the age of 85. He was buried with a copy of his favorite novel, Anthony Adverse and a Stetson hat. He left behind a legacy of more than 100 films and a passion for painting and philanthropy. He was one of the last surviving stars of the golden age of Hollywood.
23. Ágoston Haraszthy
Ágoston Haraszthy was a Hungarian nobleman who moved to the United States in 1840. He pioneered many fields, such as town-building, winemaking and agriculture. He is often called the “Father of California Wine” or the “Father of California Viticulture”. He was also the first Hungarian to settle permanently in the United States and to write a book about the country in his native language. Ágoston Haraszthy founded the first town in Wisconsin, Sauk City, in 1841. He also planted the first vineyards in the state and experimented with different grape varieties. He moved to San Diego, California, in 1849, where he became the first town marshal and the first county sheriff. He also served as a member of the state legislature and wrote a report on the resources and potential of California.
In 1852, Ágoston Haraszthy started importing and planting grapevines from Europe in California. He established the Buena Vista Winery in Sonoma Valley in 1857, which became the state's largest and most successful winery. He also built a wine cellar, a distillery, a brick factory and a steamboat landing on his property. He hired Chinese workers and introduced modern winemaking techniques and equipment. In 1861, the California legislature commissioned Ágoston Haraszthy to travel to Europe and collect grape cuttings to improve the state's viticulture. He brought back more than 300 varieties of vines, which he distributed to various growers and nurseries. He also wrote a book titled Grape Culture, Wines and Wine-Making, which was the first treatise on winemaking in California.
Ágoston Haraszthy lost his fortune in 1866 due to misfortunes and lawsuits. He decided to leave California and start a new venture in Nicaragua. He bought a large farm near Corinto and planted sugarcane, coffee and tropical fruits. He also built a sugar mill and a rum distillery. He hoped to create a new market for his products in Central America and the United States. Ágoston Haraszthy died in 1869, when he fell into a river infested with alligators while inspecting his land. His body was never recovered. He left behind a legacy of innovation and excellence in winemaking and agriculture. He was inducted into the Culinary Institute of America's Vintners Hall of Fame in 2007. He is also honored by a statue in Sonoma Plaza and a historical marker in Sauk City.
24. ByeAlex
ByeAlex is the stage name of Alex Márta, a Hungarian singer, songwriter, journalist and novelist. He was born on 6 June 1984 in Kisvárda, a town in northeastern Hungary. He studied philosophy at the University of Miskolc and worked as a journalist for several magazines and websites. ByeAlex became famous in 2013 when he won A Dal, the national selection competition for the Eurovision Song Contest. He represented Hungary in Malmö, Sweden, with the song “Kedvesem”, which means “My Darling” in Hungarian. He finished 10th in the final, the best result for Hungary since 1994.
In 2014, ByeAlex published his debut novel, Özséb, egy öngyilkos Miskolc (Özséb, a suicide in Miskolc), a crime story set in his hometown. The book received positive reviews from critics and readers. He also released his first album, Szörpoholista, which means “Syrupaholic” in Hungarian. The album featured 12 songs, including “Kedvesem” and other hits. In 2015, ByeAlex changed the name of his band to ByeAlex és a Slepp, which means “ByeAlex and the Slepp” in Hungarian. The Slepp is a group of musicians who play with him. Szeifert Bálint on bass guitar and vocals, Schnellbach Dávid on guitar, Tóth G. Zoltán on acoustic guitar and manager and Fekete Balázs on drums. They released their second album, Szív (Sz)Kill, which means “Heart (Sz)Kill” in Hungarian, in 2017.
In 2017, ByeAlex also formed a duo with Gergő Schmidt, a rapper and producer, called Senkise, which means “Nobody” in Hungarian. They released several singles, such as “Nem vagyok én apád” (“I'm not your father”), “Táncolj” (“Dance”) and “Még mindig..”. (“Still..”.). They also collaborated with other artists, such as Hiro, Majka and Pápai Joci. ByeAlex is one of Hungary's most popular and influential indie pop artists. He has won several awards, including the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Hungarian Act in 2013 and 2014, the Petőfi Music Award for Best Male Artist in 2014 and 2015 and the Fonogram Award for Best Alternative Music Album in 2018. He has also performed at many festivals and concerts in Hungary and abroad.
