# Cendere Bridge

Canonical: https://tubostravelturkey.com/travel/cendere-bridge/
Site: Tubos Travel – https://tubostravelturkey.com/
Language: en
Also described in: de, fr, es, it, pt, nl, ru, zh-CN, tr, ar, hi
Categories: ADIYAMAN
Last updated: 2026-11-01
Summary: Walk across Cendere Bridge (Severan Bridge) in Kahta, Adıyaman: learn the story of its three Roman columns, check access info, and plan nearby stops.

## Overview

**Cendere Bridge: A Timeless Marvel of Roman Engineering**

**A Hidden Gem in Adıyaman**

Located in the [Kahta](https://tubostravelturkey.com/travel/kahta-and-kahta-castle/) district of [Adıyaman](https://tubostravelturkey.com/travel-category/adiyaman/), Turkey, the Cendere Bridge showcases the remarkable engineering skills of the Roman Empire. Spanning the Cendere River, this ancient bridge has endured for centuries, drawing visitors with its history and natural setting.

**A Journey Through Time**

Constructed between AD 198 and 200 during the reign of Roman Emperor Septimius Severus, the Cendere Bridge was built by the 16th Roman Legion (Legio XVI Flavia Firma). Its primary purpose was to facilitate trade and transportation in the region. The bridge is a prime example of Roman architecture, showcasing the advanced engineering techniques of the time.

**Architectural Marvel**

The Cendere Bridge consists of two arches: a large main arch and a smaller relieving arch. Built from precisely cut stone blocks, these arches give the bridge both its strength and its visual appeal. The bridge's design and construction demonstrate the Romans' mastery of civil engineering.

**Things to Do**

A visit to the Cendere Bridge combines history and nature. Here are some activities to enjoy:

**Walk Across the Bridge:** Take a leisurely stroll across the bridge and admire its impressive structure and the scenic views of the surrounding valley.
**Explore the Surrounding Nature:** Embark on short hikes to explore the natural beauty of the area, including the Cendere River and the surrounding hills.
**Discover Historical Remains:** In addition to the bridge, you can explore several other historical ruins and archaeological sites in the surrounding area.
Cendere Bridge Today

After centuries of weathering the elements, the Cendere Bridge underwent restoration in 1997. To preserve its structure, the bridge was closed to vehicular traffic and is now accessible only to pedestrians. This has allowed the bridge to endure for future generations.

**Why Visit the Cendere Bridge?**

**Step back in time:** The Cendere Bridge offers a glimpse into the Roman Empire and its engineering prowess.
**Immerse yourself in nature:** Enjoy the peaceful surroundings and fine scenery.
**Experience a unique piece of history**: The bridge is one of the best-preserved Roman monuments in eastern Anatolia.

**Conclusion**

The Cendere Bridge is a lasting example of Roman engineering in Anatolia. It is a rewarding stop for history enthusiasts, nature lovers, and anyone exploring the Kahta region.

## Visiting Cendere Bridge: practical information

**Current status:** **Cendere Bridge** (also known in English as the Severan Bridge) withstood the February 2023 earthquakes intact and is open to visitors year-round. Closed to motor vehicles since its 1997 restoration, when a modern highway bridge was built nearby, the ancient span is open only to pedestrians. It is an open roadside monument with no ticket gate, so admission is free at any hour and Museum Pass Turkiye is not required.

The bridge spans the Cendere River (ancient Chabinas Creek) at the mouth of a narrow limestone canyon between the Kahta and Sincik districts, directly on the main tourist road linking Karakus Tumulus with Kocahisar village and Mount Nemrut. Because public buses do not serve this sightseeing route regularly, travelers arrive by rental car, private tour, or taxi from Kahta or Adıyaman. A roadside parking area sits a short walk from the southern ramp, with small seasonal cafes nearby. Plan for 20 to 30 minutes to walk across the stepped stone deck and view the arch from the riverbank below. Note that the stone surface slopes steeply and can be slippery when wet, so wear shoes with good traction.

## History and what to see

Built between AD 198 and 200 by the 16th Roman Legion (Legio XVI Flavia Firma), which was garrisoned at Samosata, the bridge replaced an earlier crossing on the military highway toward Melitene. Latin inscriptions on the stone parapets record that four cities of Commagene jointly funded its construction in honor of Roman Emperor Septimius Severus and his family.

