At Ráth György Villa on Városligeti fasor, an art museum occupies the former home of György Ráth, the first director of the Museum of Applied Arts. The permanent collection brings together Art Nouveau furniture, textiles, glassware and other objects from Britain, Austria, France and Hungary. Rooms arranged with period furnishings give you a sense of how the style appeared in Hungarian homes around the turn of the 20th century. Look for the villa’s study, dining room and sitting room, then take a quiet walk among the garden statues.
A collector’s home and museum
György Ráth was the first director of the Museum of Applied Arts and collected art himself. He bought the villa in 1901, and he and his wife furnished it with Art Nouveau objects. The building’s exterior is classical in style; the collection inside is where the villa’s Art Nouveau character comes into view.
The museum now displays a permanent selection from the Museum of Applied Arts. Its main building is undergoing renovation, and the villa provides a place to see works from that collection in the meantime.
Art Nouveau across Europe
The exhibition follows the movement through British, Austrian, French and Hungarian examples. Furniture, textiles and glassware sit among the objects on display, while the interiors show how Art Nouveau furnishings could be part of everyday domestic rooms.
The dining room and sitting room are arranged to suggest Hungarian homes around the turn of the 20th century. Ráth’s study is also furnished, giving the visit a view of the collector’s former home alongside galleries devoted to the style.
FAQ
Where is Ráth György Villa?
It is at Városligeti fasor 12 in Budapest.
Is Ráth György Villa closed on any day?
Yes. The museum is closed on Mondays.
What can you see at the villa?
The collection includes Art Nouveau furniture, textiles and glassware from Britain, Austria, France and Hungary, as well as furnished rooms such as the study, dining room and sitting room.