25. György Láng
György Láng was a Hungarian writer, composer, conductor and graphic artist. He was born on April 4, 1908, in Budapest. He was the son of Salamon Láng, a railway official and Rozália Grünfeld. He studied music and art at the Liszt Academy of Music and Fine Arts, respectively. He was a student of Zoltán Kodály, a prominent Hungarian composer and ethnomusicologist. György Láng wrote symphonic, chamber and choral works and music criticism for various newspapers and magazines. His most famous work is The Cantor of St. Thomas, a biographical novel about Johann Sebastian Bach, published in 1940. He also wrote books about Joseph Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven, Béla Bartók and Sandro Botticelli.
György Láng's career was interrupted by World War II, during which he was sent to forced labor and then to a concentration camp in Gunskirchen, Austria. He survived the camp and even edited a newspaper there called Alpenjäger. After the liberation, he stayed in Germany for two years and worked as an investigator for the Allied forces, hunting down Nazis. György Láng returned to Hungary in 1947 and resumed his musical and literary activities. He organized and conducted choirs, gave lectures on music and art and taught at the Studio of the Union of Artists. He also composed his most significant musical work, the Concerto Ebraico, a violin concerto based on Jewish motifs, in 1958.
György Láng was married to Izabella Weinstein, with whom he had two sons, Tamás and Péter. He died on April 3, 1976, in Budapest, a week before his 68th birthday. He was buried at the Kozma Street Jewish Cemetery. His last novel, Hanele, was published posthumously in 1980. György Láng is remembered as a versatile and talented artist who contributed to the Hungarian culture in various fields. His works reflect his passion for music, art and history, as well as his Jewish identity and his experience of the Holocaust. He was a friend and colleague of many prominent Hungarian artists, such as Géza Hegedüs, Ferenc Farkas and Endre Ady.
26. Robert Capa
Robert Capa was born in 1913 in Budapest, Hungary, as Endre Ernő Friedmann. He was a Jewish teenager who fled political repression in his homeland and moved to Berlin, Germany, where he studied at the university and worked as a darkroom assistant and a staff photographer for a German picture agency. In 1933, Robert Capa left Germany because of the rise of Hitler and settled in Paris, France, where he met and worked with Gerda Taro, another Jewish photographer who had escaped from Germany. They changed their names to Robert Capa and Gerda Taro and began to publish their work separately.
Robert Capa became famous as a war correspondent in the Spanish Civil War, where he took many powerful images of the conflict, such as the Loyalist Soldier, Spain, which showed a soldier falling after being shot. He also covered the Second Sino-Japanese War, where he documented the atrocities committed by the Japanese army in China. He and Taro were romantically involved, but she was killed in 1937 while covering the Spanish Civil War. During World War II, Robert Capa worked for Life magazine and covered many major battles in Europe and Africa, such as the North African Campaign, the Italian Campaign and the Normandy Invasion. He was the only civilian photographer who landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day and his photographs of the landing became some of the most iconic images of the war. He also witnessed the liberation of Paris and the Battle of the Bulge.
After the war, Robert Capa became a US citizen and co-founded Magnum Photos, the first cooperative agency for worldwide freelance photographers, with Henri Cartier-Bresson, David Seymour and others. He also covered the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, where he took the last photograph of his friend and writer Ernest Hemingway. He was friends with many famous artists and writers, such as John Steinbeck, Irwin Shaw and John Huston. In 1954, Robert Capa volunteered to photograph the First Indochina War for Life magazine and was killed by a land mine while on assignment in Vietnam. He was 40 years old. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest combat and adventure photographers in history and his work has influenced generations of photojournalists. He received the Medal of Freedom from US General Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1947 for his work during World War II. Hungary has issued a stamp and a gold coin in his honor.
27. Ibolya Csák
Ibolya Csák was a Hungarian athlete who specialized in the high jump. She was born on January 6, 1915, in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. She started her gymnastics career but switched to athletics in 1932. She competed in both the high and long jumps but achieved international success in the former event. Ibolya Csák was the first Hungarian woman to win a gold medal in both the Olympic Games and the European Championships in Athletics. She used a novel technique that involved a braking support and a perpendicular scissors jump. She improved the Hungarian record for the high jump eight times, adding 15 centimeters to it in total. She was also the national record holder in the long jump.
