Maria Valeria Bridge hosts community breakfast to foster Hungary-Slovakia ties

Locals from Hungary and Slovakia gathered on the Maria Valeria Bridge this Saturday for a community breakfast intended to foster friendship and strengthen ties between the two neighboring communities.

The historic bridge, which connects Esztergom in Hungary and Sturovo in Slovakia, has a history of destruction and reconstruction. Originally opened in 1895, its middle sections were destroyed by retreating German troops in late 1944. After decades of neglect during the communist era, the bridge was reopened in 2001.

During the event, dozens of tables were set up along the Danube crossing where participants shared food and coffee. Organizers paired attendees from both towns based on shared interests and languages to encourage new cross-border connections. While political tensions regarding Slovakia’s ethnic Hungarian minority have surfaced in the past, participants noted that local residents continue to live peacefully side by side.