Bıçakçı Bridge: A Fourteenth-Century Stone Arch Bridge in Türkiye
Site at a Glance
- Rating
- 4.7
- Popularity
- Low
- Country
- Turkey
- Primary era
- Medieval
- Eras represented
- Medieval
- Civilizations
- Karamanid
- Site type
- Infrastructure
- Remains
- Bridge
History
Bıçakçı Bridge is a stone deck arch bridge over the Göksu River in Türkiye, attributed through its masonry to the fourteenth century, when the surrounding region was ruled by the Karamanids, a medieval Anatolian dynasty. Its precise construction date is unknown. The bridge carries its roadway above the arches and measures 81.60 metres in length and 5.1 metres in width.
Its main arch spans 20 metres and is joined by two smaller arches. Four additional openings for floodwater, arranged in pairs on either side, supplement the principal arches. The structure is asymmetric, reflecting the arrangement of its stone arches across the river.
A local tradition connects the bridge’s name with a wealthy woman who commissioned its construction. After paying the architect, she offered him a decorated dagger displayed on a wall. He returned the entire payment on the condition that the money be distributed among the poor. The story is associated with the name Bıçakçı, meaning “cutler.”
