Hungarian Academy of Sciences

The neo-renaissance style building of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) is situated at the head of the Chain bridge on the Pest side, on Roosevelt Square and at first glance looks very much like an opera house. Its establishment was initiated in 1825 by the leading figure of the reform era, Count István Széchenyi (who donated one year income of his estates, 60 thousand (!) HUF). The Academy was founded in order to cultivate the Hungarian language as well as the sciences and arts in Hungarian language however the building of the Citadel of Sciences was completed only by 1865. The assembly hall of the building often gives home to classical music concerts.