The Castle Home: Budapest - Chain Bridge and Shoes on the Danube

The Chain Bridge (Széchenyi Lánchíd) was the first bridge to span the Danube river connecting Buda and Pest in 1849. As the name suggests it is a chain suspension bridge designed by Englishman, William Tierney Clark, an engineering feat at the time it was built. During World War II the Chain Bridge was almost completely destroyed except for the lions on the Pest side of the bridge.

the Chain Bridge

Buda Castle

Chain Bridge and Matthias Church in the background

There are wonderful sculptures all along the Danube riverfront.... Thank you Anna-Maria for having photos of all these statues on Instagram so I can easily identify them!

Girl with her dog by David Raffai - on the street called Duna Corso at Vigadó Square

Kiskirálylány (Little Princess) by László Marton Munkácsy - the artist was inspired by his daughter who played princess with her bathrobe and a newspaper crown. A copy of this statue is also in front of the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space.

bronze statue of Hungarian artists, Ignác Roskovics, painting the Széchenyi Chain Bridge

our pack of photographers

Located on the Pest side of the riverfront, between the Chain Bridge and parliament, is the sculptural installation Shoes on the Danube Bank, a memorial to Jews who were killed by Arrow Cross militiamen in Budapest during World War II. On the riverbank victims were ordered to take off their shoes, shot so that their bodies fell into the water and were carried away. The sculptor, Gyula Pauer, created sixty pairs of iron shoes styled from the 40's era. Many people visit this powerful memorial, leaving stones, notes, ribbons, flowers, candles, etc. in the shoes.

During WWII Raoul Wallenberg, a man from a wealthy Swedish family, became a Swedish diplomat to Hungary and was instrumental in saving many Jews in Budapest by basically creating documents that were 'Swedish passports' and handing them out to Jews. As 'Swedish citizens' Raoul Wallenberg was able to protect tens of thousands of people. It is well worth the time to read the the incredible story about Raoul Wallenberg in this great article by the BBC.