- **Dry-Stone Single Arch:** Spanning 34.2 meters across the river without a single drop of mortar, the main arch consists of massive interlocked limestone blocks held together by weight and precision cutting, paired with a smaller relieving arch on the south bank.
- **The 120-Meter Stepped Deck:** Measuring 7 meters wide and 120 meters long, the stone roadway rises sharply from both ends to a central apex, a design that kept heavy carts from speeding and distributed structural load.
- **Southern Columns of Septimius Severus and Julia Domna:** Two Corinthian columns flanking the southern entrance carry Latin inscriptions honoring Emperor Septimius Severus and his wife, Empress Julia Domna.
- **Northern Column of Caracalla and the Missing Column of Geta:** Originally two columns stood on the north side for the emperor's sons, Caracalla and Geta. After Caracalla murdered Geta to rule alone, he ordered a *damnatio memoriae*, and soldiers tore down Geta's fourth column and chiseled his name off every inscription.

## Nearby places to combine

Cendere Bridge sits right in the middle of the Kahta valley sightseeing corridor, making it an effortless stop on any trip to [Mount Nemrut](https://tubostravelturkey.com/travel/mount-nemrut/). Coming from Kahta town, your stop immediately before the bridge is [Karakus Tumulus](https://tubostravelturkey.com/travel/karakus-tumulus/), the royal burial mound from which Roman soldiers of the 16th Legion quarried stone blocks when building the bridge in the late 2nd century AD.

After walking across Cendere Bridge, follow the winding road north along the river valley to Kocahisar village. On the left side of the canyon rises [Kahta and Kahta Castle](https://tubostravelturkey.com/travel/kahta-and-kahta-castle/) (Yeni Kale), a restored Mamluk cliff fortress with secret water tunnels, while the opposite hillside holds [Arsameia Ancient City](https://tubostravelturkey.com/travel/arsameia-ancient-city/), where Commagene reliefs and a 158-meter rock tunnel overlook the gorge. Together, these four stops trace the transition from Commagene royal rule to Roman and medieval times.

## Comparison

Cendere Bridge vs. Nearby Sites on the Mount Nemrut Route

| Place | Type | Time needed | Best for | Entry |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Cendere Bridge](https://tubostravelturkey.com/travel/cendere-bridge/) | Roman single-arch stone bridge | 20-30 mins | Mortarless Roman engineering and canyon views | Free |
| [Karakus Tumulus](https://tubostravelturkey.com/travel/karakus-tumulus/) | Royal Commagene burial mound | 20-30 mins | Eagle column and source of stones used in bridge | Free |
| [Kahta and Kahta Castle](https://tubostravelturkey.com/travel/kahta-and-kahta-castle/) | Medieval and ancient cliff castle | 45-60 mins | Fortress architecture and river gorge views | Free |
| [Arsameia Ancient City](https://tubostravelturkey.com/travel/arsameia-ancient-city/) | Commagene summer capital | 45-60 mins | Heracles handshake stele and Greek inscription | Free |
| [Mount Nemrut](https://tubostravelturkey.com/travel/mount-nemrut/) | UNESCO summit sanctuary | 2-3 hours | Colossal royal statues at sunrise or sunset | Ticket |

## Frequently asked questions

**Why does Cendere Bridge have three columns instead of four?**

The bridge originally had four Corinthian columns honoring Roman Emperor Septimius Severus, his wife Julia Domna, and their two sons, Caracalla and Geta. After Septimius Severus died, Caracalla had his brother Geta murdered and ordered his memory erased across the empire, so soldiers removed Geta's column from the northern entrance.

**Can cars still drive across Cendere Bridge?**

No, Cendere Bridge was closed to all vehicular traffic after its 1997 restoration, and a modern road bridge was built downstream to carry cars and tour buses. Today, you can walk across the ancient stone deck on foot without any traffic.

**Is there an entrance fee to visit Cendere Bridge?**

No, Cendere Bridge is an open historical monument with free admission 24 hours a day. You do not need a ticket or Museum Pass to walk across the bridge or explore the canyon banks.

**Did Cendere Bridge survive the 2023 earthquakes?**

Yes, built from interlocking dry-stone limestone blocks between AD 198 and 200, Cendere Bridge withstood the February 2023 earthquakes without structural collapse. It remains open to pedestrians.

