The House of Terror

There is one story from Budapest I have left untold. It's about the House of Terror located in the Andrássy Street. The house contains exhibits related to the fascist and communist dictatorial regimes in 20th century Hungary and is also a memorial to the victims of these regimes, including those detained, interrogated, tortured or killed in the building.

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With regard to communism and fascism, the exhibition contains material on the nation's relationships to Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. It also contains exhibits related to Hungarian organizations such as the fascist Arrow Cross Party and the communist ÁVH (which was similar to the Soviet Union KGB secret police). Part of the exhibition takes place in the basement, where you can see examples of the cells that the ÁVH used to break the will of their prisoners.

Outside of the Museum, you can find candles and images of people that have fallen under the communist and fascist regime.

One of the images on the wall showed Mansfeld Peter. We saw a statue of him while visiting Buda Castle, that showed him falling off  a wall, and wondered what that was about. We found out here. At 15 he and his family became victims of state terror. He became a freedom fighter at 16 years of age and participated in the 1956 Revolution against Soviet oppression. He was betrayed and arrested by the AVH. He spent the remainder of his life in a political prison, called Hell's Hallway, to reach the legal age of 18 before his death penalty was carried out.

In front of the Museum you can find a literal iron curtain, symbolizing the heavy historic past of this part of Europe. 

It is not a place that you will want to visit first when you come to Budapest. It's a place filled with heavy stories that are not for everyone. But all in all it is a place worth visiting, and a story that shouldn't be forgotten.