Buza Péter: Bridges of the Danube - Our Budapest (Budapest, 1999)

of aqueducts but the bridge was made of wood instead of stone.

The Romans used pontoon bridges at other important crossings such as the one that is likely to have been near today’s Elizabeth Bridge. Archaeologists excavated the site of both abutments in the Tabán and in Pest. The keen sightseer can visit the latter next to the Parish Church. This site was suited to connect the two banks as it is here that the riverbed is the narrowest to this day. The busy traffic of larger boats did not pose a problem at that time but it was a consideration later, when the Chain Bridge was located further upstream at a somewhat wider stretch of the river.

The idea of a permanent stone bridge occurred to King Sigismund of Luxemburg. According to Bon- fini, the famous chronicler, the king ordered French experts to erect a gigantic tower below the Buda Castle and the foundation of a similar pillar was also begun on the other side in order to construct a monumental, chain-supported carriageway across the river. A bridge connecting the twin cities was indeed to be built by French engineers but only centuries later. Bonfini’s description is probably authentic only as far as the pillars are concerned. The enormous chain stretched out between the pillars served only to intercept enemy boats. Other historical sources describing this work claim that its main purpose was not to connect but to separate the two banks of the river, which was certainly a fundamental difference.

Bonfini also mentions that the great Hungarian king, Matthias Corvinus considered building a stone bridge between Buda and Pest. His frequent military campaigns, however, so drained his resources that he was prevented from proceeding with this plan.

A FLOATING PROMENADE

The boat-bridges of the Middle Ages and the Turkish occupation were also laid there, at the foot of the Tabán Valley, near the hearts of the medieval cities.

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