Khaju Bridge

A two-story stone arch bridge extends 137 meters across the Zayanderud with 23 arches built from brick and stone. The 12-meter-wide structure includes walkable arcades on both levels, while a hexagonal pavilion marks the central spans. Tiled niches with geometric patterns line the interior corridors, and massive buttresses anchor the foundation piers into the riverbed.

Shah Abbas II commissioned the construction in 1650 over the remains of a Timurid-era bridge, with Armenian governor Allahverdi Khan providing the initial plans. Safavid engineers integrated sluice gates into the design to control irrigation for royal gardens downstream. Twentieth-century renovations reinforced the foundations, while later restorations replaced deteriorating brickwork and faded decorative elements.

The bridge has served for centuries as a social gathering place where locals drink tea and converse in shaded niches along the lower level. The arcades traditionally offered refuge from midday heat, while the central platform functioned as a viewing stand for public events. Persian poetry and music are still performed here, particularly on summer evenings when families seek out the cool stone passageways.

Arrive early morning or at dusk when locals gather and temperatures moderate. The lower level often remains dry when upstream dams divert the river, but the viewing platforms remain accessible year-round. Taxis and buses stop near Enghelab Street about 500 meters to the south. Stairs connect the levels, though steep steps may challenge visitors with limited mobility.

Stone lions flank each corner of the structure, bearing engraved signatures of the original stonemasons and masons. These markings identify the Persian and Armenian craftsmen guilds that worked on different sections. Beneath the arches, riverside steps allow access to the riverbed during dry months when water recedes, exposing hidden foundations.