The Zero Kilometre Stone is a 3 m high limestone

Limestone

Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....

 sculpture in Budapest

Budapest

Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...

, forming a zero sign, with an inscription on its pedestal reading "KM" for kilometres. This stone marks the reference point from which all road distances to Budapest are measured in the country. The reference point had initially been located at the threshold of Buda Royal Palace

Buda Castle

Buda Castle is the historical castle and palace complex of the Hungarian kings in Budapest, first completed in 1265. In the past, it was also called Royal Palace and Royal Castle ....

, but was moved to its present location by Széchenyi Chain Bridge

Széchenyi Chain Bridge

The Széchenyi Chain Bridge is a suspension bridge that spans the River Danube between Buda and Pest, the western and eastern sides of Budapest, the capital of Hungary...

 when the crossing was completed in 1849.

The present sculpture is the work of Miklós Borsos

Miklós Borsos

Miklós Borsos was a Hungarian sculptor. His style integrated elements of archaic art and classicism with modern elements.Born in Nagyszeben, Transylvania , he and his family settled in Győr in 1921; Borsos and his wife lived in the same Győr house until the end of World War II.He became interested...

 and was erected in 1975. The first official monument had been set up at this spot in 1932, but was destroyed in World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

. A second sculpture, depicting a worker, was in place from 1953 until its replacement by the current one.

Location

It is located in a small park at Clark Ádám tér (Adam Clark square), at the Buda

Buda

For detailed information see: History of Buda CastleBuda is the western part of the Hungarian capital Budapest on the west bank of the Danube. The name Buda takes its name from the name of Bleda the Hun ruler, whose name is also Buda in Hungarian.Buda comprises about one-third of Budapest's...

 abutment of Chain Bridge, below Buda Castle

Buda Castle

Buda Castle is the historical castle and palace complex of the Hungarian kings in Budapest, first completed in 1265. In the past, it was also called Royal Palace and Royal Castle ....

.