Ibolya Csák's victory at the 1936 Berlin Olympics was one of the closest in the history of the Games. Three athletes cleared 160 centimeters, but none could clear 162 centimeters. They were given a fourth attempt and Csák was the only one who succeeded. She became the first Hungarian female Olympic champion in athletics and one of the Jewish athletes who won medals at the Nazi-hosted Olympics. In unusual circumstances, Ibolya Csák won the gold medal at the 1938 European Championships in Athletics. The original winner, Germany's Dora Ratjen, was later revealed to be a man. Csák's height of 164 centimeters was only one centimeter below the world record and remained the Hungarian record for 24 years. She won nine Hungarian titles in total, two in the long jump.
Ibolya Csák retired from active sports in 1939. Between 1936 and 1970, she worked at the Hungarian Banknote Printing Co. She had two children, Ibolya (born in 1940) and Attila (born in 1942). She was honored with several awards and recognitions for her achievements, such as the Toldi Gold Medal, the Republic of Hungary Order of Merit and the International Fair Play Lifetime Achievement Award. Ibolya Csák died in Budapest on February 9, 2006, at 91. She was buried at the Farkasréti Cemetery. She is remembered as one of the greatest Hungarian female athletes and a pioneer of the high jump. A plaque and a statue commemorate her legacy in Budapest.
28. Éva Székely
Éva Székely was a Hungarian swimmer who won a gold medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics and a silver medal at the 1956 Summer Olympics. She also set six world records and won 44 national titles. She was the first to hold the world record in the 400 m individual medley in 1953. Éva Székely was born in Budapest in 1927 to a Jewish family. She started swimming young and was inspired by Ferenc Csik, who won the 100 m freestyle at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. She joined a local sports club and soon became a national champion but was expelled from the team because of her religion.
During World War II, Éva Székely faced persecution and discrimination as a Jew. She was banned from competing and was forced to work in a labor battalion. She escaped from a death march and hid in a safe house with her family. She survived the Holocaust partly because of her fame as a swimmer. After the war, Éva Székely resumed her swimming career and trained hard to achieve her Olympic dream. She qualified for the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, where she won the gold medal in the 200 m breaststroke, setting an Olympic record. Four years later, she won the silver medal in the same event at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne.
Éva Székely married Dezső Gyarmati, a three-time Olympic water polo champion, in 1950. They had a daughter, Andrea Gyarmati, who also became an Olympic swimmer and won two medals at the 1972 Olympics in Munich. The couple divorced in 1957 and Gyarmati died in 2013. Éva Székely retired from swimming in 1958 and became a coach and a writer. She published several books about swimming and her life story. She died in 2020 at the age of 92. She was one of the most successful and respected Hungarian athletes of all time.
29. László Moholy-Nagy
László Moholy-Nagy was a Hungarian-American artist, photographer and teacher who played a vital role in the Bauhaus school and modern art and design development. He was born in 1895 in a small village in Hungary and grew up in Moholy, from which he took his surname. He studied law in Budapest, but his interest in art and poetry led him to join the avant-garde movement after World War I. László Moholy-Nagy moved to Berlin in 1920 and became involved in various artistic fields, such as painting, collage, sculpture, film and theater. He experimented with new materials and techniques, such as photograms, photomontages and metal constructions. He also wrote books and articles on art theory and aesthetics, advocating for integrating technology and industry into the arts.
In 1923, László Moholy-Nagy was appointed as a master at the Bauhaus, a famous design school founded by Walter Gropius in Weimar. He taught the foundation course and metal workshop, influencing the school's curriculum and visual identity. He collaborated with other Bauhaus masters, such as Walter Gropius, Marcel Breuer and Herbert Bayer and his first wife, Lucia Moholy, who was a photographer and a documentarian of the Bauhaus. László Moholy-Nagy left the Bauhaus in 1928 and established his design studio in Berlin. He worked on various projects, including advertising, typography, exhibition and stage design. He also continued to produce artworks, such as paintings, sculptures and films. He traveled extensively in Europe and visited the Soviet Union, where he met with constructivist artists and filmmakers.
