In the year 2001 the Mária Valéria bridge between Štúrovo (Slovakia) and Esztergom (Hungary) was reopened. During its history, this bridge was destroyed and unusable for a longer time than it was actually connecting the two towns. The bridge’s stubs kept the memory of the second World War alive for 57 years.

This was the second destruction of the bridge built in 1895. Already between 1919 and 1926 it was out of service.

The rebuilt bridge deserves to be saved from further destruction by people. To this aim, mental protection is more important than physical protection. As long as the mental connection between people is intact, the bridge is not endangered.

Štúrovo is located in the southernmost corner of Slovakia; the Danube must descend another 110 m until it reaches the sea.

On the opposite bank of the Danube lies Esztergom (Gran), where the first Hungarian king was crowned; the basilica, visible from everywhere, is a famous landmark.

Štúrovo is a very popular health resort, thanks to its thermal springs.The town has about 11’000 inhabitants; Hungarian is the mother tongue of the majority. But nearly all inhabitants speak Slovak as well as Hungarian (and mostly simultaneously).