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Liberty Statue

The Liberty Statue in Budapest stands on Gellért Hill in front of the Citadel in Buda. It is the largest of three bronze statues by sculptor Zsigmond Kisfaludi Strobl, erected in 1947 to honor soldiers who liberated the country during World War II. The 14-meter-high figure, together with its pedestal, rises to about 40 meters and is visible from almost anywhere in Budapest. It depicts a woman holding a palm frond aloft. A Hungarian nurse posed as the model. The statue became a national symbol and is also shown on a former 10-forint coin and on an air-mail stamp.

Liberty Statue bronze figure raising a leafy branch against a cloudy sky.
The Liberty Statue is shown from below with its green-patinated bronze figure holding a leafy branch aloft.
© · CC BY-SA 2.0
The Liberty Statue stands on a tall pedestal atop a wooded hill against a bright sky.
Budapest’s Liberty Statue rises above Gellért Hill on a tall pedestal.
© · CC BY-SA 2.0
Silhouette of the Liberty Statue holding a palm branch against a bright sky.
The Liberty Statue appears in silhouette, with a raised palm branch framed by dark foliage below.
May 2023 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Liberty Statue appears as a distant silhouette atop a hill.
The Liberty Statue is visible in the far distance, silhouetted against a hazy sky.
June 2023 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Liberty Statue relief on a silver-toned coin with a female figure atop a pedestal and two smaller figures below.
The Liberty Statue appears in relief on a Russian commemorative coin.
November 2014 © Банк России · Public domain

Identification

TitleLiberty Statue
TypeMonument
Other namesSzabadság szobor; Szabadság Szobor; Статуя свободы; Monumento alla Liberazione; Liberty Statue of Budapest; Freedom Statue

Historical context

Date erected1947
CommemoratesThe liberation of Budapest and Hungary by the Red Army in World War II; after 1989, the inscription was changed to commemorate all who sacrificed their lives for Hungary's independence, freedom, and prosperity
Historical interpretation at constructionAt the time of construction, the defeat of the Axis forces by the Red Army was officially regarded as liberation

Creator

SculptorZsigmond Kisfaludi Strobl

Discovery and provenance

ModelA Hungarian nurse
Original design purposeAccording to Zsigmond Kisfaludi Strobl, the design was originally intended for the memorial of István Horthy and would have featured a child instead of the palm leaf
Original design variationA legend says the statue originally held an airplane propeller, said to commemorate Miklós Horthy's son, who died in a test-flight accident at the start of World War II

Physical characteristics

Total heightAbout 40 metres
Number of statuesThree
Figure depictedA female figure
Pedestal height26 metres
Height of main figure14 metres

Materials

MaterialBronze

Appearance

Held objectA palm branch
Other group figuresA dragon slayer fighting a dragon with bare fists; a figure carrying a torch symbolizing the flame of liberty

Location and ownership

Current location of removed sculpturesMemento Park
Current location of former pedestal figureMemento Park
LocationGellért Hill, Budapest, Hungary, at the east end of the Citadel in the Buda district
Original companion sculptureA 6-metre bronze Soviet soldier with a PPSh-41 submachine gun and a banner, based on a prototype by V. M. Golovtsov
VisibilityPlaced so it can be seen from almost anywhere in Budapest

History and restoration

Original inscription"In memory of the Soviet hero-liberators from the grateful Hungarian people. 1945"
Current inscription"In memory of all those who sacrificed their lives for the independence, freedom and prosperity of Hungary."
Inscription language at constructionHungarian and Russian
Inscription language after 1989Hungarian only
Damage historySome parts of the monument were damaged during the 1956 revolution
Original companion sculpture removedRemoved in 1992
Inscription changedAfter Hungary's transition to democracy in 1989, the pedestal inscription was modified and the Russian-language version was removed
Future renovation noteAfter a 2025 renovation, a Christian cross will be placed at the base of the statue

Significance

ProminenceA distinctive and prominent feature of Budapest's cityscape
Depicted on currencyFeatured on the 10-forint coin series valid until 1990 and during the 1980s and 1990s
Depicted on stampShown on an airmail stamp issued on 29 October 1950
Television usageUsed by Hungarian television (MTV) during the communist era as the image representing Hungary in the Hungarian Intervision opening sequence

Other

Annual holiday useFireworks are launched from the square in front of the statue every year on 20 August for the national holiday