Pope Francis, Marilyn Monroe, and Lady Gaga Have Also Put Their Thoughts on Paper Madame Tussauds Budapest is celebrating the Day of Hungarian Poetry with contemporary Hungarian poets. The exhibition welcomed Orsolya Karafiáth and Zsófi Kemény—two prominent figures of modern Hungarian literature—who visited the wax figure of Sándor Petőfi, set in the installation evoking the atmosphere of the historic Pilvax Café. Since 1964, April 11th has been celebrated as the „Day of Hungarian Poetry,” honoring Hungarian poets and lyrical art. To mark the occasion, Madame Tussauds Budapest invited two popular contemporary poets, Orsolya Karafiáth and Zsófi Kemény, to its Dorottya Street venue. The artists met the exhibition’s only Hungarian poet, Sándor Petőfi, who “awaited them” for a photo in an installation evoking the ambiance of the Pilvax Café from his era. Dozens of craftsmen and historians worked for months to ensure Petőfi’s clothing and appearance were as lifelike as possible. Petőfi is one of the most popular Hungarian figures in the exhibition. Both local and international visitors enjoy taking photos with the poet. The surrounding installation recreates the historical Pilvax Café and its atmosphere, and visitors can even flip through a period-style newspaper called Hírmondó. Using the typewriter in the installation, anyone can compose their own poem as well. Among the roughly sixty figures featured at Madame Tussauds Budapest, there may not be many professional poets, but several have created memorable song lyrics or written books. Perhaps the most surprising among them is Pope Francis—his reflections on poetry and literature have been published in a book. Lady Gaga, active not only as a singer but also as a songwriter, is credited with numerous hit lyrics, including the iconic Born This Way. Freddie Mercury also wrote the lyrics for many songs and was the author of some of Queen’s most successful songs. Few people know that Marilyn Monroe left behind numerous poem-like fragments, which were only published after her death. These writings reveal a sensitive personality with a deep reflection on the world. Madonna is not only a Material Girl but also the author of two children’s books. The English Roses tells the story of four girls, while Mr. Peabody’s Apples, published in 2003, delivers a meaningful moral tale. In the halls of Madame Tussauds Budapest, anyone can encounter Sándor Petőfi and many other celebrities—several of whom are also masters of the written word. Madame Tussauds Budapest 1051 Budapest, Dorottya utca 6. Go to profile