Greece is full of stone bridges that count centuries of life. You will find them in Epirus, Thessaly, and all over Greece since they served a basic purpose, that of serving people as they wanted to go from one village to another or from one side of a river to the other. The craftsmen of Epirus, in fact, built many of these bridges before they left for other countries and showed their art there. One of Greece’s bridges, however, has something special. This is because it is the oldest bridge in Europe that is still in use today. Few people know that he is in our country.
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The oldest bridge that still been used today
The oldest bridge in Europe, which is still in use and is located in Greece, can be found in the Peloponnese and specifically fifteen kilometers away from Sparta. There, very close to the foothills of Mount Taygetos is the town of Xirokampi and there is also the gorge of Anakolos, at the exit of which flows the river Erasinos. The impressive bridge, which is 2,000 years old, connects its two banks. It is an impressive structural bridge in Greece and Europe in general. The bridge of Xirokampi dates back to the late Hellenistic period and is operational today.
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It is said that it was built by the Spartans, at the time when Ceasar Augustus (at the end of the 1st century BC) granted them Kardamili as a seaport. The bridge was named by the Christians “Elliniko“, a work of the ancient Greeks, and by the inhabitants of the surrounding area “Kamara“. There is, in fact, a legend associated with the bridge that says that Paris, son of Priam and the beautiful Helen of Menelaus, passed through this bridge, heading to the islet Kranai of Gytheio, from where they sailed to Troy.
The Bridges of Greece
For example, did you know about the “Symplegades” of Grevena, a pair of rocks that look like they are about to crash into each other? Or the bridge that has survived for three centuries and still serves its purpose? Or the mysterious bridge that appears and disappears depending on the water level? And finally, did you know which bridge was depicted in the iconic painting Pentochiliaro, and where you can find it? These are just some of the fascinating facts and stories that these bridges have to tell.
If you want to learn more about them, you should definitely visit them and see for yourself.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The oldest bridge in Europe still in use today is the Bridge of Xirokampi, located in Greece near Sparta in the Peloponnese. This impressive 2,000-year-old bridge dates back to the late Hellenistic period and spans the Erasinos River in the Anakolos gorge, approximately 15 kilometers from Sparta near Mount Taygetos.
The Xirokampi bridge is located in the Peloponnese region of Greece, specifically in the town of Xirokampi, about 15 kilometers away from Sparta. It sits near the foothills of Mount Taygetos at the exit of the Anakolos gorge, where it crosses the Erasinos River.
The Xirokampi bridge is believed to have been built by the Spartans during the late Hellenistic period, around the end of the 1st century BC when Caesar Augustus granted Sparta the seaport of Kardamili. The bridge is approximately 2,000 years old and was named 'Elliniko' by Christians and 'Kamara' by local inhabitants.
According to local legend, Paris, the son of Priam, and Helen of Menelaus passed through the Xirokampi bridge while heading to the islet of Kranai near Gytheio, from where they supposedly sailed to Troy. This legendary connection links the ancient bridge to Greek mythology and the Trojan War.
Greece is home to many remarkable ancient bridges, particularly in the Epirus region. Notable examples include the Bridge of Arta, the Bridge of Konitsa, and the Kokkori Bridge in Zagorochoria that spans the Voidomatis River. These stone arch bridges have survived for centuries and represent outstanding examples of ancient engineering and craftsmanship.
