You will not believe how old these 10 oldest bridges in the world are. I certainly didn’t when I first read about them. Which country has the most bridges on the list? Who was responsible for building the most bridges? This blog has all the answers you seek!
Bridges play an incredibly important world in the infrastructure of the world we live in. It helps us easily cross over roads, water, train tracks and even other bridges.
Bridges for the earliest civilisations were nothing more than trees across gaps to get to the animals they were hunting quicker, the Romans built loads of bridges so they could invade countries quicker.
No matter the reasons, bridges will nearly have always been a sight in the civilized (and uncivilized world) You might worry about how long this blog is going to be so I want to reassure you that I’m going to do the abridged version (get it?).
Oh, and to avoid any confusion when I say the bridge was built I mean when the bridge was finished- it just makes it easier to read writing built. Settle down and get ready for the 10 oldest bridges in the world!
10-KARAMAGARA BRIDGE
Alright, let’s kick off our list of the 10 oldest bridges in the world with the Karamagara bridge in Turkey.
It was built at some point between the 5th and 6th century CE (common era)- you’re right, not the most accurate of dates – as part of a Roman road to the Turkish city of Malatya.
The Romans loved building bridges so it’s no wonder they have multiple entries onto the 10 oldest bridges in the world listing.
If you wanted to cross the bridge you would have trouble doing so… it’s now underwater after a dam was built further up the river. I suppose you could swim over it?
9-LIMYRA
This bridge is also in Turkey- apparently, Turkey is the place to go for old bridges. Actually on consideration, maybe Turkey just knows how to look after it’s bridges better than the rest of the world.
There’s not a huge amount to write about this bridge apart from it was built in the 3rd century BCE and isn’t mentioned by any ancient writers. For all we know it could have just appeared one day.
8- BAND-E KAISAR
This Roman arch bridge was built in 260 BCE in modern-day Iran. Unlike a lot of bridges of that period this bridge was combined with a dam. It’s now a UNESCO world heritage site.
7-CENDERE BRIDGE
Another entry from Turkey, and I don’t care how you like your bridges, this one looks epic. The Cendere bridge was built in 200 BCE and most likely replaced an older bridge in exactly the same spot and is Roman in origin.
I’m not sure what else to say other than- it’s a bridge! Oh and I really like the pillars which mark each end of the bridge, it looks awesome.
6-PONTE SANT’ANGELO
This next bridge is in Rome and was ordered to be built by Emperor Hadrian (Read more about him here!)
Because of this, the bridge was originally called Pons Aelius, which means the Bridge of Hadrian. Maybe they’ll be the Bridge of Andy one day?
The bridge was built in 134 BCE and crosses the river Tiber to make it easier to get to the new (at the time) Mousileum. You can still wander across the bridge today as it’s still in use for foot traffic- no heavy lorries allowed!
Our list of the 10 oldest bridges in the world is half complete. Have you had a favourite so far?
5-ALCANTARA BRIDGE
The Romans had a hand in this bridge in Spain as well (not literally a hand- unless one of the builders lost one when they were putting it together). I did tell you right at the beginning that the Romans loved bridges.
Emperor Trajan ordered this bridge to be built and it’s been repaired many times during its being built in 104 BCE. Not because of the weather but because of the number of times the bridge has been damaged in battles.
4-PONS FABRICIUS
If there’s one thing I know about the Romans, it’s that they loved their arch bridges. The Pons Fabricius in Rome was built in 62 BCE and is the oldest remaining Roman-built bridge in its original state.
Roman writers state the bridge was built to replace a wooden bridge which had been there originally. After the wooden bridge burnt down, they obviously decided to build something more permanent.
3-CARAVAN BRIDGE
Another entry from Turkey hits our list. This time in the form of the Caravan bridge, built in 850BCE. I hope to everything that caravans once passed over it.
If you wanted to pass over it yourself you are more than welcome to do so, it’s still in operation.
2-TARR STEPS
As we come to the end of the 10 oldest bridges in the world we come to the shores of Britain and to Somerset where we have a type of bridge I’d be surprised anyone has heard of before. Something called a clapper bridge.
For lack of a better expression and because I’m feeling lazy going into every single detail. If you imagine stepping stones across a river or steam then imagine huge stones placed across the gaps between the stones. That’s, in not enough words, a clapper bridge.
The Tarr Steps stretch across the River Barle in Exmoor National park. The stones are said to have been placed in 1000BCE but many people suggest they have been there even longer than that.
If you fancy walking over it, then you can’t.
1-ARKADIKO BRIDGE
Here we are at what is believed to be the oldest bridge in the world still standing. It’s an arch bridge which connects Tiryns and Epidauros.
It’s located in Greece and is called the Arkadiko bridge (sometimes also known as the Kazarma bridge) and shockingly, despite being built around 1330 BCE it is still in operation today! If you ever walk across it, you’re literally stepping across history.
And that’s that… our list of the 10 oldest bridges in the world is complete. Did you have a favourite?