Steelworks Factory Left Deserted For More Than A Century

By Danny Baggott @Dan_Baggie

A STEELWORKS factory where parts of the Budapest Chain Bridge were manufactured has been left abandoned for more than a century

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The Drnava Steelworks factory has been left abandoned for more than a century

Built in 1817 in former Hungary, the Drnava Steelworks building now belongs to Slovakia after the end of Communist rule in 1989.

The deserted factory has been left to rot ever since it housed the production of the renowned Széchenyi Chain Bridge, which opened on the River Danube over 100 years ago in 1849, connecting Buda and Pest.

Parts of the Széchenyi Chain Bridge were made inside these walls

And on 5 April 2017, freelance photographer Robert Nemeti visited the site to photograph the eerie remains.

Robert, 28, said: “These are the very last remains of the factory where over a century ago parts of the world famous Budapest Chain Bridge were cast and manufactured.

Freelance photographer, Robert Nemeti, ventured to the eerie location just a few days ago

“The metallurgy factory – that in its days was one of the biggest in Hungary – first opened in 1817 and was in full working order until 1913.

“The Chain Bridge was the first permanent stone-bridge connecting Pest and Buda, and only the second permanent crossing on the whole length of the river Danube - it is one of the symbolic buildings of Budapest.”

The factory was slowly being demolished under government state until it was transferred into private hands in the 1990s.

Robert said: “Works were started in 1839 to the plans of English engineer William Tierney Clark.

“The inauguration of the Chain Bridge took place on 20 November 1849.

“The building is now totally abandoned. According to my sources, the building was last used for administrative purposes.”

The building is now totally abandoned - and has been for some time

Robert had to fight his way through the surrounding debris in order to gain full access to the factory, but luckily, he was pre-warned of the dangers surrounding the building by a close friend who visited the site weeks before.

“I entered the building on my own and for my own risk,” Robert said.

Robert had to manoeuvre his way through the debris in order to get inside

“The building is in very bad shape – I would not recommend it to anyone. It felt really strange walking amongst the old walls and when you think the Chain Bridge was actually created inside – it really does feel unbelievable.

“I knew I had to pay a visit myself to show this once beautiful and fully working factory to the world.”