Bridge of National Unity Sets Guinness World Record

In a ceremony held in Sátoraljaújhely (northeastern Hungary, along the Slovak border) on Wednesday, the Bridge of National Unity was awarded a Guinness World Record certificate, making it the longest span pedestrian suspension bridge in the world at 723 meters.

Péter Szamosvölgyi, the mayor of the town, said at a press conference that many people had worked hard to make the bridge a reality and to achieve this honorable title.

The mayor told MTI that the bridge had welcomed more than 300,000 visitors by the end of the year, and the aim is to double that number this year.

Anouk de Timary, the official judge who awarded the certificate, congratulated the achievement and said that the recognition of the Bridge of National Unity was an important and unique architectural solution. She said that from now on, the bridge in Sátoraljaújhely, which is two meters ahead of the previous leader, holds the record for the longest span pedestrian suspension bridge.

The suspension bridge was inaugurated on the Day of National Unity, June 4, 2024, connecting Szár Hill and Vár Hill.

It connects the Hungarian Calvary (a monument, commemorating the once-Hungarian territories lost due to the Treaty of Trianon), the St Stephen’s Chapel, the 100th National Flag and the Turul bird statue commemorating the 100th anniversary of Trianon, and the cableways of the Tourism and Sports Center with the observation deck built on the ruins of the former Újhely Castle.

The bridge spans 84 meters above the Májuskút Valley, with an eight-meter-long glass panel in the middle.

The bridge’s six cables each have a diameter of 70 millimeters and weigh more than 245 tons. The width of the walkway is 1.2 meters and 300 people can cross the bridge at a time, in winds of up to 10 m/s.

Via MTI, Featured image: MTI/Vajda János