Category: Budapest Danube Bridges

Liberty bridge is connecting Fovam Square with Gellert Square and is probably the most popular bridge in Hungary. Liberty bridge is the third oldest and also the smallest bridge in Budapest, only 333 meters long and 20 meters wide.

After the two older bridges have increased the revenues, according to the law, a third bridge had to be built.

History of Liberty Bridge

The Ministry of Commerce has issued an international tender for the bridge. There were domestic but mainly foreign aspirants and finally, a Hungarian gentleman became the lucky one, the engineer Janos Feketehazy. The architecture has been designed by Virgil Nagy and the construction began according to Feketehazy’s and Nagy’s plans in 1894.

The bridge rests on just two large pillars and at the time it was considered as a technical marvel.
Liberty bridge has a graceful shape and beautiful decorations, the four spires are finished with statues of the legendary Turul bird, the Hungarian mythical hawk, the Hungarian Crown, and
Parisian-style lampposts on either side. Liberty Bridge was first painted green and originally named Ferenc Jozsef Bridge (after Emperor Franz Joseph), who has personally fitted the last silver nugget into the bridge at the inauguration on October 4, 1896.

World War II

The beautiful and aesthetic bridge has suffered barbarism in World War II, when the retreating German army detonated it in January 1945. A few weeks later a raft bridge was constructed and the city has started to repair the seriously damaged parts of Liberty Bridge.

Liberty Bridge today

Nowadays Liberty bridge is a popular tourist attraction and beloved spots for the locals, a unique venue for concerts and other happenings for spring/ summer weekends (Liberty Bridge Takeovers). Are you planning to visit Liberty Bridge? Why not pop in to the Great Market Hall too, where you can taste the best bites of Hungary during a tasting tour.

Admire the riverside attractions and have a nice lunch on one of our Lunch Cruises in Budapest.

 

Margaret Bridge was the second bridge built in Budapest, connecting St. Stephen’s Boulevard and Margit Boulevard by touching Margaret Island. The bridge was built between 1872 and 1876, inaugurated on April 30, 1876.

Budapest’s first bridge, Chain Bridge had a monopoly which was intended to guarantee the revenues for the private bridge. Budapest needed a second crossing but according to the agreement, no other bridge could be constructed in 8 km distance on each side from Chain Bridge. As the transport grew the city redeemed the right to build a second bridge.

The design tender was published in 1871 and won by Ernest Goüin, French engineer, so the bridge has been constructed by the Parisian construction firm, Société de Construction des Batignolles.
One of the most notable aspects of the bridge is its strange v-shape: the bridge has an angle of 165 degrees at the point where it branches off to Margaret Island.
The iron pieces of the bridge’s structure were manufactured in France and transported to Budapest by train. The pillars of the bridge are decorated with statues of galley prows, created by the French sculptor Adolphe Martial Thabard. The figureheads are winged female figures and the middle part is adorned with a commemorative plaque and the Hungarian Crown and two obelisks.

The total length of the bridge is 607.6 meters and the centerline breaks at the extension to the Margaret Island. The extension was finished at 1900, so before that, the tiny island was only accessible by boat.

Explore Margaret island, get off the cruise and get back to Budapest on the same day. Book it here.

At the World War II, Margaret Bridge exploded twice. At the first time, it was an accident at the peak traffic, due gas flowing and about 600 civilians died. The second explosion was made by the retreating German troops in January 1945.
Since then the bridge has been renovated several times.

 

Have a nice dinner with Folk Show on the river Danube and get to know the Hungarian Folk Dance Moves on the Folk Dinner Cruise departing from the city center, close to Elisabeth Bridge.

The river Danube and its historical bridges in Budapest play an essential role in connecting the two halves of Budapest: the hilly Buda side and the flat Pest side (formerly two separate towns). Buda and Pest are connected by 12 bridges, and, to put it simply, Budapest would not be the same without some of these remarkably beautiful structures. The various bridges are giving Budapest a unique charm. Let us introduce you to the top 3 most well known – and probably most interesting – historical bridges of Budapest spanning the river Danube.

Chain Bridge

Chain Bridge was the first permanent bridge between Buda and Pest and probably the most iconic bridge of Hungary.

More about Chain Bridge in Budapest

 

 

 

Margaret Bridge

Margaret Bridge was the second bridge built in Budapest, connecting St. Stephen’s Boulevard and Margit Boulevard by touching Margaret Island.

More about Margaret Bridge in Budapest

 

 

 

 

 

Liberty Bridge

Liberty bridge is connecting Fovam Square with Gellert Square and is probably the most popular bridge in Hungary. Liberty bridge is the third oldest and also the smallest bridge in Budapest

More about Liberty Bridge in Budapest

Chain Bridge was the first permanent bridge between Buda and Pest. Prior to the Chain Bridge’s construction, there was a pontoon bridge from spring to autumn. As the crossing was not always possible people got oftentimes stuck on one side.
Count Istvan Szechenyi got stuck on Buda side and he had to wait one week to get to his father’s funeral. This was one of his reasons to urge the bridge building between Buda and Pest.

Buda Castle offers a stunning view of Chain Bridge and the city.  Funicular tours are also available to book.

History of Chain Bridge

At the time, Hungarian engineers did not have enough experience in building such bridges, so the project had a lot of opponents. They were afraid of the sinking of the bases, the possible collapses, floods and drift ice.

Szechenyi joined Gyorgy Sina and they invited William Tierney Clark to Budapest. He was the engineer, who designed the first suspension bridge to span the River Thames in London.

The foundation stone has been placed by Archduke Joseph, Palatine of Hungary on August 24, 1842, in the presence of the country’s prestige.
The bridge designed in sections and shipped from the United Kingdom to Hungary for the final construction. At the time, Lanchid’s center span of 202 meters (663 ft) was one of the largest in the world.

In the summer of 1848, a trailing edge of the twisting element fell apart and swept Szechenyi and some workers into the Danube. He was able to swim out safety, but a worker died.

The Chain Bridge and the Hungarian Revolution

The 1848 Hungarian revolution has baulked the construction. After the revolution has Hungary has surrendered on Aug 13, 1949, the Austrian General Haynau has inaugurated the bridge in Nov 20, 1849 (he was the general who has sent the nation’s rebels to death).

In May 1849, at the siege of Buda, Imperial General Hentzi wanted to blow up the bridge, but fortunately, he did not succeed.
The bridge was inaugurated on November 20, 1849. Szechenyi, who made the most of his building, never went walked through it – he was already living in the Drobling Nerve Institute.

Lions of the Chain Bridge

The bridge has received the lions at each of the abutments in 1852, the stone lions were carved by Janos Marschalko.

When Buda and Pest were united in 1873 Chain Bridge symbolised Budapest as one city and Hungary.

In World War II, the Germans exploded the bridge and the bomb caused huge damage.

Chain Bridge has been renovated and opened again in 1949. Since then it is renovated regularly.

 

Most of the Budapest River Cruises depart from docks near the Pest side of Chain Bridge. Enjoy the fantastic views of Budapest from the Budapest Wine Tasting Cruise, running several times a day throughout the year.