Stop 14 · Gossip Walk
Old Bridge
Belvárosi Bridge · 1883, rebuilt 1948 · locals call it Régi híd
The Old Bridge is from 1948, the New Bridge from 1979. In Szeged a name isn't about the date.
It opened on 23 September 1883 as Szeged's first permanent bridge over the Tisza. Until 1930 you had to pay a toll to cross.
Legend: Gustave Eiffel designed it. In fact the Eiffel company won the international tender and was the main contractor; the designer was János Feketeházy.
In 1944 retreating German troops blew it up. The new steel bridge was opened on 21 November 1948, with a different structure but in the same place.
Locals still call it the “Old Bridge” (Régi híd). The “New Bridge” (Új híd) is the Bertalan Bridge, opened on 4 November 1979, six weeks ahead of schedule and about eight million forints under budget. Until 2001 it was called the Felsőváros Bridge. It's pushing fifty now, but it's still the new one.
In May the Bridge Fair and Szeged Day are held here.
Sports legend: a local story says Tamás Molnár, the Szeged-born three-time Olympic water polo champion, trained by running across the bridge in a coat, in summer.
Open in the app →Animated scene, old photos, stamps and the full map. Free, nothing to install.Facts and labels
- True23 September 1883: opening. Toll until 1930.
- Half trueEiffel? His company built it, but the design was János Feketeházy's.
- True1944: blown up. 21 November 1948: new bridge.
- TrueOld Bridge = Belvárosi Bridge, New Bridge = Bertalan Bridge (1979).
- Local storyTamás Molnár's summer runs across the bridge in a coat: a local's story.
People say
People say that in 1944 a Soviet T-34 tank sank in the Tisza and still lies hidden on the riverbed under the Belvárosi Bridge.
What we know: Archaeological divers found a large object in the river using sonar, but it has not yet been confirmed whether it really is a tank.
Where it was said: Urbex365: legenda vagy valóság? Titokzatos szovjet tank lapulhat a Tiszában (Szeged365)