Szechenyi Chain Bridge

The Szechenyi Chain Bridge was the first permanent bridge to link Buda and Pest across the Danube when it opened in 1849, a stately iron suspension bridge guarded at each end by great stone lions. A symbol of the city and of Hungarian ambition, it is beautiful by day and magical when floodlit against the river at night.

Background

William Tierney Clark, an English engineer, drew up the design in 1839, and the Scottish engineer Adam Clark, no relation, supervised the building, which began in 1840. Count István Széchenyi backed the project, and the bridge has carried his name since 1898. At 202 metres, the centre span ranked among the world's largest when built, and the whole bridge is 375 metres long. The stone lions were installed in 1852, and the cast-iron structure was strengthened in 1914. On the Pest side it is anchored at Széchenyi Square by Gresham Palace, on the Buda side at Adam Clark Square, close to the Zero Kilometre Stone. It has appeared on the 200 Forint coin since 2012.

Source: Wikipedia, "Széchenyi Chain Bridge"

Highlights

• The suspension span - the elegant 19th-century iron bridge over the Danube.
• The stone lions - the great lions guarding each end.
• The night lights - the bridge floodlit over the dark river.
• The river walk - the promenades and views along the Danube at each end.

When to go

Year-round; lovely by day and spectacular floodlit at night. It links the two banks and is a natural part of any riverside walk.

Practical notes

It is a bridge to cross and admire rather than a ticketed sight, a short stop on a longer walk. It has undergone renovation, so check it is fully open. Its magic is the setting and the night lights.

Nearby

Buda Castle rises on one bank, the Pest promenade and Gresham Palace on the other.

Key facts