The Bridges of Budapest
May 30th 2008 16:06
Almost as striking as the Danube, and certainly among Budapest’s greatest engineering masterpieces are its beautiful bridges. Although, like most bridges in Huingary, they were blown up during the German retreat in 1945, each and every one of them was rebuilt after the war. Some were pieced together from the shattered wreckage dragged from the river. All but one were restored to exactly to their original appearance.
Arpad Hid, or the Arpad Bridge is Budapest’s northernmost public bridge and its second youngest. Spanning 2 kilometres, it is also Hungary’s longest. Beginning in Buda at Szentlelek Ter, near the main square of Obuda and ending in Pest on Robert Karoly Korut, it overlooks Obuda Island and Margaret Island. It was designed by János Kossalka and construction began in 1939. However the project was suspended during World War II and the Arpad bridge was not completed until 1950.
Margit híd or Margaret Bridge spans the Danube between Jászai Mar ter at the Northern end of Pest’s Grand Boulevard and Germanus Gyula Park near the Király Baths on the Buda side, passing just in front of Margaret Island. It is Budapest’s second northernmost public bridge and the second oldest after the Széchenyi Chain Bridge. Measuring 637.5 m in length and 25 m in width, it was designed by the French engineer Ernest Gouin in 1872 and completed by his construction company, Maison Čmile Gouin in 1876.
Soon after the bridge was opened, it became a popular spot for suicides. The wave of deaths inspired renowned Hungarian poet, János Arany to compose a ballad which, illustrated with intricate and romantic pencil drawings by artist Mihaly Zichy and printed in leaflet form, became a best-seller in the city.
In 1944 a section of the Margaret Bridge collapsed killing 600 civilians and 40 German soldiers. Today the bridge is badly worn and in need of repair or renewal.
Széchenyi lánchíd or Széchenyi Chain Bridge links Pest’s Roosevelt Square with Buda’s Adam Clark Ter. It was another of Istvan Szechenyi's inspired initiatives. Opened in 1849, it was Budapest’s first permanent trans-Danube bridge. It was designed by the English engineer William Tierney Clark who modeled it on a bridge he had built earlier across the Thames at Marlow in England. Construction was supervised by Scottish engineer Adam Clark (no relation). The pairs of lions at each of the abutments were added in 1852 and in 1898 the bridge was officially named the Széhenyi Lanchid. Its steel structure was totally updated in 1914 and entire bridge was rebuilt after World War II, reaching completion in 1949.
At the time of its construction, the Szechenyi Chain Bridge, with its hitherto unheard of 202 metre span, was hailed as a wonder of the world. Its cast iron decorations, along with its balanced and dignified construction, put it among the most beautiful industrial monuments in Europe. It also had an enormous significance in Hungary. Besides its advantage in transportation, the "Lánchíd" seemed to stand for advancement, national awakening, and the linkage between East and West. It reflected the confidence and optimism of the era of the Dual Monarchy. Furthermore it forecast the later unification of Buda and Pest as Budapest.
According to popular rumour, the sculptor of the bridge’s lions was so relentlessly mocked for creating animals without tongues that he threw himself into the Danube. The lions, as it turns out, actually do have tongues but they are not visible from the bridge. In 2001, Hungarian stunt pilot Peter Besenyei flew upside down under the Szechenyi lanchid, setting a trend for manoeuvres in today’s Red Bull air races. Széchenyi Bridge also starred in the 2002 film I Spy.
Erzsébet híd, Erzsébet Bridge or Elisabeth Bridge, originally built between 1897 and 1903, was the one of Budapest’s most elegant bridges. Situated at the narrowest part of the Danube, it is only 290 metres long. It is named after Elisabeth, a popular queen and empress of the Dual Monarchy, who was assassinated in 1898. A bronze statue of Queen Erzebet sits in the middle of a small garden in Buda’s Dobrentei Square, just below the Gellért Hill near the Rudas Baths. On the Pest side the bridge ends in March 15 Square, site of the oldest church in Pest, Inner City Parish Church, built in the 13th century, and the famous Mátyás Pince restaurant. At the Buda end Erzsébet bridge leads directly into the massive foot of Gellért Hill. The unsuitable and dangerous siting of the bridge was the result of bribery and corruption involving the City Council and the wealthy nobleman who owned the land there. In its time the sharp turn at the end of the bridge has claimed many lives and permanently damaged many others. Nevertheless, the bridge was rebuilt in the same location in 1964 because the government could not afford to construct entirely new foundations.
