The legend of Oluk Köprü rests on accounts filtered down from the depths of the past and passed by word of mouth among the local inhabitants. Rising over the precipitous waters of the river formerly known as the Eurymedon, this structure is remembered locally not merely as an ordinary crossing, but as a legend defying human will where mountains meet valleys.
According to historical records and structural techniques, it was built during the era of the Roman Empire near the ancient city of Selge, which served as the capital of the province of Pisidia. Situated on an ancient road winding up from the coastal region of Pamphylia to the Pisidian hinterland, the bridge's location was chosen at one of the steepest and highest points of the canyon.
Established about 5 km north of the village of Beşkonak in a sparsely settled area, the bridge crosses the river high above the valley bottom. This striking elevation has long laid the groundwork for legends and stories full of awe circulating in the region.
Architecturally excellently preserved, this ancient crossing is 14 meters long and 3.5 meters wide, with a roadway width of 2.5 meters. The clear span of its single arch measures approximately 7 meters.
The materials and techniques used in the construction of the bridge reveal the engineering skill of the period. Set without the use of mortar, the voussoirs consist of interlocking cut stones with a thickness of 60 centimeters each.
This sturdy building technique and flawless stonework point to the 2nd century AD, a time when Selge was flourishing. Scholars generally accept this period as the construction phase of the structure.
Connected to the broader geography that features another extant old bridge forty-two kilometers downstream near Aspendos, known as the Köprüpazar Bridge, this landscape bears enduring marks of Roman engineering.
Today, travelers visiting the bridge encounter the scenery of the Köprüçay rushing through steep cliffs and the magnificence of this stone arch maintaining its silence across millennia.
Wikimedia research dossier · Last checked: 2026-09-16 05:38:46
