Hungary’s new government opens ex-PM residence for public tours

Hungary’s new government has announced plans to open the former official residence of Prime Minister Viktor Orban to the public, marking a symbolic shift in the country’s political direction.

The residence, located within Budapest’s Buda Castle complex in a building that once served as a Carmelite monastery, will be accessible to visitors on weekends, Prime Minister Peter Magyar said in an interview on the M1 television channel. According to Magyar, members of the public will be able to freely tour the premises where the head of government previously worked and where cabinet meetings were held.

The building will remain open to visitors until its future use is determined.

Magyar also confirmed that he has relocated his office from Buda to Pest, moving into a building near Hungary’s parliament. His administrative office will also be transferred there. He described the relocation as part of a broader “change of political era” in Hungary.

The new leadership has been openly critical of the previous government, accusing it of maintaining excessively luxurious conditions in official premises. At the same time, officials stressed that the structures within Buda Castle, including the former residence, were restored under a state-funded program aimed at rehabilitating historical heritage sites damaged during World War II.

The building itself has a complex and layered history. Originally constructed as a monastery, it later functioned as a theatre and hosted various state institutions. Since 2019, it has served as the official residence of the Hungarian prime minister.

By Tamilla Hasanova