Koyunbaba Bridge, Ottoman stone arch bridge in Çorum Province, Turkey
Koyunbaba Bridge is an Ottoman stone arch crossing over the Kızılırmak River in Çorum Province, consisting of 15 visible arches and standing about 25 meters high. The structure spans approximately 250 meters and demonstrates the solid stone construction typical of historic river crossings from this period.
Sultan Bayezid II commissioned the construction of this bridge between 1485 and 1489 to support camel caravans traveling the Silk Road. The project demonstrates the empire's commitment to building infrastructure that enabled trade routes through Anatolia.
The bridge takes its name from Seyyid Ali, a Turkish Sufi poet from Khorasan who became known as Koyunbaba in the region. This naming reflects the local spiritual traditions and connects the structure to important figures in the community's past.
The bridge underwent extensive restoration between 2014 and 2019, with eight buried arches excavated and original stone features recovered. Visitors can expect a solid walkway and are able to explore the structure from several viewpoints along the riverbank.
At approximately 250 meters in length, this is the longest stone arch bridge built during the Ottoman era in Anatolia. This remarkable span reveals the engineering skill and technical knowledge that went into its construction.
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