The Lions of the Széchenyi Chain Bridge

Budapest · Ungarn · Bridge

The Chain Bridge had barely opened before a rumour ran through Pest: the four stone lions at its abutments have no tongues, and when a boy shouted out the flaw in front of the crowd the sculptor János Marschalkó threw himself over the railing and drowned in the Danube. The tale has travelled for nearly two centuries and is still retold by those who stop at the bridgehead at dusk. The truth is more stubborn than the ghost: Marschalkó lived comfortably until 1877, heard the story about himself for decades, and liked to answer that the lions do have tongues — he was simply no butcher, to hang them out of the beasts' jaws. Lean in and look into the mouths and you will see he was right. The rumour was so persistent that newspapers were still printing corrections about it in the 1940s.

FAQ

Hvor ligger The Lions of the Széchenyi Chain Bridge?

The Lions of the Széchenyi Chain Bridge ligger i Budapest, Ungarn.

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