Budapest is made up of two major parts, the Buda side and the Pest side which represent the western and eastern sides of the city. The two sides are separated from each other by the Danube river. Over the years many bridges have been constructed connecting Buda to Pest with eight major bridges found today. None of these bridges are more iconic than the Szechenyi Chain Bridge which finished construction in 1849. The Chain Bridge, as it’s called in short form, is a suspension bridge which is anchored on the Pest side of the river to Szechenyi Square and on the Buda side to Adam Clark Square. On the Buda side the Bridge leads to the Buda castle and is often included in iconic images of the Buda Castle Hill. On the Pest side the Bridge is adjacent to the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the Gresham Palace.
The Szechenyi Chain Bridge was the first permanent bridge across the Danube in Budapest and was named after Istvan Szechenyi who was a strong supporter of its construction. At the time of its unveiling the Chain Bridge was considered by many to be one of the modern world’s engineering wonders and was even seen as an important connection between the East and the West. The Bridge has maintained its majestic look over the years and has become a favorite of tourists and locals alike.
The Bridge was designed in 1839 by William Tierney Clark based on his smaller version named the Marlow Bridge which crosses the River Thames in Marlow England. The Chain Bridge was in fact, designed and shipped section by section from the United Kingdom to the Hungarian Capital. Since its grand opening in 1849 it has become a cultural symbol for Budapest and Hungary as a whole.
Chain Bridge Budapest Images
Remarkable sights around the Chain Bridge
- Fisherman’s Bastion
- Matthias Church
- Castle District
- Sikló (Funicular)
- Buda Castle
- The Hungarian Parliament in Budapest
As the Chain Bridge is such a central point in Budapest it is often part of big celebrations such as the “Summer on Chain Bridge” Festival or the Budapest Marathon.
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