The Chain Bridge

The Chain Bridge – In 1832, count István Széchenyi, “the greatest Hungarian� began to organize the construction of the bridge. While travelling in England, Széchenyi became personally acquainted with William Thierney Clark, who was commissioned to draft the plans for the bridge, and his namesake Adam Clark was asked to direct the construction , which was finished in 1849. The retreating German troops blew up the Chain Bridge in January 1945. This vital element of Budapest’s cityscape was restored on the 100 th anniversary of its inauguration. The Chain Bridge is worth to see!
The first connection between Pest and Buda was made by the Chain Bridge or Széchenyi lánchíd, named after count Széchenyi, who took the initiative to build the bridge. In 1836 he gave the project to the builders of the Thames Bridge in London, William Clark and Adam Clark.
The 375 meters long and 16 meters wide bridge, a superb engineering feat, was opened on novem- ber 20, 1849. In 1857 Adam Clark dug a 350 meter long tunnel through the Castle Hill to connect the bridge with the Buda hinterland.
The bridge ignited the economic revival that would lead to the golden century and it was one of the factors that made the provincial towns of Pest and Buda into a fast-growing metropolitan. In 1989 people demonstrated on the chain bridge for freedom and independence. Since then, the bridge has become a symbol of Hungarian liberty.