The twin-towered bridge. The first and oldest permanent bridge over the Danube. Budapest owes its construction to Count Istvan Szechenyi who had to wait a week before he could cross the river to bury his father. This is when he decided to build a permanent crossing for the city. Architect William Clark and namesake Adam Clark supervised construction works; the bridge was finally completed in 1849. It has since rightly become a symbol of Budapest city, a magnificent sight when illuminated at night. In 1999 a monumental ceremony and the installation of new floodlights marked the 150th anniversary of the bridge.