In 1933, he moved to London with his second wife, Sibylle Pietzsch and his two daughters, Hattula and Claudia. He was a freelance designer and photographer and taught at various schools and institutions. Gropius invited him to join the New Bauhaus in Chicago, but he declined due to his commitments in England. He also rejected an offer to teach at the Royal College of Art because he felt the British art education was too conservative and academic. In 1937, he finally accepted the directorship of the New Bauhaus, which later became the School of Design and then the Institute of Design. He moved to Chicago with his family and established a new curriculum and faculty. He also created new artworks, such as paintings, sculptures and light installations. He died in 1946 from leukemia, leaving behind a legacy of innovation and experimentation in art and design.
30. Tivadar Puskás
Tivadar Puskás was a Hungarian inventor, born on 17 September 1844 in Pest, part of the Austrian Empire. He came from a noble family of Transylvanian origin. He studied law and engineering and worked for a railway construction company in England. Tivadar Puskás moved to America and became a gold miner. He also exposed a fraudulent inventor named Keely. He was interested in telegraphy and contacted Thomas Edison, who was working on the phonograph and the telephone. Puskás suggested the idea of a telephone exchange, which Edison credited him for.
Tivadar Puskás returned to Europe and set up a telephone exchange in Paris in 1879. He also demonstrated the first working phonograph in France. He invented the multiplex switchboard, which improved the efficiency of telephone exchanges. He also founded the Telefon Hírmondó, a telephone newspaper that broadcasts news and programs to subscribers. Tivadar Puskás died on 16 March 1893 in Budapest, which was part of Austria-Hungary. He was 48 years old. He was a pioneer of telecommunication and a prolific inventor. He left behind many patents and innovations that influenced the development of the telephone, the phonograph and the radio.
Who are the most famous Hungarian scientists and inventors?
Listed below are the most famous Hungarian scientists and inventors.
- Tivadar Puskás. Tivadar Puskás was a Hungarian scientist and inventor known for his contributions to telecommunications. He played a crucial role in developing the telephone exchange, enabling multiple telephone lines' efficient connection. Puskás also invented the multiplex telegraph, which allowed multiple messages to be transmitted simultaneously over a single telegraph line. His inventions significantly advanced communication technology and revolutionized long-distance communication.
- Dennis Gabor. Dennis Gabor was a Hungarian-born British physicist and inventor who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1971. He is known for inventing holography, which produces three-dimensional images using laser light. Gabor's invention laid the foundation for various practical applications in fields such as microscopy, data storage and artistic expression. His contributions to science and invention have profoundly impacted imaging technology and continue to be widely utilized today.
- Mária Telkes. Mária Telkes was a Hungarian-American scientist and inventor specializing in solar energy. She is known for her pioneering work in developing solar thermal storage systems. Telkes invented the first solar-powered heating system for homes and developed solar-powered devices, including solar ovens and desalination units. Her research and inventions were crucial in advancing solar energy as a renewable and sustainable alternative to traditional energy sources.
- Zoltán Lajos Bay. Zoltán Lajos Bay was a Hungarian physicist and inventor who significantly contributed to nuclear physics. He is best known for developing the Bay Model, a mathematical model used to describe nuclear reactions. Bay's model provided a better understanding of nuclear processes and helped pave the way for advancements in nuclear physics research. His work has had a lasting impact on studying atomic and nuclear phenomena.
- Albert Szent-Györgyi. Albert Szent-Györgyi was a Hungarian physiologist and biochemist who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1937. He is renowned for his discovery of vitamin C and his research on the biological processes of cellular respiration. Szent-Györgyi's work significantly contributed to understanding the role of metabolic pathways and vitamins in maintaining human health. His discoveries have had a lasting impact on biochemistry and paved the way for further advancements in medical science.
Who are the most famous Hungarians who hold a special record?
Listed below are the most famous Hungarians who hold a special record.
- Count Almásy. Count Almásy held a special record for being a known Hungarian desert explorer and aviator. He is best known for expediting and mapping the Western Desert in Egypt during the early 20th century. Count Almásy's explorations contributed significantly to understanding the region's geography and history. He is particularly famous for his involvement in the search for the lost oasis of Zerzura, which inspired the novel and movie “The English Patient”. Count Almásy's adventurous spirit and contributions to desert exploration have made him an iconic figure in Hungarian history.
