Communist Past Tour - Half day tour

An introduction to the recent history of Hungary: the communist dictatorship, the Soviet era and the uprising of 1956.

After the Second World War Hungary became a communist country and ended up being controlled by the powerful Soviet Union. This almost half-century period between 1945 and 1989 is a very interesting part of Hungarian history. During the tour you will see the unique collection of communist statues in Memento Park (formerly known as Statue Park) outside Budapest, which represents socialist realist art, and visit places of great interest during the uprising of 1956, a desperate attempt to break away from dictatorship and become free. The uprising was not successful, and it became possible to commemorate the heroes of the revolution only after the change of regime in 1989. You will see several of these memorial places as well. You will hear from an authentic local (your guide) what it was like to live under communism, what everyday life was like, and how everything has changed since the end of communism.

The tour includes:

• Memento (Statue) Park (outside Budapest, a 30-minute drive)
• Liberty Statue (Gellért Hill) and Szabadság Square: memorial to the liberating Soviet soldiers
• Statue of Imre Nagy, hero of the revolution
• Lajos Kossuth Square: the Eternal Flame, a 1956 memorial
• Parliament (exterior)
• Dózsa György Avenue (the scene of military parades during the dictatorship)
• Heroes’ Square

The tour ends at the House of Terror (or at a location of your choice).