Budapest City Archives

The Budapest City Archives, also known as Budapest Főváros Levéltára, is one of the main historical archives in Budapest, preserving documents of immense historical and cultural value, tracing the history of the city and the country through the centuries. Located on Teve Street in the XIII district, the archive covers an area of 23,440 square meters and houses approximately 38,000 linear meters of documents. The roots of the archives date back to the post-liberation period from Ottoman domination in 1686. However, earlier documentation is extremely scarce due to the devastations suffered during conflicts. It is only after the mid-18th century, with the appointment of the first city archivists like András Pscherer, that a true systematization and preservation of documents begins. This period marks the birth of the archive as an independent institution, tasked with organizing and preserving the city’s administrative documents. The 19th century was a crucial period for the archive. After the unification of Buda, Pest, and Óbuda in 1873, the documents were centralized and stored in the new central city hall. During World War II, the archives suffered severe losses: about a quarter of the documentation was destroyed. Fortunately, the most valuable documents were safely stored in the crypt of St. Stephen’s Basilica, protecting them from total destruction. The communist period saw further transformations. In 1950, the archive was integrated into the state archiving system, expanding its scope to include documents from state entities, cooperatives, and private individuals. In 1968, it returned under the control of the municipal council, marking an era of growth in terms of personnel, equipment, and publications, albeit at the expense of some scientific activities. The modern archive, inaugurated in 2004 after a long planning process that began in 1998, represents a state-of-the-art facility. Designed by the architectural firm Budai Építész Műhely under the guidance of János Koris, the new building meets the needs of modern preservation, research, and public service. Its design includes reading rooms, restoration laboratories, and a large area for microfilm consultation. Among the preserved documents are historical maps, urban plans, and administrative documents that offer a detailed insight into the urban development of Budapest. The collection of maps is particularly significant, allowing for the tracing of the city’s topographical transformations from the 17th century to the present day. This makes the archive an invaluable resource for scholars, genealogists, and anyone interested in the city’s history. Over the years, the Budapest City Archives has received numerous awards for the quality of its work. In 2012, it was awarded the “Archive of the Year” prize for excellence in research and preservation. Additionally, in 2013 and 2021, it received the “Research Center of the Year” award from the Hungarian Society for Family History Research, attesting to its fundamental role in preserving Hungarian historical memory.