- László Bíró. László Bíró held the special record for inventing the modern ballpoint pen. László Bíró was a Hungarian-Argentinian journalist and inventor who came up with the idea of using a rolling ball in a pen to create a smooth and consistent flow of ink. His invention revolutionized writing instruments and became widely popular worldwide. The ballpoint pen or the “Biro pen”, provided a practical and convenient alternative to fountain pens. It is considered one of the most significant inventions of the 20th century and has had a lasting impact on how people write and take notes.
- Adrien Brody. Adrien Brody held the special record for being the first Hungarian-American actor to win an Academy Award for Best Actor. Adrien Brody achieved this milestone for his remarkable performance in the 2002 film “The Pianist”. He portrayed the role of Władysław Szpilman, a Jewish musician, in the Holocaust drama directed by Roman Polanski. Brody's win made him the youngest actor to receive the prestigious award in that category. His portrayal of Szpilman earned critical acclaim and solidified his place as a talented actor in the international film industry.
- Robert Capa. Robert Capa held the special record for being one of the most influential war photographers of the 20th century. Robert Capa, born Endre Friedmann, was a Hungarian-born photojournalist who documented several significant historical events, including the Spanish Civil War, World War II and the D-Day invasion. His iconic photographs captured the raw realities of war and conveyed a sense of urgency and human emotion. Capa co-founded the Magnum Photos agency, which became synonymous with photojournalism excellence. His courageous work and visual storytelling have profoundly impacted the field of photography.
- Tony Curtis. Tony Curtis held a special record for being a highly acclaimed Hungarian-American actor. Born Bernard Schwartz, Tony Curtis rose to fame during the Golden Age of Hollywood and became known for his versatile performances in various film genres. His notable films include “Some Like It Hot”, “The Defiant Ones”, and “Spartacus”. Curtis received critical acclaim for his acting skills and was nominated for numerous awards throughout his career. His charismatic on-screen presence and successful transition from romantic comedies to dramatic roles established him as one of the most recognizable and respected actors of his time.
Who are the most famous Hungarian artists?
Listed below are the most famous Hungarian artists.
- Simon Hantaï. Simon Hantaï was a Hungarian-French artist known for his innovative approach to painting. He is associated with the art movement called “Supports/Surfaces”, which focused on exploring the materiality of painting. Hantaï developed his technique called “pliage” (folding), where he would fold the canvas before applying paint, resulting in abstract compositions with unique patterns and textures. His experimental approach to art challenged traditional notions of painting and significantly influenced subsequent generations of artists.
- László Moholy-Nagy. László Moholy-Nagy was a Hungarian artist and influential figure in the field of modern art. He was associated with the Bauhaus movement and worked across various disciplines, including painting, photography, sculpture and design. Moholy-Nagy embraced technology and explored the possibilities of new materials and mediums in his artworks. He is known for his innovative use of light, space and geometric forms, creating dynamic compositions that merge art and technology. His multidisciplinary approach and pioneering spirit continue to inspire artists and designers today.
- Master MS. Master MS, also known as Mihály Munkácsy, was a renowned Hungarian painter from the 19th century. He is considered one of the most significant figures in Hungarian art history. Master MS excelled in genre painting and historical subjects, displaying remarkable attention to detail and a realistic style. His masterpieces, such as “The Last Day of a Condemned Man” and “Christ before Pilate”, garnered international recognition and solidified his reputation as a highly skilled artist. Master MS's works are celebrated for their technical prowess and emotional depth.
- Károly Lotz. Károly Lotz was a Hungarian painter known for contributing to mural painting and decorative arts. He specialized in large-scale historical and mythological compositions, often adorning public buildings and palaces. Lotz's works are characterized by their grandeur, vibrant colors and meticulous attention to detail. His murals can be found in prominent locations such as the Hungarian Parliament Building and the Budapest Opera House, adding a sense of splendor and artistic richness to these architectural landmarks. Lotz's artistic legacy lies in his ability to transform spaces through his monumental and visually captivating artworks.
