Valley of the Arts festival in its 19th yearThe Valley of the Arts festival between 28 July and 6 August will include over 2,000 events encompassing theatre, classical and contemporary music, jazz, visual arts, literary readings and roundtable discussions. This year the festival, centred on six villages in the Bakony region north of Lake Balaton, will celebrate its 19th anniversary.
Sopron’s eclectic VOLT festival expected
to attract 60,000 fans British
dance band The Prodigy, US rockers Korn and “organic” rappers The Roots will
headline this year’s VOLT Festival in Sopron from Wednesday to Saturday (4 to 7
July).
Mathematicians break world record More than 30 years after Hungarian building engineer and architect Ern? Rubik patented his six-sided puzzle in 1975, mathematicians, with the help of a new theory and a high performance computer, have broken a world record, proving that the Rubik’s cube can be restored to its original state from any position in just 26 moves.
Klezmer, flamenco & Madame Butterfly
Every
year in July and August the Dominican Court in the Castle District
becomes home to klezmer, ragtime and operas. The square in front of St.
Stephen’s Basilica hosts symphony concerts, whilst the summer opera
festival is held at the Hungarian State Opera. It’s all part of the
wide-ranging and widespread Budafest summer music festival.
Museums facing their darkest hours
The
Night of Museums is an annual event that sees museums in the capital
and across the country stay open until late into the night. The aim is
to get a wider section of the public interested in what museums have to
offer. Expect long queues and a festive atmosphere.
The Budapest Summer Festival features a number of concerts at Margaret Island’s outdoor theatre located at the foot of the water tower.
Eötvös Loránd University’s botanical garden – an oasis of peace and quiet in the rough and tumble of District VIII – provides a perfect place to spend an hour or two enjoying a collection of plants from around the world. At present the garden is home to some 7,000 species of flora including 800 varieties of cactus. The collection ranges from more mundane plants like everyday herbs found in any supermarket to exotic and rare tropical plants. The largest plant in the collection is the Roystonea (Royal Palm) – the top of which had to be cut off to prevent it from growing through the roof of the Palm House.
Genghis Khan travelling exhibition comes to Hungarian National MuseumSeven hundred and sixty years ago the Mongols ravaged Asia and half of Europe, thereby creating one of the great empires in history. Genghis Khan, the “scourge of humanity” was both notorious for his cruelty and famed for his diplomatic skill. The travelling exhibition, which opened in Budapest last Wednesday, aims to present the good side of the leader.
