Mes Bridge

The Ura e Mesit ( Bridge of Mes) is an Ottoman arch bridge in northern Albania, about eight kilometers east of Shkodra. Probably built in the 18th century bridge crosses the river Kir, which occurs in the coastal plain around Shkodra here from the mountains. Due to its length it is considered as the most important and best preserved turks temporal bridge in Albania.

The Ura e Mesit is 108 meters long and consists of 15 arches. Its width is 3.4 meters. The central arch is up to 18 meters high. Its width is variously given as twelve and 21 meters respectively 21.5 meters, the latter value should correspond to the proportions of the bridge and the height of the arch more. About five meters north of the main arc bends the bridge slightly. Three bows left and right of the main arc are not typical arches, but pointed windows in the masonry.

The bridge was part of a trade route that led from Shkodra along the southern edge of the Albanian Alps to Kosovo - a path that already the Romans used and was committed until 1944 with mules. It connected also with the Shkodra located across the river on a hilltop medieval town Drivastum (Albanian Drisht ).

Because of their similarity to other buildings is believed that the bridge was built in the late 18th century by Mehmed Pasha Shkodraner Bushati, who had then repair various roads. Back then it was the cities in northern Albania and western Kosovo economically well what the construction of such a " monumental bridge " allowed. It could also be that Bushati only an older bridge from the 17th century or even a Venetian building from the 15th century were restored, respectively, that an older, steeper bridge was extended on both sides with type ramps to even if flooding the to flow happen.

Your name, the bridge from the small village on the south bank of the Mes Kir. A concrete bridge 50 meters south and an industrial ruin a little further up the valley affect the view of the cultural monument.

In communist Albania, the Ura e Mesit was a frequently visited destination by tourists, so the same in its eastern end a café was built, which is now in ruins. 2010, the access to the bridge was renewed in particular on the west side - what used to be how many Albanian riverside more resembled a garbage dump, has since been a well-kept facility with information boards. In the village on the west bank, there are also several private cafes today.