- Mihaly Munkácsy. Mihaly Munkácsy was a Hungarian painter of the 19th century who achieved international acclaim for his realistic and emotionally charged artworks. He is known for his mastery of depicting and capturing human figures' psychological depth. Munkácsy's paintings often portrayed scenes from everyday life, historical events and biblical narratives, evoking a sense of drama and capturing the viewers' attention. His meticulous attention to detail, skillful use of light and shadow and ability to convey emotional intensity earned him a prominent place in art. Munkácsy's works are admired for their technical excellence and powerful storytelling.
Who are the most famous Hungarian singers and musicians?
Listed below are the most famous Hungarian singers and musicians.
- Azahriah. Azahriah is a Hungarian singer known for her soulful and powerful vocals. She specializes in R&B and soul music, captivating audiences with her emotive performances. Azahriah's unique voice and ability to convey raw emotions through her music have gained her a dedicated following in Hungary's music scene.
- Krúbi. Krúbi is a popular Hungarian rapper and hip-hop artist. Known for his dynamic flow and catchy beats, Krúbi has significantly impacted the Hungarian music industry. His energetic performances and relatable lyrics have resonated with audiences, making him a prominent figure in the country's rap scene.
- Joci Pápai. Joci Pápai is a Hungarian singer-songwriter who gained international recognition by participating in the Eurovision Song Contest. He blends traditional Hungarian folk music with modern pop elements, creating a unique and captivating sound. Pápai's heartfelt performances and powerful vocals have earned him a loyal fan base and established him as a respected artist in Hungary.
- ByeAlex. ByeAlex is a Hungarian singer and songwriter known for his introspective and poetic lyrics. His music combines indie pop and alternative rock elements, often featuring delicate melodies and heartfelt storytelling. ByeAlex's introspective and thought-provoking approach to songwriting has garnered critical acclaim and made him a beloved figure in the Hungarian music scene.
- Viktor Király. Viktor Király is a Hungarian-American singer who rose to prominence through his appearances in international singing competitions. His versatile voice allows him to excel in various genres, including pop, R&B and soul. Király's impressive vocal range, charismatic stage presence and soulful interpretations have earned him accolades and a dedicated fan base. His cross-cultural background and musical talent have contributed to his success in Hungary and abroad.
Who are the most famous Hungarian actors?
Listed below are the most famous Hungarian actors.
- Bela Lugosi. Bela Lugosi was a Hungarian-American actor best known for his iconic portrayal of Count Dracula in the 1931 film adaptation of Bram Stoker's novel. His captivating performance and distinctive accent made him synonymous with the character and established him as a horror film legend. Lugosi's portrayal of Dracula showcased his theatrical presence and skills in portraying mysterious and menacing characters.
- Houdini. Harry Houdini, born Erik Weisz, was a Hungarian-American illusionist and actor. Primarily known for his escapology and magic acts, Houdini also ventured into acting. He appeared in several silent films, showcasing his charisma and physicality on screen. Houdini's background as an escape artist brought a unique element to his acting performances, adding excitement and suspense to his roles.
- Catherine Schell. Catherine Schell is a Hungarian-born actress who gained international recognition for her roles in British television series, notably her portrayal of Maya in the science fiction show “Space. 1999”. Schell's versatile acting skills and ability to bring depth to her characters made her a fan favorite. Her performances showcased her range as an actress, from portraying otherworldly beings to complex human characters.
- Ági Mészáros. Ági Mészáros is a Hungarian actress known for her versatile performances in both film and theater. She has showcased her acting skills in various genres, including drama and comedy. Mészáros's ability to bring authenticity and depth to her characters has earned her critical acclaim and a respected place in Hungarian acting circles. Her dedication to her craft and captivating stage presence have solidified her reputation as a talented and influential actress.
Who are the most famous Hungarian sportsmen?
Listed below are the most famous Hungarian sportsmen.
- Éva Székely. Éva Székely was a Hungarian swimmer who achieved great success in the sport. She won the gold medal in the 200-meter breaststroke at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, becoming the first Hungarian woman to win an Olympic gold medal in swimming. Székely's groundbreaking achievement and continued success in international competitions made her a trailblazer for Hungarian swimming.
