Malabadi Bridge

Malabadi Bridge is a historical bridge located over the Batman River within the boundaries of the Silvan district of Diyarbakır Province. It is recognized as the stone bridge with the widest span in the geographical region of Türkiye and Near East. The structure standing today was commissioned in 1147 by Hüsameddin Timurtaş (Timurtaş bin İlgazi bin Artuk), a ruler of the Artuqid dynasty. Sources indicate that an older bridge dating to the Marwanid period (992–1085) once stood at the same location, but it was destroyed over time and did not survive to the present day.

Malabadi Köprüsü (Diyarbakır Governorship)

Architectural Features

Malabadi Bridge extends in a north-south direction and features a sloping design on both sides, making it a remarkable example of architectural form and engineering solution. It consists of a single pointed arch with a span of 38.60 metres, a feature that places it among the stone bridges with the widest spans over the world. The bridge measures approximately 150 metres in length, 7.20 metres in width, and 19 metres in height from the river level to the top of the stone parapet. Constructed entirely of stone, it has survived to the present day thanks to various restoration efforts carried out over different periods.

The structure comprises three main sections: two lateral sections with gently sloping approaches at the eastern and west ends, and a central section built upon a rocky foundation. In the central section, alongside the main pointed arch with a 38.60-metre span, there is a secondary arch shaped like a basket handle with a span of 3 metres. Additionally, two other pointed arch spans exist in other parts of the bridge, along with one more opening at the access point to the roadway. Thus, the structure presents a total of five arch openings.

On either side of the main arch, two rooms are situated on the inner façade. These high-ceilinged, brick-vaulted rooms with large windows were used as shelter for caravans and travelers, particularly during winter months. Accounts suggest that these rooms were also used by bridge guards, and that in the past, underground passages connected these spaces to the lower areas beneath the bridge, allowing the sounds of caravans to be heard from distant locations.

At the top of the bridge, a 5-metre-wide stone main door and two side gates were constructed to control passage. Of these gates, only the side gate on the Batman side remains standing today; the other has been destroyed. Access to the interior spaces is provided via staircases leading from these gates. According to the traveler Evliya Çelebi, the bridge’s railings were adorned with ornate latticework made of Nahçıvan steel.

Malabadi Köprüsü (Diyarbakır Governorship)

Historical and Cultural Significance

Malabadi Bridge is regarded as one of the finest examples of Artuqid architecture and engineering. The Ottoman traveler Evliya Çelebi provided a detailed description of the bridge in his work Seyahatname, emphasizing its grandeur by noting that “the dome of Hagia Sophia could easily fit beneath the bridge.” Çelebi also mentioned iron gates resembling those of a fortress on both sides of the bridge, the existence of chambers behind them used as accommodations, and the fact that travelers stayed there. He further described lively scenes of people fishing and catching fish in the chambers beneath the arches. Although Evliya Çelebi claimed the bridge was commissioned by a merchant during the Abbasids period for amazement purposes, archaeological and epigraphic evidence definitively confirms that the bridge was constructed in 1147 under the orders of the Artuqid ruler Timurtaş.

The French architect and art historian Albert Gabriel also praised Malabadi Bridge, remarking that “the construction of such a structure with this span at a time when static calculations were not yet available is a source of admiration and respect,” highlighting the bridge’s technical achievement. According to Gabriel, no other bridge of comparable span and age exists in the geographical region of Türkiye and the Middle East. The bridge’s architectural and cultural value was internationally recognized when it was added to UNESCO’s Tentative List of World Heritage Sites in 2016.

Malabadi Köprüsü (Diyarbakır Governorship)

Functions and Location

Malabadi Bridge stands out not merely as a structure facilitating transit but as a multifunctional architectural work designed to meet the needs of caravans and travelers for rest, shelter, and protection from external threats. Located on the Silvan-Bitlis route, the bridge spans the administrative boundaries of two different provinces: one section lies within the Silvan district of Diyarbakır, while the other falls within the Kozluk district of Batman. Due to its structural form and aesthetic similarities, it is often compared with the Mostar Bridge in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and at times referred to as its “twin” in time times.

Malabadi Bridge holds a distinguished position among historical structures due to its architectural elegance and engineering superiority. As a monumental bridge built over the Batman Çayı, it is regarded as one of the primary sites to visit in the region by both domestic and foreign visitors.

Malabadi Köprüsü (Diyarbakır Governorate)