An hour's drive from the City Centre will take you to this small, unostentatious park about 10 km southwest of Budapest.
This small park with its colossal statues from the communist period speaks volumes about the challenges Hungary faced during that era and its final downfall in the uprising of 1956.
Right in front of the park's entrance is a massive plinth with Stalin's Boots as a remembrance of the uprising of 1956 when Stalin's statue was pulled down and only his boots remained.
How to get to Memento Park from Budapest
Getting to the park by public transport from Budapest is fairly easy.
You can take the Metro Line M4 to Kelenföld Station. From there, you will get a direct bus to Memento Park, Bus lines 101B and 101E. If you have a Budapest Card, then this entire trip will be included in it.
Another easier way is to take the direct bus line from Deak Square to Memento Park. You can purchase the ticket on the bus itself. You can get a discounted ticket on the Budapest Card on this line.
We took the first option, got down at Kelenföld Station and took bus number 101E to the park. The bus dropped us opposite the park across the road.
Things to see at the Memento Park
Stalin's Boots
Right at the entrance to the park is this intriguing plinth with tall boots that once belonged to the statue of Stalin that was pulled down by the crowds revolting against the oppressing communist regime on October 23rd, 1956.
Now, the boots stand as a poignant reminder of that era and also of its downfall.
Statue Park
This small open-air museum has 41 mammoth statues of important figures from the communist regime. The statues are really impressive and capture that era well.
My understanding of the park is that at first look, it might seem like the park is celebrating that regime but as you go through the statues, the irony gradually sinks in. One needs a democratic, free state to be able to talk about the oppressive communist regime.
Exhibitions
There is a small exhibition area across the road from the park. These exhibitions have a replica of Stalin's boots. There are displays about the events that occurred around the revolution of 1956 and the ultimate fall of the communist regime in Hungary.
Cinema hall
Adjacent to the Exhibition area is a small theatre. We just walked past it thinking that this was just another documentary about the making of this park and so on. But once inside, we discovered it was a short film about the agents who worked in the communist regime.
The film depicts the lives of agents, how they were inducted and their training in different aspects of spying and espionage. The film was very well made and got us completely hooked. We sat right through the end of this one-hour film.
My Tip
Memento Park might not instantly impress you the way most museums or art installations do. The reason is that it tells the story of Hungary's communist regime very simply. The infrastructure around the park is very basic. They have collected these statues from various parts of Hungary and put them together here. But the history lesson is profound and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The mammoth statues are amazing.
At the entrance to the park, an old East German car called Trabant is parked. I think it stood there as a symbol of the unfulfilled dreams of people who lived in the erstwhile GDR.
There is a ticket counter at the entrance where you can also buy refreshments. An old radio set was playing some old melodies. The toilets were clean and free which is quite unlike at most places.
I think this pretty much paints the picture of the park for you.
If you're interested in learning about the history and politics of Hungary and of the communist regime in general, then this park will not disappoint you.
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