The history of Four Seasons Gresham Palace starts in the beginning of the 20th century. The British businessman, Sir Gresham, built a house for an insurance company, and even at that time the building attracted and charmed residents of Budapest with its unparalleled beauty – towers with steeples, tall columns, bay windows and high arcs. Sometime after its opening, foreign ambassadors, local noblemen, and even internationally famous people chose to stay there. After the last war, the building looked quite pitiful. Architects and designers, who were involved in the restoration of the hotel, worked carefully in order to keep the unique Hungarian majolica, ceiling fretwork, and wall décor. The fantastic result of their work can be now seen at the modern Four Seasons.
The next hotel, Le Meridien Budapest , was built as Adria Palace for an Italian company in 1914. The original architectural plan of the building included both living quarters and office space. The ground floor was the location of premium shops. During the war, Adria Palace was severely damaged after the bombing. For a long time, until 1997, the building was used as a city police office, and only in 2000, after an extensive renovation, the luxurious Le Meridien Budapest was open there.
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