Danube, which is the largest river of Hungary, cuts the country into two. The bridges of Budapest have main role on the transport and economy of Hungary.
Budapest is located on the bank of Danube. In the ancient times and the Middle Ages this area provided shallows (North of Budapest) and ferry facilities (in front of Gellert Hill) as well. The first bridge was built in the Roman Times. It provided a temporary connection (in summer time) across the Limes (the border of the Roman Empire). In the Middle Ages temporary floating bridge joined the two riversides. It made possible the ship traffic as well. In winter, when the river was freezing over, people could pass on it. According to chronicle in the winter of 1800 Prince Joseph held his wedding in Buda. He invited the noblemen of Pest with their families to the Castle of Buda. In midnight the ice on the Danube moved and the company trapped in Buda.
The Chain Bridge (Lánchíd)
In 1820 died Count Ferenc Széchényi. His son István, who was a hussar captain at that time, travelled to the funeral and wanted to cross the river Danube at Pest. He had to wait for a week because of stormy weather. He wrote into his diary 'Iwould offer my annual total income if a bridge build between Pest and Buda'. From that time Count István Széchenyi worked hardly for a permanent bridge.
In 1832 was established the Bridge Association of Budapest, which prepared the building process. Széchenyi travelled into England to study bridge architect. The Budapest's Chain Bridge was designed on the basis of the chain bridge of Hammersmith, England. You can find out the similarity of the two bridges.
There were more opponents of the new bridge. Széchenyi announced that everyone would have to pay a fee for the crossing (At that time noblemen do not have to pay any tax at all.), and the council of Pest and Buda missed a charge of boat bridge. The bridge was designed by Tierney Clark and built by Adam Clark (they were not relatives). The laying of the foundation stone was in 1842, and the opening ceremony in 1849.
The steel structure of the bridge was finished in 1848. During the Independence War the bridge was in danger in two times. First time Austrian colonel Allnoch wanted to blow up it, fortunately only the colonel died and the steel structure had not any damage. In second time the Hungarian general Dembinszky wanted to damage the bridge structure to cover the retreat of Hungarian Army. In this case Adam Clark saved the bridge, moving and hiding the wood pavement. Austrian general Haynau opened the bridge on The 20th of November 1849.
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