LAKI, ILDIKÓ PHD
[email protected] college associate professor (University of Szeged, Faculty of Health Sciencis and Social Studies) Agglomeration Issues in respect of Budapest “The image of a city is obviously not only determined by its visually perceptible features and its cityscape. It also includes the state of its facilities, the social profile of the residents in that city, everyday life on its streets, and so on.” (PREISICH, 1998). ABSTRACT Budapest agglomeration around the capital is the largest agglomeration, comprising of the most settlements, of Hungary. Its settlements are located on both sides of the Danube River and on two larger islands in the Danube River (Csepel Island and Szentendre Island). The Danube River is a line of geological demarcation, as it roughly divides the area into a lowland landscape (to the east, on its left bank) and a mountainous/semi-mountainous landscape (to the west, on its right bank), which have an impact on the network, size of and access to the settlements. This study seeks to provide the brief history and to describe the current situation of the Budapest agglomeration in the light of data and differing theories. European countries have a long history of agglomeration, and the agglomeration process is not only ongoing in developed countries, but also subject to permanent changes in interpretation. The Budapest agglomeration covers 80 + 1 (Budapest) settlements, the majority of which have undergone dynamic development in the last 30 years. In addition to spatial development, the Budapest agglomeration is also characterised by large growth in its population following its spatial restructuring.