{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}} {{Infobox bridge | bridge_name = Mesi Bridge | native_name = ''Ura e Mesit'' | native_name_lang = sq | image = Ura e Mesiit.jpg | image_size = 250px | alt = Mes Bridge | caption = | official_name = Mes Bridge | other_name = | carries = | crosses = Kir River | locale = Mes, Albania | owner = | maint = | id = | architect = | designer = | engineering = | design = | material = | length = {{convert|108|m|ft|abbr=on}} | width = | height = | mainspan = | spans = | pierswater = | load = | clearance = | below = | life = | builder = | fabricator = | begin = | complete = 1770 | cost = | open = | inaugurated = | toll = | traffic = | preceded = | followed = | heritage = | collapsed = | closed = | replaces = | map_cue = | map_image = | map_alt = | map_text = | map_width = | coordinates = {{coord|42.1144|19.5749|display=inline,title}} | lat = | long = | references = | extra = }}
'''Mesi Bridge''' ({{langx|sq|Ura e Mesit}}, {{Lit|The bridge in the middle}})<ref name="Gloyer">{{Cite book|last=Gloyer|first=Gillian|year=2008|title=Albania|edition=third|publisher=Bradt Travel Guides|location=Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire, England|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=K_trOWbGcbkC&pg=PA160 160]|isbn=978-1-84162-246-0}}</ref> is a bridge in the village of Mes,<ref>There are numerous bridges in Albania named ''Ura e Mesit'' which simply means that they were between towns/villages.{{harvnb|Gloyer|2008|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=K_trOWbGcbkC&pg=PA160 160]}} However, in this case there is a village named "Mes" on the west bank of the Kir, next to the bridge.{{GEOnet2|32FA884CD66B3774E0440003BA962ED3|Mes (Approved)}}, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency</ref> about {{convert|5|km|miles|abbr=on}} northeast of Shkodër, in northwestern Albania. It is a monument of Postribë culture, turning the site into a tourist attraction with a lot of visitors from all around the world. For foreigners the architecture of the bridge is intriguing with round slick stones and stone plates. The surrounding panorama gives the bridge an even more picturesque view. The Albanian Development Fund invested 13 million ALL<ref>Albanian currency</ref> so the tourists could step on the bridge and watch it closely because there was no entry way to the bridge.
It was built in the 18th century, around 1770, by Kara Mahmud Bushati, the local Ottoman pasha,<ref name="Gloyer" /> and spans the Kir River.<ref name="Arch">{{Cite web|url=http://archaeology.about.com/od/albania/ig/Albania-Archaeology-in-Photos/Ottoman-Bridge--Mes--Albania.htm |title=Archaeology of Albania: Ottoman Bridge, Mes, Albania}}</ref> The building was divided in 2 phases. In 1768, the first phase began with only the large middle arc and 3 smaller arches (specifically, one on the right and two on the left). Shortly after construction, it became clear that due to seasonal flooding, a much longer structure would be required. In 1770, the bridge was extended to its current length by adding the remaining arches, and adding a 14° bend near the main arch to follow the rock formations in the riverbed for better stability.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-01 |title=Mesi Bridge - Shkodër Albania - History & Visitor Guide |url=https://couplestravelstories.ca/mesi-bridge/ |access-date=2026-02-12 |language=en-US}}</ref>
The purpose was to connect the city of Shkodër with the city of Drisht and other cities of the northern side. It is {{convert|108|m||abbr=on}} long, {{convert|3.4|m||abbr=on}} meters wide, {{convert|12.5|m||abbr=on}} meters high with 13 arches, and is one of the longest examples of an Ottoman bridge in the region.<ref>{{Cite web|date=1 June 2012|title=June 1, 2012 (Down and Dirty)|publisher=The Amateur Globetrotter's Guide to the Balkans: Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Corfu, Greece|url=http://theamateurglobetrotter.wordpress.com/2012/06/01/june-1-2012-down-and-dirty/}}</ref> It was built as part of the road that goes up the Kir Valley, eventually to Pristina.<ref name="Arch" />
Today the bridge is at risk, having been damaged over time by devastating floods, which have resulted in floodwaters cutting away at the arches on the right side, causing cracking.
== Gallery == <gallery> File:Puente de Mes, Mes, Albania, 2014-04-18, DD 01.JPG File:Puente de Mes, Mes, Albania, 2014-04-18, DD 04.JPG File:Puente de Mes, Mes, Albania, 2014-04-18, DD 06.JPG File:Puente de Mes, Mes, Albania, 2014-04-18, DD 07.JPG File:Puente de Mes, Mes, Albania, 2014-04-18, DD 08.JPG File:Shkodra – Way to Skreli (W Le Queux).jpg|Mes Bridge, 1906 </gallery>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Mesi Bridge}} *[https://journals.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/index.php/heritage/article/viewFile/21004/14776 ALBANIA-The Mesi Bridge at Shkodra on the Kir river]
{{Shkodër}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Bridges completed in 1770 Category:Ottoman bridges in Albania Category:Buildings and structures in Shkodër Category:Tourist attractions in Shkodër Category:Pedestrian bridges in Albania Category:1770 establishments in the Ottoman Empire Category:Stone arch bridges
{{Albania-bridge-struct-stub}} Category:Pashalik of Scutari