The Széchenyi Chain Bridge, inaugurated in 1849, is one of Budapest’s most iconic landmarks. Its construction was commissioned by Count István Széchenyi, who also financed it from his own fortune to create a permanent connection between Pest and Buda.

The plans were prepared by William Tierney Clark, and construction was directed by Adam Clark. The chain suspension structure was a major engineering achievement of the 19th century. The stone lions at the bridgeheads were carved by János Marschalkó; according to legend, they are “tongueless,” although their tongues are simply not visible from street level.

The bridge was blown up during the Siege of Budapest in January 1945, then rebuilt in 1949 to its original form. In the early 2020s, it underwent a full renovation, and its reopening turned the area into a true urban celebration.

From the Pest side, with Buda Castle in the background, the Chain Bridge remains one of the city’s most iconic postcard views.