Take a few steps onto the bridge’s broad stone sidewalk and pause near one of the lion statues. This bridge has immense historic significance. This is Budapest's first permanent crossing of the Danube and still its most magnificent. Before the year eighteen hundred and forty nine when this bridge was opened, people crossed the river by ferry or temporary bridges in summer that were removed each winter. Can you imagine? Every winter, Buda and Pest became separate cities again. The bridge exists because of Count István Széchenyi, a progressive Hungarian nobleman who understood that a permanent bridge would transform both sides of the river into a single, powerful city. He commissioned English engineer William Tierney Clark to design it and Scottish engineer Adam Clark to build it. The Hungarians still joke that it took two Clarks to get the job done properly. The engineering achievement was extraordinary for its time. It was one of the world's longest suspension bridges when completed. The bridge’s significance extended far beyond its structural function. This physical connection directly facilitated the political unification of Buda, Pest, and Óbuda in eighteen hundred and seventy three, creating the single city of Budapest. The bridge was originally just called “Chain Bridge,” but on its fiftieth anniversary it was named in honor of Széchenyi. During World War Two, retreating German forces destroyed all of Budapest's bridges and the Chain Bridge had to be rebuilt using the original plans. It underwent another major renovation in the past few years, so we’re lucky to see it looking fresh and sturdy, hopefully for another century. Look at those massive stone lions guarding each end of the bridge. Legend says they have no tongues, and when the sculptor realized his mistake, he jumped into the Danube in shame. It's a charming story, but completely false. The lions do have tongues, they're just not visible from street level. The real story is that these lions symbolize the strength and courage of the Hungarian people. You can walk to the center of the bridge if you want to take in some great views of both sides of the river before we move on. The next stop is on the other side of the green space at the foot of the bridge. You can admire it from the promenade or step closer if you wish to.