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See the Past Align With the Present in 25 Stunning Photos

Edited By: Violet T.

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Traveling is a wonderful way to discover new things about ourselves and the world around us. When visiting tourist hotspots like Vienna or New York, do you ever find yourself curious about how history must have looked walking across these roads as we do today? Well, Zoltán Kerényi is a Hungarian photographer that has fully understood our deep-rooted feelings of nostalgia.

In his latest series of photos, he takes us on a journey across 20th century Budapest, through the 21st century! Using archived photographs provided by Fortepan, this artist shows us the exact same monumental locations in the past and the present together. His project, called Ablak a múltra, literally translates in English to "Window to the Past'', as his goal is to give us a brief look into the rich history of Budapest, surrounded by the modern-day aesthetic we are so accustomed to.

1. Reed Square, 1930 - 2016

Photo Series titled “Ablak a múltra”, or “Window to the Past” by Hungarian Photographer Zoltán Kerényi, displaying from archived photographs of 20th century Budapest in the same location in the 21st century, two women sit on a chain in Reed Square, 1930 - 2016

2. Viewing the city from Fisherman’s Bastion, 1962 - 2016

Photo Series titled “Ablak a múltra”, or “Window to the Past” by Hungarian Photographer Zoltán Kerényi, displaying from archived photographs of 20th century Budapest in the same location in the 21st century, tourists viewing the city from Fisherman’s Bastion, 1962 - 2016

3. Wine-inspired Sculpture at Boráros Square, 1983 - 2015

Photo Series titled “Ablak a múltra”, or “Window to the Past” by Hungarian Photographer Zoltán Kerényi, displaying from archived photographs of 20th century Budapest in the same location in the 21st century, Sculpture of man with wine barrels at Boráros Square, 1983 - 2015

4. Kossuth Lajos Square, 1940 - 2014

Photo Series titled “Ablak a múltra”, or “Window to the Past” by Hungarian Photographer Zoltán Kerényi, displaying from archived photographs of 20th century Budapest in the same location in the 21st century, small child handing flowers to a young girl in Kossuth Lajos Square, 1940 - 2014

5. Blaha Lujza Square on Rákóczi Road, 1956 - 2011

Photo Series titled “Ablak a múltra”, or “Window to the Past” by Hungarian Photographer Zoltán Kerényi, displaying from archived photographs of 20th century Budapest in the same location in the 21st century, tank that has collided with a building in Blaha Lujza Square on Rákóczi Road, 1956 - 2011

6. Dimitrov Square, known today as Fővám Square, 1948-2013

Photo Series titled “Ablak a múltra”, or “Window to the Past” by Hungarian Photographer Zoltán Kerényi, displaying from archived photographs of 20th century Budapest in the same location in the 21st century, woman running with a child on Dimitrov Square, known today as Fővám Square, 1948-2013

7. Primary school on Hermina Road, 1949 - 2014

Photo Series titled “Ablak a múltra”, or “Window to the Past” by Hungarian Photographer Zoltán Kerényi, displaying from archived photographs of 20th century Budapest in the same location in the 21st century, children running out of the entrance of a primary school on Hermina Road, 1949 - 2014

8. Visegrad Street, 1968 - 2014

Photo Series titled “Ablak a múltra”, or “Window to the Past” by Hungarian Photographer Zoltán Kerényi, displaying from archived photographs of 20th century Budapest in the same location in the 21st century, woman standing in front of shop on Visegrad Street, 1968 - 2014

9. The view of Freedom Bridge (also known as Liberty Bridge) from a lookout point on Gellért Hills, 1961 - 2014

Photo Series titled “Ablak a múltra”, or “Window to the Past” by Hungarian Photographer Zoltán Kerényi, displaying from archived photographs of 20th century Budapest in the same location in the 21st century, The view of Freedom Bridge (also known as Liberty Bridge) from lookout point on Gellért Hills, 1961 - 2014

10. A now-finished building on Baross Street, 1956 - 2014

Photo Series titled “Ablak a múltra”, or “Window to the Past” by Hungarian Photographer Zoltán Kerényi, displaying from archived photographs of 20th century Budapest in the same location in the 21st century, a partially completed building on Baross Street, 1956 - 2014

11. A view of the Bem Wharf, in front of 18th Century Church of Saint Francis, 1979 - 2014

Photo Series titled “Ablak a múltra”, or “Window to the Past” by Hungarian Photographer Zoltán Kerényi, displaying from archived photographs of 20th century Budapest in the same location in the 21st century, A view of a ship on the Bem Wharf, in front of 18th Century Church of Saint Francis, 1979 - 2014

