Széchenyi Chain Bridge Size report
There are as many as nine bridges connecting Buda and Pest, but the oldest and most magnificent bridge is the Széchenyi Chain Bridge. The Széchenyi Chain Bridge spans the Danube and is located in Budapest, the capital of Hungary. It is the first bridge to cross the Danube in Budapest.
The Széchenyi Chain Bridge began in 1839 and was officially completed in 1849. The Chain Bridge was named after the bridge's main funder, Count István szécheny, but the official name was finalized in 1899.
In 1820, the young Count Istvan Széchenyi suddenly received news that his father was dying in Vienna, but the ice floes on the Danube blocked his way home, and he did not see his father for the last time. So he was determined to build a permanent bridge over the River Danube. After more than ten years of investigation and construction, the Chain Bridge was finally completed. Let's learn more interesting facts about the size of the Chain Bridge in the following post.
Description of the Széchenyi Chain Bridge Size
Count Istvan Széchenyi spent money, founded the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and began preparations for the bridge. He visited other countries many times, inspected various bridges, got acquainted with William Clark, a famous British architect of steel bridges, and hired him to design the bridge over the River Danube. In June 1849, a permanent bridge, designed by brothers William and Adam Clark, was finally completed. The bridge was built between 1839 and 1849, and there are four iconic stone lions on the abutments at both ends, made by the sculptor Marschalkó János.
It is a three-hole iron bridge with chains as the skeleton. Two tall and majestic stone triumphal arches are standing on both sides of the strait; a huge stone lion stands on each side of the bridge, symbolizing the unyielding courage of the Hungarian people. Huge steel cables are drawn out from the bridgehead, and the stretched bridge deck is suspended like a huge art sculpture. The Chain Bridge matches perfectly with the palaces of Buda and the commercial ports of Pest, which became the most popular travel destination in the world today.
Széchenyi Chain Bridge Dimensions
The Széchenyi Chain Bridge is 375 meters long and 14.8 meters wide; it is one of the longest suspension bridges in Europe. The distance between the two towers is 202 meters, making the bridge the largest span in the world at that time.
Features | Size |
---|---|
Total Length | 375 m (1,230 ft) |
Width | 14.8 m (49 ft) |
Longest Span | 202 m (663 ft) |
Final Words
The bridge steel of the Széchenyi Chain Bridge was fully upgraded and reinforced in 1914. During World War II, the Germans blew up the bridge entirely. After World War II, the local government rebuilt the Széchenyi Chain Bridge in 1949. Nowadays, the Chain Bridge over the Danube is one of the most famous sights in Budapest. You can walk across it from Buda to Pest, an excellent way to enjoy the World Heritage-protected sights and panorama. The Reichstag and the Buda Castle stand on each side of the bridge. The suspension bridge is striking, especially when thousands of lights flicker on and off from the heavy chains at night.