The Erzsébet was the only bridge in Budapest which could not be rebuilt in its original form. The current slender white cable construction with its hexagonal mains spars and thousands of steel wires of seven different diameters was designed by Pál Sávoly. At the time it was a first in Central Europe. It considered one of Budapest’s loveliest bridges.
Szabadsag Hid or Liberty Bridge, sometimed called the Freedom Bridge is Budapest's third southermost. It is located at the southern end of the City Centre. On the Buda bank, it ends at the foot of Gellért Hill, with the Gelleért Spa and Hotel Gellért nearby. On the pest bank it ends in Fovam Tér near the Great Market Hall and the Budapest University of Economics. The Liberty Bridge was designed by Janos Keketeházy and built between 1894 and 1896 It is 333.6 metres long and 20.1 metres wide. While its structure is different, its shape follows the form of the chain bridge. The top of the four masts are decorated with large bronze statues of the Turul, a falcon-like bird, prominent in ancient Hungarian mythology.. The bridge was originally named after the Emperor Franz Joseph, who officially opened it and nailed in the last silver rivet on the Pest abutment.
Today, the Liberty Bridge is heavily congested and moves are afoot to convert it to a pedestrian only crossing. It is currently under renovation until the end of 2008.
Petofi híd or Petofi Bridge, named after Sándor Petófi the poet who inspired the revolution of 1848 is the second southernmost public bridge in Budapest. Designed by Pál Álgyai Hubert it was built between 1933-1937, it links Boráros tér on the Pest bank of the Danube with Goldmann György Tér, next to the Budapest University of Technology and Economics on the Buda bank.
Lágymányosi híd or Lágymányosi Bridge, sometimes called Lágymányos Bridge, is named after the south Buda district of Lágymányos. Opened in 1995, it is the southernmost and the newest public bridge in the capital.
Szechenyi Bridge, from the Pest bank
Arpad Hid, or the Arpad Bridge is Budapest’s northernmost public bridge and its second youngest. Spanning 2 kilometres, it is also Hungary’s longest. Beginning in Buda at Szentlelek Ter, near the main square of Obuda and ending in Pest on Robert Karoly Korut, it overlooks Obuda Island and Margaret Island. It was designed by János Kossalka and construction began in 1939. However the project was suspended during World War II and the Arpad bridge was not completed until 1950.
Margit híd or Margaret Bridge spans the Danube between Jászai Mar ter at the Northern end of Pest’s Grand Boulevard and Germanus Gyula Park near the Király Baths on the Buda side, passing just in front of Margaret Island. It is Budapest’s second northernmost public bridge and the second oldest after the Széchenyi Chain Bridge. Measuring 637.5 m in length and 25 m in width, it was designed by the French engineer Ernest Gouin in 1872 and completed by his construction company, Maison Čmile Gouin in 1876.
Soon after the bridge was opened, it became a popular spot for suicides. The wave of deaths inspired renowned Hungarian poet, János Arany to compose a ballad which, illustrated with intricate and romantic pencil drawings by artist Mihaly Zichy and printed in leaflet form, became a best-seller in the city.
In 1944 a section of the Margaret Bridge collapsed killing 600 civilians and 40 German soldiers. Today the bridge is badly worn and in need of repair or renewal.
A Szechenyi Bridge Lion
Széchenyi lánchíd or Széchenyi Chain Bridge links Pest’s Roosevelt Square with Buda’s Adam Clark Ter. It was another of Istvan Szechenyi's inspired initiatives. Opened in 1849, it was Budapest’s first permanent trans-Danube bridge. It was designed by the English engineer William Tierney Clark who modeled it on a bridge he had built earlier across the Thames at Marlow in England. Construction was supervised by Scottish engineer Adam Clark (no relation). The pairs of lions at each of the abutments were added in 1852 and in 1898 the bridge was officially named the Széhenyi Lanchid. Its steel structure was totally updated in 1914 and entire bridge was rebuilt after World War II, reaching completion in 1949.
