The Kőszentes Bridge

Have you heard the legendary story of the Kőszentes Bridge in Vác? If you're a history buff, you should definitely put a visit to the bridge on your sightseeing list. 

The Kőszentes Bridge crosses the Gombás stream, and there are six statues on the bridge, most of them made by József Bechert, a master stone carver from Vác. The statues depict Peter and Paul, the 12 apostles, the patron saint of healing in times of pestilence, St. Camomile, the patron saint of the healed, St. Barbara, the patron saint of those struggling with death, Thaddeus, the patron saint of the hopeless and St. Venan, the patron saint of those on the road, depicted as a knight.

For the passengers of the carriages arriving at the Vác fairs in the dark dawn, the statues of the bridge in the twilight signaled their arrival. These were sometimes called puppets and were used to frighten children. To encourage them to sleep and close their eyes, the little ones on the wagons were told that if they saw the puppets, they should kiss their 'shejha'. The children understandably tried to avoid this encounter, but at least they kept quiet.

The bridge and the legend of the Battle of April 1849

The Kőszentes Bridge is a historical monument, linked to the battle of April 1849. The Austrian division defending the town was led by Major General Christian Götz when the Hungarian troops led by János Damjanich launched their attack on Vác on 10 April 1849. At the head of Damjanich's army, a battalion of white and yellow battalions with red plumes entered the city through the bridge and the shallow Gombás stream. Their commander, Károly Földváry, led the assault amidst a barrage of bullets from the defending enemy.

Götz wanted to hold the sculpted Baroque stone bridge over the Gombás stream until the bulk of his troops could safely retreat towards Verőce. The capture of the bridge was finally decided by the courage of Lieutenant Colonel Károly Földváry. 

According to the story, the hero from Tapióbicske grabbed a flag in his hand and galloped to the bridge, and although the enemy shot the horse out from under him, he jumped onto the bridge again with another horse. This horse was also shot, but again Földváry was unhurt, and for the third time he led his troops on foot. Inspired by his bravery, Földváry was swept off the bridge by the stunned enemy.

On the evening of the next day of the victory, the leaders sat down to dinner, Görgey offered Földváry to choose a new horse from his own, but Damjanich interjected loudly: 'That one for him, that one for the ebadta gypsy! Why does he need a thoroughbred? So that in the next battle he can shoot him dead again? He needs a hack horse, not an English steed!" Damjanich's jocular remark acknowledged the courage of Földváry.