Budapest Kilometre Zero

The Kilometre Zero marker in Budapest is a three metre high limestone sculpture of the zero digit, created by Miklós Borsos in 1975. It is situated on the Buda side of the Széchenyi Chain Bridge close to the bottom of the funicular.

The original Kilometre Zero marker in Budapest was placed at the entrance to the Buda Royal Palace, or Buda Castle (Budavári Palota in Hungarian). It was moved to its current location in Adam Clark Square in 1849 when the chain bridge was finally completed.

That first KM0 marker was a 1m high staue of The Madonna (on a 2m plinth) created by the Hungarian/American sculptor, Jenő Frim Körmendi, at the behest of the Hungarian Automobil Club. It was erected on May 7, 1932. On the front of the plinth was an inscription "Starting point of the Hungarian national roads / 0 KM / Established by the Hungária / Automobil Club / 1932."

The Madonna was unfortunately destroiyed in World War II during the seige of Budapest. But it was replaced by a very Soviet-style sculpture of a 'Worker' in 1953, which remained until the current Kilometre Zero was installed.