Ferenc (Franz) Liszt Square

You should definitely take a walk through Ferenc Liszt Square. Ride the 4 or 6 tram to Király. A block from where you exit the tram, you'll find the square which is closed off for pedestrian traffic. It's a very plesant section of Budapest with sidewalk cafes, benches and gardens.

The statue of Liszt in the center of the square is quite interesting and so was the man who inspired it. Liszt was a composer and some say he was the best pianist who ever lived. Notice the large hands on the statue (picture above) symbolizing Liszt's skill as a pianist.

Born in 1811, Liszt began performing at age 9 and funds were soon made available for him to study in Vienna. He became acquainted with a number of famous musicians and composers and made such a comfortable living for himself that in his later years he gave most of his income to charity.

Liszt was born to a Hungarian father and Austrian mother in a section of Hungary that now belongs to Austria. He endeared himself to the Hungarians by always calling himself a Magyar (Hungarian) despite his multi-ethnic background.

Franz had several tragic love affairs and fathered two children, but he never married. Late in his life his two children met a tragic death, and he joined a monastery where he planned to live a solitary life, but he never actually did so--his music continued to keep him active. He spent his remaining years between three locations: Rome, Italy; Budapest, Hungary; and Weimar, Germany.

You will notice the Liszt Academy of Music as you turn the corner to enter Liszt Square and at all hours of the day you will hear students practicing. Founded by Liszt in 1875 and eventually renamed for him in 1925, the academy has preserved the small flat inside the Academy walls where list stayed when he was in Budapest.

The walking street begins just past the Academy.