Csonka János was one of those restless spirits whose curiosity and hands-on creativity shaped Hungary’s industrial landscape in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Tucked away in the heart of Budapest, the Csonka János Emlékkiállítás invites you to step into the mind of this inventive genius. The memorial exhibition isn’t one of those stuffy, impersonal affairs—it’s an authentic window into how curiosity, practical tinkering, and sheer perseverance built the backbone of the modern car and machinery industry in Hungary.
As you wander the exhibition, you’ll find yourself amidst what looks like the contents of the world’s neatest (and perhaps most awe-inspiring) workshop. What’s immediately striking here isn’t grandeur or spectacle, but the everyday ingenuity of János Csonka‘s inventions. Authentic workshop furniture, original engine models, hand-crafted carburetors, funny old screwdrivers, and yellowed blueprints line the walls. Everything here has a story, and the guides—most of whom are engineering buffs or history fans themselves—are always happy to share a quirky anecdote or two about how Csonka and his team worked into the night, sometimes powered more by hunks of bread and strong coffee than any formal funding.
The joy, however, is in the surprises. For those unfamiliar with Hungary’s rich engineering heritage, it’s eye-opening to discover that the first Hungarian-built car out on Budapest streets in 1900 was a product of Csonka János’s relentless efforts. His collaboration with Donát Bánki led to the development of the carburetor, an invention that redefined mobility at the time. There’s one gorgeous restored vehicle here—a modest little ride by today’s standards—but displayed with so much pride you can almost hear it rumble down Andrássy Avenue with a wide-eyed child peering over the dash.
Kids and grown-ups alike get to nerd out as original engineering drawings jostle for space with shining brass engine parts, gearboxes, and bits and bobs that can only be described as “wonder-boxes for tinkerers.” It’s not a hands-off place either—visitors often get to try out working models or crack open the mechanics of early automotive technology (with a guide’s careful eye, of course). Those with a love for “how things work”—or anyone who ever got grease under their fingernails—will find themselves unexpectedly at home.
What’s most captivating, though, is how the Csonka János Emlékkiállítás effortlessly bridges past and present. Yes, there’s an inevitable nostalgia for steam, rivets, and the smell of machine oil, but there’s also a running thread of hope and inspiration here. You get to see how Csonka’s “make it work” attitude became a model for young Hungarian engineers who would follow in his footsteps decades later, charting the future of transport and technology.
Beyond the machinery, the exhibition quietly celebrates the value of perseverance, unorthodox thinking, and curiosity—qualities that aren’t bound to a particular century. For travelers tired of picture-perfect palaces and echoey churches, this small but vibrant memorial offers a more intimate, more human kind of wonder. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most memorable journeys take place not on grand boulevards, but in the humble, creative corners where invention happens, one idea at a time.
