Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Danube Bridge turns 66

Photo: europarl.europa.eu

On June 20, 1954, the Chairman of the Bulgarian Council of Ministers Valko Chervenkov and his Romanian counterpart Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej officially unveiled the newly-built Friendship Bridge connecting the two neighboring countries. One week later, the first cargo train crossed the Danube Bridge carrying tractors on 40 wagons. The facility was built in 2 years and 3 months by 7,000 Romanians and 4,700 Bulgarians.

The bridge is 2.8 kilometers long and rises some 30 meters above the water surface. It was constructed at two levels- for railway and road transport. Its central part is mobile and can be lifted for passage of oversized vessels. Decorations were designed by Bulgarian architect Georgi Ovcharov and Ukraine’s sculptor Mykhailo Parashchuk who was active in Bulgaria from 1921 to his death.

You can read more about the construction of the bridge made under codename Site 889 in the publication- “1954: The Unveiling of Danube Bridge”.

Compiled by: Diana Tsankova

English version: Kostadin Atanasov




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Photo: Scientific Society of Bulgarians in the Republic of Moldova

Bulgarians in Moldova pay tribute to the feat of Hristo Botev and the heroes of Bulgaria

Did you know that in the Moldovan capital Chisinau there is a street named after Hristo Botev? Located about three kilometers from the city center, there stands an impressive monument to the Bulgarian poet, revolutionary and public figure, who died in..

published on 6/1/24 2:10 PM

The tradition of sending Easter cards in Bulgaria dates back to the Liberation

When we have a special occasion where we meet relatives or friends, as a sign of respect and as a memory, we usually present them with a gift, complete with a beautiful card. In the past, the card received was kept as a cherished memory and even passed..

published on 5/4/24 4:35 AM

The egg - a symbol of fertility and new life in Bulgarian folklore

Holy Thursday is one of the two days in the Holy Week when we dye eggs for Easter. Tradition dictates that the oldest woman in the family takes on this important task, and the first egg is always dyed red.  The Red Egg – symbol of the..

published on 5/2/24 4:35 AM