Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Left The Chain Bridge Centre Cruise boat Right Sculpture by Adolphe Thabart, Margaret Bridge
Danube Sights
! Chain Bridge
ensure that the Inner City Parish
Church (see p83) was not dam-
aged during rebuilding; indeed at
one stage the church's continued
existence was threatened, with
the builders and the Communist
authorities wanting to demolish
it. A compromise was reached
however, and today the
roadway passes just
inches from the church's
walls. d Map K5
$ Hungarian
Completed in 1849, the Chain
Bridge (Széchenyi Lánchíd) was
the irst permanent crossing
between Buda and Pest. On
either side of the Bridge are two
huge towers that support the
mammoth chains from which the
bridge takes its name. The
towers are superbly lit at
night, which makes the
bridge one of the city's
most photographed sights.
In summer, the bridge
closes at weekends to
host a cultural festival
(see p49) . d Map J3
@ River Cruises
Parliament
The city's number one
sight looks better from the
water or from the opposite bank
of the Danube than from any-
where else. The splendour of its
startling design - based on
Britain's Parliament building - is
only enhanced by the river's
soothing effect (see pp8-11) .
% Margaret Island
Crown on Elizabeth
Bridge
A number of companies run
tours along the Danube during
the summer, beginning from
Vigadó tér. Mahart Passnave run
evening cruises - including
drinks and dinner - every day
from May to September. There
are also daily hydrofoil services
to Bratislava and Vienna from
April to November. d Mahart
Passnave: Map K4; V, Vigadó tér, Dock
5-6; 318 12 23, 484 40 13;
www.mahartpassnave.hu
Budapest's oasis and a great
place to spend summer after-
noons, Margaret Island was in
fact three separate islands until
£ Elizabeth Bridge
The longest suspen-
sion bridge in the world
when completed in 1903,
Elizabeth Bridge (Erzsébet
híd) had to be completely
rebuilt after World War II,
and did not reopen until
1963. Great care had to be
taken on the Pest side to
View of the Parliament from across the Danube
42
For more information on river boat cruises see p104 .
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