Salgótarjáni Street Jewish Cemetery (Budapest, Hungary)

Salgótarjáni Street Jewish Cemetery is a monument protected in its entirety and it recalls the 20th century tragedy of Hungary’s Jewry.

About the cemetery

The Salgótarjáni Street Jewish Cemetery lies next to the Fiumei Road Cemetery and is separated from it only by a stone wall. The two of them represent the most prestigious cemeteries in Hungary where important personalities of the public, political and economic life, scientists, artists and athletes are buried. People who defined the history of Hungary in the 19th and 20th century. Both cemeteries are also unique for their architectural elements and tomb sculptures.

Much of the unparalleled built heritage of Salgótarjáni Street Jewish Cemetery is provided by the mausoleums of the business elite arising during the Age of Dualism. Furthermore, the remarkable atmosphere of this cemetery, which was opened to visitors in 2016, is given by the particular symbiosis of buildings and vegetation.

The cemetery recalls the 20th century tragedy of Hungary’s Jewry. For example, there is the mausoleum – ornamented with Jewish symbols and Hungarian motifs – of Vilmos Vázsonyi, the first Hungarian minister of Jewish origin, but there is also a memorial to the victims of the Budapest Ghetto, many of whom are buried here.

Important graves and monuments

Ceremony building (1908)

This building was designed by Béla Lajta. The tomb of Rachel of Bethlehem served as a model for its design. The dome collapsed decades ago, but the renovation is planned. Also the tomb of Vilmos Vázsonyi, the first minister of Jewish religion can be found near here.

József Zwack (1916)

József Zwack was a liqueur and distillery manufacturer. He founded the well-known Zwack Unicum factory, which brand is now known all around Europe. He patented the Unicum brand and recipe in 1883. 

 
Ármin Herz (1917)

Herz Ármin is the founder of a salami factory. He made the Hungarian production of salami covered with noble mold a success. His brand became a Hungaricum (a thing or phenomenon unique to Hungary and representing great value) in 2014.

Graves of ghetto victims in Budapest (1945)

The grave of those who died in the Budapest ghetto and were buried in the graveyard after the liberation of the ghetto. According to cemetery books 2.700 people rest here.

Mausoleums along the walls (19th century - early 20th century)

There are 147 mausoleums in the cemetery, of which 126 are located along the cemetery walls. Building mausoleums is a unique feature of the neolog Jewish burial, which is unique also in Europe. Among them the Weiss Family (founder of Manfréd Weiss Steel and Metal Works in Csepel) and the Hatvany-Deutsch family (mayor producer in milling and sugar industry) are the most important.

Cemetery location

6 Salgótarjáni Street,
Budapest, 1086
Hungary

Postal address

16-18 Fiumei Street,
Budapest, 1086
Hungary

Contacts

Janos Prutkay
E-mail: janos.prutkay@nori.gov.hu
Phone: +36 70 382 90 57

Tourist information

The cemetery is opened from Sunday to Friday, and it is closed during Jewish religious celebrations.

Visitors can register for guided tours in advance. The tours are free of charge.

It can be reached by trams 37 and 37A.

More info on the website https://zsidotemeto.nori.gov.hu