The Chain Bridge opened in 1849 and was the very first permanent bridge across the Danube in Hungary. Before it was built, the only way to cross was by boat or by a floating pontoon bridge that was removed every winter so the ice would not destroy it.
The bridge gets its name from the thick iron chains that hang in big loops between tall stone towers. These chains hold the road up — it is what engineers call a suspension bridge. The chains look like huge jewellery draped between the towers.
The Parliament building nearby is even bigger than it looks from across the river. It has 691 rooms, 29 staircases and enough corridors to stretch for 10 kilometres if you laid them all end to end. The building took 17 years to finish, and 40 million bricks went into it.
At night, both the bridge and Parliament are lit with golden lights. Looking at them reflected in the dark Danube is one of the most beautiful sights in Europe — postcards of it are sold all over the world. Many people say it looks like the city is floating on light.