12. The White House (formerly the headquarters for the Communist Party) on Jászai Mari Square, 1951 - 2015

Photo Series titled “Ablak a múltra”, or “Window to the Past” by Hungarian Photographer Zoltán Kerényi, displaying from archived photographs of 20th century Budapest in the same location in the 21st century, The White House (formerly the headquarters for the Communist Party) on Jászai Mari Square, 1951 - 2015

13. Nehru-Part (Park), 1970 - 2015

Photo Series titled “Ablak a múltra”, or “Window to the Past” by Hungarian Photographer Zoltán Kerényi, displaying from archived photographs of 20th century Budapest in the same location in the 21st century, man leaning on a railing in Nehru-Part (Park), 1970 - 2015

14. The Rubik R-26 Góbé, a Hungarian glider housed in the Transport Museum of Budapest, 1967 - 2011

Photo Series titled “Ablak a múltra”, or “Window to the Past” by Hungarian Photographer Zoltán Kerényi, displaying from archived photographs of 20th century Budapest in the same location in the 21st century, The Rubik R-26 Góbé, a Hungarian glider housed in the Transport Museum of Budapest, 1967 - 2011

15. The Carousel at Vidam Park (closed since 2013), 1962 - 2012

Photo Series titled “Ablak a múltra”, or “Window to the Past” by Hungarian Photographer Zoltán Kerényi, displaying from archived photographs of 20th century Budapest in the same location in the 21st century, people riding the Carousel at Vidam Park (closed since 2013), 1962 - 2012

16. Taking pictures on Gellért Hills, 1957 - 2014

17. A children’s park on Villányi road, 1959 - 2013

Photo Series titled “Ablak a múltra”, or “Window to the Past” by Hungarian Photographer Zoltán Kerényi, displaying from archived photographs of 20th century Budapest in the same location in the 21st century, little girl on swing at a children’s park on Villányi road, 1959 - 2013

18. Inside the Ferenc Puskás Stadium, 1975 - 2016

Photo Series titled “Ablak a múltra”, or “Window to the Past” by Hungarian Photographer Zoltán Kerényi, displaying from archived photographs of 20th century Budapest in the same location in the 21st century, children running Inside the Ferenc Puskás Stadium, 1975 - 2016

19. At Fisherman's Bastion on Castle Hill, 1962 - 2014

Photo Series titled “Ablak a múltra”, or “Window to the Past” by Hungarian Photographer Zoltán Kerényi, displaying from archived photographs of 20th century Budapest in the same location in the 21st century, women sitting under arch At Fisherman's Bastion on Castle Hill, 1962 - 2014

20. Bem Wharf running alongside Csalogány Street, 1980 - 2011

Photo Series titled “Ablak a múltra”, or “Window to the Past” by Hungarian Photographer Zoltán Kerényi, displaying from archived photographs of 20th century Budapest in the same location in the 21st century, Bem Wharf running alongside Csalogány Street, 1980 - 2011 with parachuters in the sky

21. Hungarian opera singer Erzsébet Házy with her dog in front of Freedom Bridge, 1967 - 2013

Photo Series titled “Ablak a múltra”, or “Window to the Past” by Hungarian Photographer Zoltán Kerényi, displaying from archived photographs of 20th century Budapest in the same location in the 21st century, Hungarian opera singer Erzsébet Házy with her dog in front of Freedom Bridge, 1967 - 2013

22. On Knézich Street in Bakáts Square, 1952 - 2013

Photo Series titled “Ablak a múltra”, or “Window to the Past” by Hungarian Photographer Zoltán Kerényi, displaying from archived photographs of 20th century Budapest in the same location in the 21st century, large tall man with a small dog. On Knézich Street in Bakáts Square, 1952 - 2013

23. West Railway Station, 1936 - 2012

24. A view of the Franciscan Church in V. Ferenciek Square (also known as the Snake Square), 1919 - 2014

Photo Series titled “Ablak a múltra”, or “Window to the Past” by Hungarian Photographer Zoltán Kerényi, displaying from archived photographs of 20th century Budapest in the same location in the 21st century, A view of the Franciscan Church in V. Ferenciek Square (also known as the Snake Square), 1919 - 2014

25. On Raktár Street, 1938 - 2014

(By Zoltán Kerényi: Flickr , Instagram)

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Related Topics: travel, historical, 20th century, Budapest, design and photography, monuments, 21st century, window to the past, zoltán kerényi

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