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Attraction 2 / 21
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Connects Roosevelt Square in Pest with Adam Clark Square in Buda.
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Chain Bridge
Széchenyi lánchíd
The Chain Bridge is one of Budapest's most famous landmarks. The magnificent suspension bridge the river Danube between Pest and Buda, at the time still separate cities.
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 William Tierney Clark and Adam Clark.
William Clark had already designed two suspension bridges over the Thames; the Hammersmith Bridge in London and the Marlow Bridge. The latter is a similar albeit smaller version of the bridge William Clark would design for Budapest. The construction of the Chain Bridge was supervised by the Scottish engineer Adam Clark (not related).
William Clark had already designed two suspension bridges over the Thames; the Hammersmith Bridge in London and the Marlow Bridge. The latter is a similar albeit smaller version of the bridge William Clark would design for Budapest. The construction of the Chain Bridge was supervised by the Scottish engineer Adam Clark (not related).
The 375 meter (1230ft) long and 16 meter wide bridge, a superb
engineering feat, was opened on november 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 Budapest's 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.
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