Interesting facts - Historical bridges in Budapest

Climbing up to the Citadel

Bridges from the top

Are you planning to visit Budapest anytime soon? City and river is always a great combination. The Danube played an important role in the history. Believe it or not, winter time people were crossing the frozen river on foot or on their chariot. Spring and summer they used little boats. Let me share with you the stories of our three historical bridges in Budapest. The very first bridge that connected Pest and Buda was constructed in the 18th century and it was a floating bridge, which was more like a temporary solution, they used shallow-draft boats to support the deck. This structure couldn't have been used during winter time.

Chainbridge – the picturesque stone bridge

The first permanent bridge was built only in the 19th century.  Why did we wait so long for a permanent bridge? It can be explained with the changing flow and extremely cold winter, there was no structure that could have lasted. The Chainbridge is considered to be a huge engineering innovation at that time. Our great reformist István Széchenyi was the biggest supporter of the project. According to a legend, his father died in February and he was not able to cross the river and take part at the funeral due to the icy blocks on the river. This personal issue made him support the project even more. Sad fact, that he was never able to see his dream come true due to his mental illness.

The bridge was designed by an English engineer, William Thierney Clark and it was supervised by the Scottish Adam Clark. The bridge finally opened in 1849, its span was one of the longest in the world at that time. The bridge was an important step towards the merging of the three cities. Later on, in 1873 the city of Budapest was officially established.

Elisabeth Bridge – the white Queen of Budapest

The bridge was named after the popular Habsburg Queen, Sissi. She loved the nation and Hungarians respected her.  The bridge connects the downtown with the Gellért Hill. It didn’t have any riverpad pillars and this construction was the largest chain-type solution in the world in the beginning of the 20th century.

Did you know that what we see today is not the original construction? The first bridge was built in a romantic style and it was richly decorated. During the WWII German troops blew up all the bridges on the Danube. Finally all of them were rebuilt the same style, except for the Elisabeth Bridge. The leaders of the city pursued a new, modern construction instead of the old one, therefore a sleek, white bridge was constructed in 1960 in a modern, simple way.

Source: Budapest Anno

Then and now

Right next to the foot of the bridge on the Pest side, you will find one of my favorite restaurants, Kiosk. As soon as the weather gets warm, you can sit on beanbags with a glass of wine and enjoy the Danube breeze.

Liberty Bridge - The romantic structure

If you are shopping at the Central Market Hall, you can have a glimpse of the bridge, it’s just a few steps away. The Elisabeth Bridge and the Franz Joesph Bridge (that was its original name after the Habsburg Emperor, Sissi’s husband) were built at the same time and they were also similar to each other. This gorgeous Art Nouveau style bridge is decorated with the Coat of Arms of Hungary and the two Turul statues, the legendary bird is the ancient symbol of our national identity. When you cross the bridge, you will arrive at the Gellért Hotel and Spa, a very popular thermal bath among locals as well.

After strolling the streets all day, Palack winebar - located next to the Gellért Hotel - is a perfect place for snacks and drinks. They offer a wide selection of Hungarian premium wines, the atmosphere is relaxed and laid-back.

Have a walk in the center and you will be fascinated by the panorama! Both sides of the Danube banks with its buildings and the Buda Castle are precious UNESCO World Heritage Sites from the Petőfi Bridge to the Margaret Bridge. Evening cruise on the Danube is pure bliss, read my review on the best boat trip HERE! How unique this city is! Let me be your virtual tour guide, let’s discover the history and hidden gems together every week!