“A marvel of cast iron” someone whispered. That’s how I’d describe the Kleine Ungarbrücke. Right here before us stands this elegant footbridge spanning the Wienfluss. It’s more than just a way to cross the river. It’s a living testament to Viennese engineering and history.
The Kleine Ungarbrücke connects the first district with the third. It links the Heumarkt with the Stadtpark. This unassuming bridge is actually one of the oldest three-hinged arch bridges in the world. Its story is fascinating. The first bridge on this site appeared sometime before 1853. We don’t know if it replaced an older structure destroyed in the devastating 1851 flood. What we do know is that it was replaced in 1898.
The replacement came from an unusual source. It was the dismantled Tegetthoffbrücke. Originally built in 1872 by August Köstlin and Anton Battig. It was a grand affair. The Tegetthoffbrücke boasted a 34.5 meter span. Its cast iron components came all the way from Belgium. Belgian artisans also crafted the exquisite Neorenaissance ornamentation and railings. Even the lampposts were created by the sculptor Leimer and cast in Blansko in Moravia. The bridge’s unusual white and gold color scheme caused quite a stir.
The Wienfluss was regulated. The river was vaulted in this section. So the Tegetthoffbrücke was taken down. Its parts were reused to create the bridge we see today. The original span was too long. So the support points were shifted back four meters. Only seven of the eleven main girders were reused. This reduced the bridge’s width from 19 meters to 11.6 meters. The cast iron ornaments and railings were all reused. Anton Biró’s company oversaw this impressive feat of engineering and reconstruction. All this happened within the same year.
On April 28 1898 the reborn structure was officially named the Kleine Ungarbrücke. World War II brought damage. But the bridge was repaired. A major renovation took place between 1978 and 1980. The Kleine Ungarbrücke stands proudly today. A beautiful blend of old and new. A silent observer of Vienna’s rich history. A symbol of resilience and ingenuity. Take a moment. Look closely. The Kleine Ungarbrücke deserves our admiration.