Sanahini Bridge

Sanahini Bridge is located in the city of Alaverdi, Lori Region Armenia, on the Debed River, on the way to the Sanahini Monastery. It is one of the famous preserved structures of the medieval bridge-building art of Armenia. It was built by Kyurikyan Queen Vanen in the 12th century. the last in memory of her late husband, King Abbas Bagratun (died 1192). It is a single flight, with a semi-circular arch, with a span of 18.6 m, bordered by a pair of pointed arches. The length of the bridge is about 60.0 m, the width of the middle part is 3.3 m. It is built with large stones of hewn basalt. The line is made with high-quality lime mortar. Both in structure and in the choice of building materials, it harmonizes with the coastal basalt boulders of Debedi Gorge. The bridge is located in the narrowest part of the gorge, the left bank of which is significantly lower than the right. In such a terrain, the problem of the difference in levels of the carriageway has been solved with great engineering skill. The transition from the lower left bank is carried out gradually, limiting both sides with step-shaped walls, taking a horizontal position in the upper part of the arch. At the four corners of the stepped parapets, as guardian emblems, there are one bas-relief of lions. In constructive art, a fine taste for artistic expression (the choice of stone, the processing of the edges of the arch, animal sculptures) is simultaneously demonstrated with a brilliant knowledge of engineering.

Photo By: Cosmo Deus