Chain Bridge in Budapest (Széchenyi Bridge)

The Chain Bridge in Budapest is an ancient bridge over the Danube, connecting two historical parts of the city. The bridge is called “chain bridge” because of the massive metal chains supporting the roadbed. It was built in 1849 and was the first permanent bridge across the river connecting Buda and Pest, and the only bridge across the Danube in the whole of Hungary. The Chain Bridge has a second name – Széchenyi Bridge – in honor of the Hungarian politician Count István Széchenyi, who invested heavily in its construction. Today, the Chain Bridge is considered a hallmark of the Hungarian capital and one of the most picturesque bridges in Europe.

.

Video: Chain Bridge in Budapest

Contents

Highlights

The six-span bridge spans 375 meters, is 14.8 meters wide and is supported by two 48-meter-long river piers. Nowadays it is a popular tourist attraction that all visitors to Budapest try to visit. The image of Széchenyi Bridge can be seen on the pages of guidebooks and souvenirs.

.

The Chain Bridge in Budapest looks very spectacular when illuminated in the evening. Powerful spotlights illuminate the tops and bases of the piers, and bright bulbs light up along the chains and along the edge of the sidewalks, the light from which emphasizes the expressive shape of the bridge.

.

There are many legends and urban traditions associated with the old bridge. It is believed that those who pass under it on a ship, can make a wish, and it is sure to come true. Residents of the city are very fond of the Danube Bridge and often call it the “Old Lady”. Every year on November 20, Budapest celebrates the birthday of the bridge. During the summer months, the Chain Bridge is closed to traffic on Saturdays and Sundays and hosts fun fairs and performances.

.

History of Chain Bridge

The money for the construction of the Chain Bridge was allocated by the famous philanthropist and politician Count Istvan Széchenyi, so the structure was named after him. The design of the suspension bridge was developed by British engineer William Turney Clarke, taking as a basis a smaller suspension bridge over the Thames in the British city of Marlow.

>

In the mid-nineteenth century, Hungarian experts had no experience in building large bridges, thus the idea of building both supported and rejected. Those who doubted, believed that the new bridge would not be able to cope with the violent temper of the Danube and would surely collapse. Others feared that under the bridge will accumulate large masses of ice, they will block the riverbed, and the city will flood. However, Count Szechenyi resolutely took up the cause and created a special Society for the construction of the bridge. It solved organizational issues that arose, promoted the benefits of using the new bridge and formed a positive public opinion.

.

The first piles were driven in 1840. To accomplish the daunting task, 800 laborers with their families were sent from England and worked on the bridge piles for two whole years. Cast iron ornaments and chains were cast in England. All construction work lasted 10 years and was supervised by Adam Clarke, an engineer from Scotland. Later, the square in Buda, on which the western part of the ancient bridge faces, was named in his honor.

.

The total construction costs amounted to a colossal sum for those times – 4.4 million forints. In order to get to the other side of the river, pedestrians paid 1 kraetzar, those traveling with cargo – 2 kraetzars, shepherds with animals – 3 kraetzars, carriage drivers – 5 kraetzars and those carrying large loads – 10 kraetzars. Only a few years later in Kiev built a larger Nicholas chain bridge over the Dnieper, and the bridge construction in Hungary ceased to be treated as a wonder of the world.

.

By the end of the 19th century, the load on the roadway had greatly increased, so the structure had to be strengthened. From 1913 to 1915, the Chain Bridge in Budapest was closed for reconstruction, during which the steel part of the bridge was strengthened.

.

At the end of World War II, during the retreat, the Nazis blew up the Budapest Bridge. Only the two supporting pillars survived. In 1947-1949, the old bridge was rebuilt. Remarkably, traffic from coast to coast was restored on November 20, a century after the Széchenyi Bridge opened.

.

Legends of lions from Széchenyi Bridge

In 1852, both entrances to Széchenyi Bridge were decorated with lion statues by the famous sculptor Janos Marszalko. The expressive sculptures were reminiscent of the bronze lions in Trafalgar Square and quickly became a part of the city’s lore.

According to one of them, when the unveiling ceremony took place, a shoemaker’s apprentice shouted at the crowd to draw attention to the fact that no tongues were visible in the animals’ mouths. The embarrassed sculptor could not bear the insult and threw himself into the river from the new bridge.

.

Of course, there is little truth in this legend. In fact, Marshalko patiently listened to claims about the lack of lion tongues and told everyone that lions are not dogs, which in the heat necessarily fall out their tongues. The animals do have tongues, but they are not visible from below, because the lions are mounted on stone blocks that are 3 meters high.

.

According to another legend, if a man who has never cheated on his wife, even in his thoughts, passes between the statues on the Chain Bridge in Budapest, the stone lions will roar menacingly.

.

Sights near the bridge

On the west side, just beyond the Chain Bridge, a tunnel through Buda Mountain begins, and its length is the same as the bridge itself. Residents of the city joke that when a heavy downpour starts, the old bridge can be hidden in an underground tunnel.

Nearby, in the square named after Adam Clarke, there is a memorial sign in the form of a stone zero 3 meters high. From this place, distances are counted throughout Hungary and on the roads of this country. The Buda Fortress funicular station is also located here.

On the opposite side of the bridge, a monument to Count István Széchenyi stands on the square. Behind it you can see a graceful Art Nouveau building from the beginning of the last century. It once housed an insurance company, but nowadays it is a luxury hotel.

.

How to get there

The Chain Bridge in Budapest is located in the historic part of the city, opposite the hill on which the Royal Palace stands. It connects Adam Clark Square in Buda with Roosevelt Square in Pest. The bridge is easily accessible on foot from the Kossuth Lajos Tér and Batthyány tér metro stations. Streetcars Nos. 2, 19, 41, TH and DH and buses Nos. 16, 105, 216, 916 and 990 approach the Széchenyi Bridge directly.

.