In November 2007 a formal twinning agreement was signed by the Mayors of Budavár and Marlow. In December the Marlow Budavár Town Twinning Association sprang to life. Its aim is to encourage friendship between the inhabitants and the social, sporting and cultural organisations of Marlow and Budavár. In addition the Association organises events in Marlow with a Hungarian ‘flavour’ and arranges exchange visits between Marlovians and Budavárians.
The outstanding 19th century English engineer Tierney Clark designed four remarkable chain bridges. The first (1827) was over the river Thames at Hammersmith in west London. The second (1832) was again over the Thames this time at Marlow in Buckinghamshire. The third (1834) was over the river Adur at Shoreham in Sussex. The fourth (1849) was over the river Danube, in Budapest, linking Budavár with Pest for the first time. Only the Marlow and Budapest bridges remain. This shared bridge heritage is the reason for the twinning link.
The Budapest chain bridge
The Marlow chain bridge
THIS IS BUDAPEST
Castle Hill, the historic part of Budavár, viewed from across the Danube from the Pest end of the Chain Bridge
Inside the Castle complex. Once the palace of the Hapsburg monarchs, now a series of museums
Fishermen’s Bastion on Castle Hill
The view from Fishermen’s Bastion across the Danube towards Pest with the Parliament building
Typical street on Castle Hill
The Danube and Taban district viewed from Castle Hill. Gellert Hill forms the skyline
Budavár Town Hall. The civil link with Marlow Town Council
The Chain Bridge viewed from the top of the funicular rail ascent of Castle Hill. Clark Adam ter in the foreground (it should be Clark Tierney ter!)
with Pest across the Danube in the distance
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The Opera House in Pest
Interior view of the Opera House grand staircase
Heros Square, Pest. On both sides of the square are museums and art galleries
Budapest at night. The magical view from the top of Gellert Hill. The Chain Bridge in the foreground