Weidlich Palace

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The Weidlich Palace, one of Miskolc's most iconic buildings, has been the jewel of the main street for over a hundred years. Built in 1912, the palace was the city's first modern shopping centre, home to the first lift and cinema, the Apollo. The building was commissioned by Pál Weidlich, a renowned merchant who was once one of Miskolc's most significant taxpayers and ran Upper Hungary's largest spice trade. The palace was designed by Alfréd Hajós, Hungary's first Olympian, who was also responsible for other buildings in Miskolc. The palace housed 24 shops and rental apartments, where the Weidlich family also lived. Its offerings were diverse: a hairdresser, dry cleaner, cobbler, printing press, and a shop selling Thonet furniture all operated here. The sign above the main entrance, a black dog, became the symbol of Weidlich's shop, and even after nationalisation, it was still referred to as "The Weidlich." The building is richly decorated with late Art Nouveau features, although it lost its towers in the 1960s. Bridges span the courtyard, giving the building a unique atmosphere. The original wrought-iron gate can uniquely be lowered into the basement with the help of an electric motor and is still functional today. The entire area beneath the building is cellar space, where the original tracks used for transporting goods remain intact. Life in the Weidlich Palace is ever-changing, with shops opening and closing, but the building has remained a defining landmark for the people of Miskolc, for whom the place is a true institution.