Monostor Bridge: cable-stayed link between Komárno and Komárom
Monostor Bridge (Slovak: Most Monoštor, Hungarian: Monostori híd) is a cable-stayed road bridge over the Danube just west of the twin towns of Komárno and Komárom. Opened on 17 September 2020, it is among the newest monuments in Slovakia and an unusual hidden gem for anyone interested in engineering, the border region and the story of how two countries built a bridge together.
Komárno and Komárom are twin towns on opposite banks of the Danube, and since 2020 they share a second road bridge: 37 steel deck elements weighing 5,400 tonnes in all.
The history of Monostor Bridge
The idea of a second road bridge between the twin towns of Komárno and Komárom had been discussed since the years before 2000. Until then the only road crossing in the area was the Elisabeth Bridge in the town centres, in use since 1892, which carried a weight limit for heavy vehicles. Lorries therefore had to make long detours via Medveďov and Vámosszabadi or the ferry at Esztergom. Choosing the site was the hardest part: an eastern route would have cut through residential districts, while the western route finally agreed on would cross the river between the Monostor fortress and the existing railway bridge.
Preparation began with EU INTERREG funding in 2006, when the two countries commissioned joint design studies, and by 2007 the plans described a cable-stayed bridge with a single pylon. In 2012 the Slovak and Hungarian governments signed an agreement on the project. The bilateral expert group that coordinated the work held its first meeting on 27 November 2013. The bridge was financed with about 85 per cent from the EU's Connecting Europe Facility, and the total budget exceeded 117 million euros.
The foundation stone was laid in October 2017. Work on the foundations followed in 2018, and on 11 June 2018 the first three deck elements, of 165 tonnes each, were lifted into place. They had been assembled at Csepel from Polish, Czech and Slovak parts. In all the deck consists of 37 such elements, with a combined weight of 5,400 tonnes, and the pylon weighs about 2,400 tonnes. The highest point of the structure was reached on 11 November 2019, and the last deck element, set on 3 December 2019, joined the banks of the two countries. A static load test followed on 16 May 2020.
The bridge opened on 17 September 2020 in the presence of the prime ministers of Slovakia and Hungary, and traffic began a few hours after the ceremony. It is named after the Monostor fortress in the Koppánymonostor district on the Hungarian bank, which is part of the fortress system of Komárom. The bridge is jointly owned by both states. It relieves the old Elisabeth Bridge and the centres of both towns, and heavy lorries can now cross the Danube here without detour.
Curiosities about Monostor Bridge
- The deck is made of 37 steel elements with a total weight of 5,400 tonnes, and the first three, of 165 tonnes each, were lifted into place on 11 June 2018.
- The elements were assembled at Csepel, in Budapest, from parts made in Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
- The bridge is named after the Monostor fortress in the Koppánymonostor district of Komárom, part of the town's fortress system.
- It was the first Danube road bridge between Medveďov / Vámosszabadi and the Elisabeth Bridge near the old towns, which has stood since 1892.
- About 85 per cent of the cost of more than 117 million euros came from EU funds, and the bridge belongs jointly to Slovakia and Hungary.
- The steel pylon stands on the Slovak side and rises nearly 95 metres, and the longest span measures 252 metres.
Tours near Monostor Bridge
Experiences in the area that you can book online with Viator:
Visiting Monostor Bridge
- Besides the two traffic lanes, the bridge has a footpath and a cycle lane, so it can be crossed on foot or by bike.
- The bridge stands west of the railway bridge on the edge of the twin towns, so a visit combines well with a stay in Komárno or Komárom.
- On the Hungarian bank, the Monostor fortress, part of the Komárom fortress system, gave the bridge its name.
- The older Elisabeth Bridge, 2.8 km away in the town centres, shows how the crossing looked before 2020.
- Nearby on this site: Castra Celemantia, a Roman fort about 9 km away. The sources give no details about viewpoints or parking, so check local information before you go.
Opening hours, access and conditions can change. Check before you go.
Map: where Monostor Bridge is
Photos of Monostor Bridge
Questions
Where is Monostor Bridge and how do you get there?
Monostor Bridge crosses the Danube on the western edge of the twin towns of Komárno in Slovakia and Komárom in Hungary. It stands just west of the railway bridge.
When did Monostor Bridge open?
The bridge was opened on 17 September 2020 by the prime ministers of Slovakia and Hungary. The foundation stone had been laid in October 2017.
What kind of bridge is Monostor Bridge?
It is a steel cable-stayed road bridge about 600 metres long, with a single pylon on the Slovak side. Its longest span measures 252 metres.
Can you walk or cycle across Monostor Bridge?
Yes. Besides the road, the bridge carries a footpath and a cycle lane.
Why was Monostor Bridge built?
It lets heavy traffic cross the Danube without detours and relieves the old Elisabeth Bridge and the centres of both towns. The Elisabeth Bridge has weight restrictions.
Why is it called Monostor Bridge?
It takes its name from the nearby Monostor fortress in the Koppánymonostor district on the Hungarian bank. The fortress belongs to the fortress system of Komárom.
Also nearby
Castra Celemantia
Iža · largest known Roman fort in Slovakia, UNESCO Danube Limes
8.5 km away
Mária Valéria Bridge
Štúrovo · Danube bridge destroyed twice and reborn in 2001
48 km away
Nitra Castle
Nitra · Bronze Age hill that became a bishop's seat
62 km away
St. Emmeram's Cathedral, Nitra
Nitra · Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque on the castle hill
63 km away