Old Bridge of Dezful

The Old Bridge of Dezful is thrown across the Dez river and is considered one of the oldest bridges in the world still in use. It was built in the third century under Shapur I and, as with the dam at Shushtar, the work is attributed to captured Roman soldiers: the masonry of the lower piers is indeed laid with large dressed blocks in the Roman manner. Originally there were about fourteen spans, and not all of them have come down to us in their original form; the bridge was repaired many times under the Buyids, the Safavids and the Qajars, so the arches differ noticeably from one another in shape and material. The name of the city itself comes from the bridge: Dez-pol means fortress bridge. The piers are set on the rock bottom, the remains of cutwaters stick up between them, and in summer the water drops and lays bare gravel shoals. A modern concrete bridge runs alongside, and the two structures stand almost against each other. Pedestrians and light vehicles still cross the old bridge. Pedestrians and light vehicles still cross the bridge, and access is free. In summer the river drops and lays bare the gravel shoals under the arches. The bridge is in the centre of Dezful, with the modern concrete one beside it, and it is convenient to see on the way to Shushtar and Susa. Payment in cash.

On the map