It is said that after hearing some of composer Franz Liszt's pieces performed, women in the audience would swoon and faint. Well, I'm not at that point yet, but if there's one thing I've learned here, it's that you could live your whole life here only in places named after him.
You could fly into the Franz Liszt International Airport and subsequently attend the Franz Liszt Academy of Music. Then, you could go to the Franz Liszt Bookstore and Music Shop at Andrassy u. 45 for recreational time. For dining, you could frequent any one of the six restauarants on Franz Liszt Square (including Menza, one of Budapest's most popular establishments).
Unfortunately, there is not as-of-yet a Franz Liszt hotel/hostel, but I'll be damned if it doesn't appear eventually.
So what was so great about him? Why not be bonkers for Bela Bartok, or be like Ed Wood and be blinded by Bela Legosi?
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT WAS SO GREAT ABOUT FRANZ LISZT.
1. He wrote over 1000 pieces of music. Have you written one? No, your C-G-Am-F guitar strumming with lyrics about the days of the week doesn't count. "On a Monday, I am---" BORED.
2. He wasn't a douchebag about it. He became a prodigy at age 9 and traveled around Europe, yet he was apparently the nicest guy ever, propping up the works of his contemporaries -- Wagner, Berlioz (side note: talk about a douchebag), Grieg, and Saint-Säens.
3. He joined a priory. If your retirement plans include watching a lot of TV and "going to the IHOP," ask yourself WWFLD? Never mind that that sounds like waffles, point is, he would continue writing music in a monastary. How cool is that?
4. He had relations with a lot of women. Not necessarily a pre-requisite for awesomeness (looking at you, Elizabeth I and Issac Newton), but you get the point.
So, maybe he was a bit too intense, but in the big picture of things--what's wrong with your national hero being a bit too awesome?