Deir ez-Zor, Capital city in eastern Syria
Deir ez-Zor spreads across both sides of the Euphrates in eastern Syria, forming the country's seventh largest urban center. The built-up area follows the river's course, with bridges linking both banks and residential quarters extending into the surrounding areas.
The settlement grew from a Roman military post called Azdra. Under Ottoman rule in 1517, it became an important trading station linking Aleppo and Baghdad.
The name derives from a Coptic word for monastery, pointing to early Christian settlements in the region. Bazaars and tea houses today reflect the daily routines of local communities settled along the riverbanks.
The river splits the urban area into two administrative zones, with the western section under government authority. Visitors should check current access conditions for both parts before arrival.
Archaeological sites in the surroundings reach back to the ninth millennium BC. These findings show that people settled along the river here for a very long time.
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