Budapest is famous for its breathtaking bridges spanning the Danube, from the grand Chain Bridge to the elegant Liberty Bridge. But did you know that for 14 years, there was another bridge in the heart of the city that no longer exists? The Kossuth Bridge stood near the Parliament from 1946 to 1960, serving as a crucial connection in a time when the city was struggling to rebuild after World War II. Though long gone, its story is one of resilience, ingenuity, and Budapest’s fight to reconnect.

Construction of the bridge with the Attila József floating crane in 1946.
Photo credit: Magyar Műszaki és Közlekedési Múzeum / Történeti Fényképek Gyűjteménye / Ganz gyűjtemény
 

A Bridge Built from the Ruins
During World War II, Budapest’s bridges were completely destroyed. The retreating German forces blew them up in 1945, leaving the city divided, with no easy way to cross the river. The need for a quick solution led to the construction of the Kossuth Bridge, named after Lajos Kossuth, a 19th century Hungarian statesman.

The completed bridge just behind the destroyed Chain Bridge in 1946
Photo credit: Fortepan / Kramer István dr

The bridge was built in just eight months, an incredible achievement given the post-war shortages of materials and manpower. Engineers used scrap metal and repurposed materials, including pipes from oil fields in western Hungary. By January 1946, it was open to the public—becoming the first new bridge after the war.

View from the Fisherman's Bastion of the bridge and the Parliament in 1956
Photo credit: Fortepan / Heinzely Béla

Kossuth Bridge was quite different from Budapest’s other bridges. Instead of the grand stone arches of the Chain Bridge or the towering steel cables of today's Elizabeth Bridge, it had a simple steel structure with a wooden roadway. On this 400 meter long bridge the speed limit for vehicles was only 10 km/h, and they had to keep 20 meters apart to avoid stressing the structure.

Pedestrians walking towards the Buda side a year before the dismantling of the bridge
Photo credit: Fortepan / Kurutz Márton

Despite its usefulness, the bridge wasn’t built to last, it was only ever meant to be temporary. Over time, rust and decay weakened its structure, and by 1957, it was deemed unsafe for cars. Pedestrians were still allowed for a short time, but in 1960, Kossuth Bridge was dismantled.

The dismantling of the bridge in 1960
Photo credit: Fortepan / Nagy Gyula

By then, Budapest’s original bridges had been rebuilt, and the city no longer needed this temporary crossing.

A digital recreation was featured in the Hungarian movie, Children of Glory, that takes place in 1956. Today, only a memorial plaque remains of it on the Buda side of the river. You can still stand at its former location near Kossuth Square and imagine the bustling crowds that once crossed this forgotten bridge.