The Old Bridge of Sanahin

The Old Bridge of Sanahin was built in 1195 over the Debed River (Lori Province, Armenia). According to the source, together with the monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage. The bridge was built by order of the Armenian Queen Vaneni, sister of Zakare and Ivane Zakarian.

It is built of dressed basalt stones, is 60 metres long and 4 metres wide in its middle part. At the 4 corners of the upper part of the parapet are high reliefs of lions, symbols of protection.

The photograph shows the bridge’s single large stone arch resting on the rock of the right bank, with the river flowing beneath.