Földtani Múzeum
In the Art Nouveau building designed by Lechner Ödön, Hungary’s largest geological collection is on show, with minerals, rocks and fossils.
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About the museum
The Földtani Múzeum (Geological Museum) grew out of the collections of the Magyar Állami Földtani Intézet (Hungarian State Geological Institute), whose predecessor, the Magyar Királyi Földtani Intézet (Royal Hungarian Geological Institute), was founded in 1869. The collection is today the country’s largest geological material: it contains minerals, rocks and fossils, as well as photographs and bequests preserving the history of the earth sciences, arranged in around 23 thematic collections.
The institute’s headquarters was built at the end of the 1890s on Stefánia út. Of the fourteen designs submitted to the competition, the jury chose the Art Nouveau design of Lechner Ödön; construction began in 1898 and was completed by the end of 1899. The interior spaces evoke the world of geology: the entrance hall recalls a cave, the corridor forms a mine gallery, and the columns of the assembly hall are decorated with miners’ heads. On the roof, four ancient Hungarian figures hold up a globe; the coloured Zsolnay tiles symbolise water and sky.
The exhibition presents the geological history of Hungary from the Silurian to the present, shows Hungarian minerals and ores, the remains of the former ape-like primate Rudapithecus hungaricus from Rudabánya, as well as Hungarian dinosaur traces and bones. Visits to the museum take place with professional guidance and prior registration.
Highlights
- Lechner Ödön’s Art Nouveau headquarters with Zsolnay tiles
- Geological history of Hungary from the Silurian to the present
- Hungarian minerals and ores
- Remains of Rudapithecus hungaricus from Rudabánya
- Dinosaur bones and footprints
Permanent exhibition
- Magyarország földtani története és ásványkincsei – The geological development of Hungary from the Silurian to the present, Hungarian minerals and ores, the Rudapithecus from Rudabánya and dinosaur finds.
- Founded
- 1869
- Operated by
- Magyar Bányászati és Földtani Szolgálat
Admission & discounts
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Accessibility
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Kids & families
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Getting there & parking
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Amenities & dining
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Events & venue rental
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Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Visits take place with professional guidance; the tour lasts about one and a half hours and is for groups of up to 25 people. Prior registration is required at muzeum@sztfh.hu. |