At the time of its construction, the Szechenyi Chain Bridge, with its hitherto unheard of 202 metre span, was hailed as a wonder of the world. Its cast iron decorations, along with its balanced and dignified construction, put it among the most beautiful industrial monuments in Europe. It also had an enormous significance in Hungary. Besides its advantage in transportation, the "Lánchíd" seemed to stand for advancement, national awakening, and the linkage between East and West. It reflected the confidence and optimism of the era of the Dual Monarchy. Furthermore it forecast the later unification of Buda and Pest as Budapest.
According to popular rumour, the sculptor of the bridge’s lions was so relentlessly mocked for creating animals without tongues that he threw himself into the Danube. The lions, as it turns out, actually do have tongues but they are not visible from the bridge. In 2001, Hungarian stunt pilot Peter Besenyei flew upside down under the Szechenyi lanchid, setting a trend for manoeuvres in today’s Red Bull air races. Széchenyi Bridge also starred in the 2002 film I Spy.
Szechenyi Bridge by night
Erzsébet híd, Erzsébet Bridge or Elisabeth Bridge, originally built between 1897 and 1903, was the one of Budapest’s most elegant bridges. Situated at the narrowest part of the Danube, it is only 290 metres long. It is named after Elisabeth, a popular queen and empress of the Dual Monarchy, who was assassinated in 1898. A bronze statue of Queen Erzebet sits in the middle of a small garden in Buda’s Dobrentei Square, just below the Gellért Hill near the Rudas Baths. On the Pest side the bridge ends in March 15 Square, site of the oldest church in Pest, Inner City Parish Church, built in the 13th century, and the famous Mátyás Pince restaurant. At the Buda end Erzsébet bridge leads directly into the massive foot of Gellért Hill. The unsuitable and dangerous siting of the bridge was the result of bribery and corruption involving the City Council and the wealthy nobleman who owned the land there. In its time the sharp turn at the end of the bridge has claimed many lives and permanently damaged many others. Nevertheless, the bridge was rebuilt in the same location in 1964 because the government could not afford to construct entirely new foundations.
The Erzsébet was the only bridge in Budapest which could not be rebuilt in its original form. The current slender white cable construction with its hexagonal mains spars and thousands of steel wires of seven different diameters was designed by Pál Sávoly. At the time it was a first in Central Europe. It considered one of Budapest’s loveliest bridges.
Szabadsag Hid or Liberty Bridge, sometimed called the Freedom Bridge is Budapest's third southermost. It is located at the southern end of the City Centre. On the Buda bank, it ends at the foot of Gellért Hill, with the Gelleért Spa and Hotel Gellért nearby. On the pest bank it ends in Fovam Tér near the Great Market Hall and the Budapest University of Economics. The Liberty Bridge was designed by Janos Keketeházy and built between 1894 and 1896 It is 333.6 metres long and 20.1 metres wide. While its structure is different, its shape follows the form of the chain bridge. The top of the four masts are decorated with large bronze statues of the Turul, a falcon-like bird, prominent in ancient Hungarian mythology.. The bridge was originally named after the Emperor Franz Joseph, who officially opened it and nailed in the last silver rivet on the Pest abutment.
Today, the Liberty Bridge is heavily congested and moves are afoot to convert it to a pedestrian only crossing. It is currently under renovation until the end of 2008.
Petofi híd or Petofi Bridge, named after Sándor Petófi the poet who inspired the revolution of 1848 is the second southernmost public bridge in Budapest. Designed by Pál Álgyai Hubert it was built between 1933-1937, it links Boráros tér on the Pest bank of the Danube with Goldmann György Tér, next to the Budapest University of Technology and Economics on the Buda bank.
Lágymányosi híd or Lágymányosi Bridge, sometimes called Lágymányos Bridge, is named after the south Buda district of Lágymányos. Opened in 1995, it is the southernmost and the newest public bridge in the capital.
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