Farsafaj Bridge

Farsafaj Bridge stands at the far southwestern edge of Farsafaj, a village in Tuyserkan County, Hamadan Province, close to the Shah Abbasi Caravanserai. It once served as a link between several villages. The bridge is a historic structure from the Safavid period and, according to available information, is about 400 years old, having been built in the reign of Shah Abbas the Safavid. Farsafaj Bridge was registered as one of Iran's National Monuments on 21 Ordibehesht 1376 under number 1874, and today it is still regarded as one of the historic structures of Farsafaj.

The bridge is about 60 metres long and 8 metres wide. It has three waterway openings with pointed arches; the middle opening is larger than the other two, and two small niche-like blind arches can be seen between them. Because the middle opening is larger, the roadway slopes down from the centre towards both ends. Two small openings have been built above the piers; besides reducing the load on the piers and saving materials, they let floodwater pass and reduce the damaging effect of floods on the body of the bridge. The foundation and piers are suitably strong, and on the upstream side they have triangular cutwaters that take the force of the strong current and direct it into the middle of the openings. The main materials of the bridge are stone and brick: stone and sarooj mortar were used in the piers, and brick in the arches and the body. At present the bridge is used by pedestrians, and a new bridge has been built next to it for vehicle traffic. To protect this historic structure and remove potential hazards, restoration work has begun, and the municipality and the Islamic City Council of Farsafaj have also helped by providing the necessary equipment and machinery and by taking part in some of the restoration work.

To reach Farsafaj Bridge, travel to the historic tourist town of Farsafaj in Tuyserkan County, then head for the bridge in the southwestern part of town, near the Shah Abbasi Caravanserai and the start of the road from Farsafaj to Nahavand and Malayer. The bridge is a short distance from the Farsafaj Caravanserai, so a visit can easily be combined with seeing that historic building. Its position on the region's old route and its architecture make it a good place for strolling and photography in the historic area of Farsafaj. Spring and early autumn, with their more pleasant weather, are good times to visit this historic monument. While visiting, avoid damaging the bricks, stones or any other part of the structure, tampering with the historic materials, leaving litter, or harming the surroundings, and follow the principles of nature-friendly and responsible tourism to protect the monument and its setting.