Çeşnigir Bridge
{{Infobox Bridge
| bridge_name = Çeşnigir Bridge
| native_name = Çeşnigir Köprüsü
| native_name_lang = tr
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| official_name =
| other_name =
| carries =
| crosses = Kızılırmak River
| locale = between Karakeçili and Köprüköy in Kırıkkale Province, Turkey
| maint =
| id =
| designer =
| design = Arch bridge
| material = Stone masonry
| spans = 9
| pierswater =
| mainspan =
| length = {{convert|110|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| width =
| height =
| load =
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| below =
| traffic =
| begin =
| complete = 13th century
| open =
| heritage =
| collapsed =
| preceded =
| followed =
| closed = 1989
| toll =
| coordinates = {{coord|39|34|51|N|33|25|46|E|type:landmark_region:TR|name=Çeşnigir Bridge|display=inline,title}}
| extra =
}}
Çeşnigir Bridge is a medieval bridge across the Kızılırmak River between the towns of Karakeçili and Köprüköy in Kırıkkale Province, Turkey. It was built during the period of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum.
History
There is no precise record of when the bridge was built, but it has been dated to the 13th century based on architectural and historical sources. Tradition says that the army of Timur passed over the bridge on their way to the Battle of Ankara in 1402.{{cite web |url=http://www.gezi.com/cesnigir-koprusu-kirklareli_rehberi-2269-1.html |title=Çeşnigir Köprüsü (Kırıkkale) : Rehberi, tatili, seyehati hakkında - © Gezi.com üyelerinden yorumlar öneriler |website=www.gezi.com |access-date=6 June 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629084231/http://www.gezi.com/cesnigir-koprusu-kirklareli_rehberi-2269-1.html |archive-date=29 June 2013 |url-status=dead}} The architect Mimar Sinan supervised reconstruction of the bridge as part of preparations for the Egyptian Expedition of Yavuz Sultan Selim. There were further repairs during the 20th century.
The bridge was open to vehicle traffic until 1989, when it was closed due to the rise in water level after the construction of the Kapulukaya Dam.[http://www.neredeoldu.com/2012-10-31-06-59-19/eski-yeni-neredeoldu/152-k%C4%B1r%C5%9Fehir-%C3%A7e%C5%9Fnigir-k%C3%B6pr%C3%BCs%C3%BC.html Neredeoldu.com - Çeşnigir Köprüsü]{{Dead link|date=February 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Although the bridge is now only open to pedestrians, restoration work in 2010 was carried out by the 4th Region Highways Directorate.{{Cite web |url=http://www.71haber.net/cesnigir-kurtarildi |title=71haber.net - Çeşnigir Kurtarıldı. |access-date=2017-08-11 |archive-date=2015-04-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416090031/http://www.71haber.net/cesnigir-kurtarildi |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.haber318.net/haberler/3374/koprudeki-calisma-tamamlandi.aspx |title=Haber318.net - Köprüdeki çalışma tamamlandı |access-date=2017-08-11 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304130107/http://www.haber318.net/haberler/3374/koprudeki-calisma-tamamlandi.aspx |url-status=dead }}[http://www.belgetakip.com/?Syf=18&Hbr=388817&/ULA%C5%9ETIRMA-BAKANLI%C4%9EI-KARAYOLU-SEKT%C3%96R%C3%9C-PROJELER-VE-%C4%B0STAT%C4%B0ST%C4%B0KLER...! Belgetakip.com - ULAŞTIRMA BAKANLIĞI KARAYOLU SEKTÖRÜ PROJELER VE İSTATİSTİKLER...!]
Construction
The bridge was built of cut stone and is {{convert|110|m|ft}} and {{convert|6|m|ft}} wide. It has a total of 12 arches, nine primary ones and three others to reduce the weight of the abutments.{{Cite web |url=http://www.turkiyetanitma.com/sehir_tanitim.php?id=61 |title=Turkiyetanitma.com - Çeşnigir Köprüsü |access-date=2017-08-11 |archive-date=2014-10-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020000518/http://www.turkiyetanitma.com/sehir_tanitim.php?id=61 |url-status=dead }} The bridge is a noted example of Seljuk architecture.{{Cite web |url=http://tr.myturkeytravel.com/kirikkale/keskin/cesnigir-koprusu |title=tr.myturkeytravel.com-Çeşnigir Köprüsü |access-date=2017-08-11 |archive-date=2012-10-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002032205/http://tr.myturkeytravel.com/kirikkale/keskin/cesnigir-koprusu |url-status=dead }}
References
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Sources
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{{Bridges in Turkey}}
Category:Bridges completed in the 13th century
Category:Seljuk bridges in Turkey
Category:Buildings and structures in Kırıkkale Province
Category:Stone bridges in Turkey
Category:Tourist attractions in Kırıkkale Province
Category:Buildings and structures completed in the 13th century