Crosses Ergene River Construction begin 1426 Width 6.8 m Body of water Ergene Number of spans 174 | No. of spans 174 Total length 1,392 m Location Uzunköprü Construction end 1443 | |
Locale Uzunköprü, Edirne, Turkey Similar İsmail Fakirullah Tomb, Yesemek Quarry and Sculpture, Haji Bektash Veli Com, Mahmut Bey Mosque, Çifte Medrese | ||
The Uzunköprü Bridge or Long Bridge meaning (Turkish: Uzun köprü) is a 15th-century Ottoman bridge, which gave its name to the town of Uzunköprü.
The bridge was built between 1426 and 1443 by head architect Muslihiddin on the orders of Ottoman Sultan Murad II. The ancient stone-built bridge with 174 arches, is 1,392 m (4,567 ft) long and up to 6.80 m (22.3 ft) wide. Some of the arches are pointed and some are round. Uzunköprü is the longest stone bridge in Turkey.
The bridge was made to cross the Ergene River, which was a natural barrier for advances into the Balkans for the Ottoman Empire; its old name was Ergene Bridge (Ottoman Turkish: Cisr-i Ergene). It is so long in order to cross a low-lying marshy area. The bridge was restored in 1963.
The Edirne–Izmir state road still passes over the Uzunköprü Bridge.