On our way in from the airport when we arrived in Budapest, I saw this incredible building rising out of nowhere. Today I was finally able to go back to see it close up. We were debating whether to spend a gloriously sunny day (the first in three weeks) inside a museum, but in the end we did as it was free today, and it was well worth the time.

This was designed by the famous Hungarian architect Ödön Lechner in the Secession style, a variation of Art Nouveau that incorporates elements of Hungarian folk art and which became the Hungarian national style. Masterpieces by Lechner include the Geology Institute http://www.pbase.com/helenpb/image/130482111, the Postal Savings Bank http://www.pbase.com/helenpb/image/130678536, Szent Laszlo Church http://www.pbase.com/helenpb/image/130490945, a villa http://www.pbase.com/helenpb/image/130489212, Kecskemet City Hall http://www.pbase.com/helenpb/image/130648750 and the Applied Arts Museum http://www.pbase.com/image/128557313.

Information on Lechner is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ödön_Lechner