Szabadság Híd

The Liberty Bridge is the shortest bridge in central Budapest. It was built between 1894 and 1896 and opened in the presence of Emperor Franz Joseph, for whom it was initially named. The center span was destroyed by the retreating Germans during WWII, along with all the other bridges across the Danube. In 1946 it was rebuilt and named the Liberty Bridge. It was the first reconnection of Buda and Pest and carried the first tram connection between the two sides of the river.

Although, I'm sure the choice of the current name is based largely on the liberation of Hungary from the Germans at the end of WWII, there is also a connection to being the bridge at the foot of the hill where the citadel is built. This citadel was built in 1951 and filled with cannon to intimidate the Budapestians into not trying to revolt again as they had done in 1848.

It was, in fact, never used by the Austrian Empire to intimidate the Hungarians. Yet, it was not until 1899 that the city finally took possession of the fortress. It was really used by the communists during the 1956 revolution to fire on the city.

With the Soviets long gone now, the Turuls, the mythical embodiment of the Hungarian State, on the four piers of the bridge and the name Liberty take on multiple meanings for the residents.

I can find no written information to back this up, but I suspect that the green is chosen to paint this bridge since it is one of the colors of the Hungarian flag.

After our visit to the cave church, we walked across the bridge back to Pest.

The art nouveau style of the bridge reflects its original construction.

As you have seen in an earlier post, this is all lit at night and quite pretty.

It is a handsome bridge and quite busy with roaring traffic all the time. This made the walk a noisy one even it is was a nice view and an enjoyable walk.