- Olga Gyarmati. Olga Gyarmati was a Hungarian water polo player considered one of the greatest female players of all time. She won four Olympic gold medals with the Hungarian national team, showcasing her exceptional skills and dominance. Gyarmati's contributions to the success of Hungarian water polo and her longevity as a player have solidified her status as a legendary figure in the sport.
- Gyula Zsivótzky. Gyula Zsivótzky was a Hungarian hammer thrower who achieved remarkable results in athletics. He won the gold medal in the hammer throw at the 1972 Munich Olympics, showcasing his strength and technique. Zsivótzky's success in international competitions and multiple world records in the hammer throw established him as one of Hungary's greatest athletes in track and field.
- Imre Földi. Imre Földi is a Hungarian gymnast with notable success in artistic gymnastics. He won multiple Olympic medals, including gold in the team competition at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Földi's exceptional skills in various gymnastics apparatuses and his contributions to the Hungarian national team's success have made him a respected and celebrated figure in gymnastics.
- Ibolya Csák. Ibolya Csák is a Hungarian handball player who has significantly contributed to the sport. She won multiple medals with the Hungarian national team, including gold at the 2003 World Championship and bronze at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Csák's agility, skill and competitive spirit have established her as one of Hungary's most accomplished and influential handball players. Her achievements and impact on the sport have inspired future Hungarian handball players.
Who are the most famous Hungarian chefs?
Listed below are the most famous Hungarian chefs.
- László Berczeller. László Berczeller is a famous Hungarian chef known for his culinary expertise and innovative approach to food. He has gained recognition for his work in several high-end restaurants, where he has showcased his creativity and mastery of flavors. Berczeller's culinary creations have captivated diners, earning him a reputation as one of Hungary's top chefs.
- Ágoston Haraszthy. Ágoston Haraszthy was a Hungarian-American winemaker and restaurateur who significantly developed the California wine industry. He established one of the first commercial wineries in California and introduced European winemaking techniques to the region. Haraszthy's contributions to the wine industry and his passion for quality food and wine have cemented his legacy as a pioneering figure in Hungarian and American culinary history.
- Lajos Szathmáry. Lajos Szathmáry was a Hungarian chef and restaurateur who impacted Budapest's culinary scene. He founded one of the city's most-known restaurants, Gundel, which has become an institution for Hungarian cuisine. Szathmáry's dedication to preserving and promoting traditional Hungarian dishes and his commitment to culinary excellence has made him an influential figure in Hungarian gastronomy.
- György Láng. György Láng is a prominent Hungarian chef known for his contributions to modern Hungarian cuisine. He has successfully blended traditional Hungarian flavors with contemporary techniques, creating innovative and visual dishes. Láng's culinary skills have been recognized with numerous awards and he has played a significant role in elevating Hungarian cuisine to international acclaim.
- Ákos Sárközi. Ákos Sárközi is a celebrated Hungarian chef known for his expertise in traditional Hungarian cuisine. He has worked in prestigious restaurants and hotels, showcasing his mastery of Hungarian flavors and techniques. Sárközi's commitment to using high-quality, locally sourced ingredients and his dedication to preserving culinary traditions have earned him recognition and made him a respected figure in the Hungarian culinary world.
What are the most fun facts about Hungary?
Listed below are the most fun facts about Hungary.
- Hungary Has an Inner Sea. Hungary has an inner sea, which is a large freshwater lake called Lake Balaton. It covers 600 square meters (6458.4 square feet) and is the biggest lake in Central Europe. Most people call it the Hungarian Sea because of its size and beauty.
- Hungary Is an Ancient Wine Country. Hungary is an ancient wine country with a history of the Roman Empire. The rulers and nobles of Europe highly valued Hungarian wines and Hungarian wine production thrived for centuries. Hungary has 22 official wine regions, each with its characteristics and specialties.
- Hungary and the King of Rock and Roll. Hungary and the King of Rock and Roll have a surprising connection. In 1957, Elvis Presley performed a song called Peace in the Valley on a TV show. The song was dedicated to the Hungarian people, who had just suffered a brutal Soviet invasion. Elvis wanted to show his support and sympathy for their struggle.
- Strap on Your Skis. Hungary has some ski resorts despite being landlocked and mostly flat. It often experiences significant snowfalls in winter, especially in the Northern Uplands. The country has 15 ski resorts with 35 kilometers (22 miles) of slopes.
