Altıgöz Bridge
The Altıgöz Bridge is a stone arch structure spanning the Akarçay River in central Afyonkarahisar with a simple, practical design built from multiple arches. Some of its stones were salvaged from Roman and Byzantine ruins and reused in its Seljuk-era construction.
The bridge was built before 1209 by Ebû Vefâ İlyâs b. Oğuz and served as an important crossing for travelers and merchants along the Akarçay River. After falling into disrepair, it was restored around 1209 or 1210 by his son Ebû Hâmid Hacı Mehmed b. İlyâs using funds from a religious endowment.
The bridge's name Altıgöz means 'six eyes', referring to its original six arches that once spanned the river in a distinctive pattern. This naming reflects how locals understood and described the structure based on its most visible architectural feature.
The bridge is located near the train station in central Afyonkarahisar and is easily accessible on foot. Visitors should know that some sections are now buried underground, with only the arches remaining visible above ground, which affects how you see the full structure.
Some stones in the bridge come from Roman and Byzantine ruins, indicating the site was an important crossing for many centuries before its current form. This reuse of older materials shows how medieval builders repurposed what was available to create new structures.
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