The Dezful Bridge was built during the Sasanian era (Sasanian Empire), around 260 AD, which makes it over 1700 years old. Its foundation is even older and dates back to the Elamite period. The bridge features a Roman arch design, constructed mainly from stone. The total length of the bridge is 385.5 meters, the width is 9.5 meters, the height is 15 meters, and it has 14 spans. It is the oldest surviving brick bridge in the world.

Currently, this bridge connects the cities of Dezful and Andimeshk. The present bridge was built by order of the Sasanian king Shapur I using seventy thousand Roman prisoners of war after his victory over the forces of the Roman Emperor Valerian. A fortress was erected to protect the bridge, which gave rise to the Dezful district known as "Kaleh" to this day. Since Romans participated in its construction, it was named the "Roman Bridge" and is recognized as such.

By building this bridge, Shapur facilitated the movement and easy passage of his troops across the Dez River. Additionally, they constructed the bridge’s foundation in the form of a dam to raise the water level in the river and irrigate the surrounding lands. Moreover, the construction of this bridge led to the creation of a major communication route with bridges in Shushtar and across the Karkheh River.

The bridge was repaired several times during the reigns of the Azd al-Dawla Daylamites, Safavids, Qajars, and the early Pahlavi period. Currently, the bridge has four large arches, with smaller arches between each pair. Near the bridge, one can see the remains of ancient mills.

The Bridge of Dezful, Iran, 1895. Illustrated by Armand Kohl, featured in ‘The Universal Geography with Illustrations and Maps,’ Division XVII, authored by Elisee Reclus and published by Virtue & Co. Limited, London, 1895.

Various books and sources have described the Roman Bridge of Dezful and its architecture. For example, George Curzon, a well-known British statesman, described the ancient Dezful bridge:

“In the western part of the land of Bakhtiari and on the last stretch of the Dez River lies the remarkable city of Dezful (Dezful – Dehpol). This name is associated with its magnificent adjacent bridge, undoubtedly belonging to the Sasanian era. The lower part of this bridge is made of stone, while the upper part, made of brick, appears older, with a length of 430 yards and twenty-two arches of various shapes and sizes.”

Similarly, in his travel notes on Khuzestan, Haj Najm al-Mulk wrote: “They built a magnificent bridge over the Dez, which is an ancient relic. It requires necessary repairs. The length of this bridge is three hundred sixty yards. Each part of the bridge has two arches, thirty yards long and seven yards wide, with a height of twelve yards.”

The ancient Dezful bridge, like other historic bridges, was built using materials such as brick, stone, and sarooj. Sarooj consists of ash, lime, sandy soil, and clay or river reed, wool, goat hair, and milk, which enhance its performance, efficiency, and durability. Large sandstone blocks from all over Shushtar were used in the construction, connected by metal ties. This bridge has 14 spans and stretches 370 meters. Only the foundation of its main structure has survived, on which the current bridge was built during the Safavid era. The bridge’s piers also date from this period, while the deck, made of modern materials such as cement and metal, belongs to our time.

Over time, the Sasanian Dezful bridge suffered significant damage due to human conflicts such as the Iran-Iraq war and natural factors like floods. However, it still stands firm, telling its story and identity. The first restoration of this bridge dates back to the 4th century during the rule of the Daylamites, under Adud ad-Dawla. Later, during the Safavid era, the width of the bridge was increased for easier passage, and reconstructions were also carried out during the Afsharid and Qajar periods.

In the early Pahlavi era and after World War I, Reza Shah freed the bridge by paying the British government’s expenses. Due to its historical significance, this bridge was registered at the national level in 1931, and its image was even printed on national banknotes, some of which are preserved in the National Bank Museum. In 1937, the bridge was restored and revived, taking on its current appearance.

Since 2010, vehicular traffic has been prohibited on the bridge due to its historical value. The Dezful Bridge was built using dressed stone, mortar, and in some places, fired clay bricks. Unfortunately, due to natural causes, including seasonal floods on the Dez River, the bridge has suffered damage repeatedly over many years. But even this was not enough to completely destroy this massive structure. This bridge lives on thanks to the strength of its reputation and the skillful labor of the warriors who built it.

Sources:

https://itto.org/iran/attraction/dezful-old-bridge-khuzestan/

https://surfiran.com/mag/dezful-old-bridge/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Bridge_of_Dezful

https://www.eavartravel.com/blog/2024/8/16/160956/dezful-old-bridge/