- It Is Home to a Mummified King. Hungary preserves and venerates the right hand of its first king and patron saint, Stephen I. He was the last grand prince of the Hungarians and the first king of Hungary from 1000 or 1001 until he died in 1038. He was canonized in 1083 and his right hand was found to be intact and mummified when his body was exhumed.
Is it expensive to visit Hungary?
No, Hungary is an affordable European destination, especially compared to Western European cities. The prices in Hungary is relatively lower than in many Western capitals, making it an attractive choice for budget-conscious travelers. Basic goods such as milk, cigarettes, bottled water and beer are priced 3€ ($3.27, £2.61) to 5€ ($5.45, £4.35), with local products often offering good value for money. Breakfast at local eateries or cafes is also affordable, making dining out an accessible option for visitors. The cost of traveling within Hungary, including public transportation and taxis, is also relatively economical, further enhancing its affordability. Hungary is known for its reasonable accommodation prices, with various options to suit different budgets. For those looking to enjoy a pint of beer, the cost is 5€ ($5.45, £4.35) to 15€ ($16.35, £13.05), with Hungary offering competitive prices compared to many other European cities.
What are the most popular holiday dates in Hungary?
The most important holidays in Hungary are Christmas, New Year's Day, Easter and the National Day of Hungary. Firstly, one of the most popular holiday dates in Hungary is Christmas, which is celebrated on December 25th. It is a significant religious and cultural holiday where families exchange gifts, decorate Christmas trees and enjoy festive meals. The holiday season in Hungary is marked by Christmas markets, where visitors can indulge in traditional food, drinks and handcrafted gifts. Secondly, New Year's Day, celebrated on January 1st, is another popular holiday in Hungary. It marks the beginning of the new year and is celebrated with fireworks, parties and festive gatherings. Most people also participate in a tradition called “Dip in the Danube”, where brave individuals plunge into the icy waters of the Danube River to start the year with a fresh and invigorating experience. Thirdly, Easter is a significant holiday in Hungary, typically celebrated in March or April. It is a time when families gather to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Hungarian Easter traditions include painting eggs, participating in egg-rolling competitions and enjoying traditional Easter meals. Hollókő is particularly famous for its Easter festivities, where visitors can witness unique customs and traditional folk performances. Lastly, the National Day of Hungary, also known as St. Stephen's Day, is celebrated on August 20th. It commemorates the foundation of the Hungarian state and the first king, St. Stephen. Festivities include a grand fireworks display, concerts and cultural events. The celebration's highlight is the “Holy Right” procession, where the Holy Right Hand of St. Stephen is carried through the streets of Budapest.
What are the top destinations to visit in Hungary?
Listed below are the top places to visit in Hungary.
- Visit Budapest. Hungary's capital city offers many attractions, including the historic Buda Castle, the majestic Hungarian Parliament Building and the Széchenyi Thermal Bath. Budapest's lively atmosphere, streets and views from the Fisherman's Bastion make it a must-visit destination. Budapest is considered on of the top places to visit in Hungary.
- Explore Lake Balaton. Lake Balaton is the largest freshwater lake in Central Europe. It offers swimming, sailing and sunbathing opportunities along its shores. Visitors can also explore lakeside towns like Siófok and Tihany or indulge in the region's famous wines.
- Discover the Danube Bend. The Danube Bend is a scenic area in northern Hungary where the Danube River flows through the Visegrád Hills. Visitors can enjoy panoramic views from the hilltop Visegrád Castle, explore the town of Szentendre with its art galleries and museums or take a leisurely boat cruise along the river.
- Visit the Tokaj Wine Region. Tokaj is a famous wine region in northeastern Hungary, known for its sweet dessert wines. Wine lovers can explore vineyards, enjoy wine tastings and learn about the centuries-old winemaking traditions. The region's beautiful landscapes and villages add to the beauty of the experience.
- Explore the Puszta. The Puszta, also known as the Great Hungarian Plain, offers a unique cultural and natural experience. Visitors can witness traditional Hungarian horsemanship at the Hortobágy National Park, ride in horse-drawn carriages and attend folk music and dance performances. The vast open landscapes of the Puszta showcase the beauty of Hungary's rural heritage.
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