**How long does a stop at Cendere Bridge take?**

Most visitors spend 20 to 30 minutes here. That gives you plenty of time to walk up and over the 120-meter bridge, inspect the Latin inscriptions on the columns, and walk down to the riverbank for photos of the arch framing the limestone canyon.

**How is Cendere Bridge connected to Karakus Tumulus and Perre Ancient City?**

When the 16th Roman Legion built the bridge around AD 200, they took dressed stones from the nearby Karakus Tumulus, and the four cities of Commagene, including Perre, paid for the construction. Visiting all three sites lets you see how Roman rule reshaped the earlier Commagene kingdom.

## Summaries in other languages

- de: Die zwischen 198 und 200 nach Christus von der 16. Römischen Legion über den Chabinas-Fluss in Kahta erbaute Cendere-Brücke (Severus-Brücke) erstreckt sich über 120 Meter mit einem einzigen mörtellosen Kalksteinbogen. Die ganzjährig kostenfrei für Fußgänger geöffnete Brücke trägt noch drei ihrer ursprünglich vier korinthischen Säulen, nachdem Kaiser Caracalla die Säule seines ermordeten Bruders Geta entfernen ließ.
- fr: Construit entre 198 et 200 de notre ère par la XVIe légion romaine sur la rivière Chabinas à Kahta, le pont de Cendere (pont de Septime Sévère) s'étend sur 120 mètres avec une arche unique assemblée sans mortier. Ouvert gratuitement aux piétons toute l'année, l'ouvrage conserve trois de ses quatre colonnes corinthiennes d'origine après que l'empereur Caracalla eut fait abattre celle de son frère assassiné Geta.
- es: Construido entre los años 198 y 200 después de Cristo por la XVI Legión Romana sobre el río Chabinas en Kahta, el puente de Cendere (puente de Septimio Severo) mide 120 metros de largo con un arco de piedra caliza sin argamasa. Abierto gratuitamente a los peatones todo el año, conserva tres de sus cuatro columnas corintias originales después de que el emperador Caracalla ordenara retirar la de su hermano asesinado Geta.
- it: Costruito tra il 198 e il 200 dopo Cristo dalla XVI Legione Romana sul torrente Chabinas a Kahta, il ponte di Cendere (ponte di Settimio Severo) si estende per 120 metri con un'unica arcata in calcare posata a secco. Aperto gratuitamente ai pedoni tutto l'anno, conserva tre delle quattro colonne corinzie originali dopo che l'imperatore Caracalla fece abbattere quella del fratello assassinato Geta.
- pt: Construída entre 198 e 200 depois de Cristo pela 16ª Legião Romana sobre o rio Chabinas em Kahta, a Ponte Cendere (Ponte de Septímio Severo) mede 120 metros de comprimento com um arco único de calcário sem argamassa. Aberta gratuitamente a pedestres durante todo o ano, preserva três de suas quatro colunas coríntias originais depois que o imperador Caracala mandou derrubar a coluna de seu irmão assassinado Geta.
- nl: De Cendere-brug (Severusbrug), tussen 198 en 200 na Christus gebouwd door het 16e Romeinse Legioen over de Chabinas-rivier in Kahta, is 120 meter lang en rust op een enkele zonder mortel gebouwde kalkstenen boog. De brug is het hele jaar gratis toegankelijk voor voetgangers en telt nog drie van de oorspronkelijke vier Korinthische zuilen nadat keizer Caracalla de zuil van zijn vermoorde broer Geta liet verwijderen.
- ru: Построенный между 198 и 200 годами нашей эры XVI римским легионом через реку Хабинас в Кахте мост Джендере (мост Септимия Севера) тянется на 120 метров и опирается на единую известняковую арку сухой кладки. Открытый для пешеходов бесплатно круглый год памятник сохранил три из четырех коринфских колонн после того, как император Каракалла приказал снести колонну своего убитого брата Геты.
- zh-CN: 詹德雷桥（又称塞维鲁桥）由古罗马第十六军团于公元198至200年间在卡赫塔的峡谷溪流上兴建，全长120米，采用无灰浆干砌石拱结构。古桥全年免费向行人开放，因罗马皇帝卡拉卡拉在杀害弟弟盖塔后下令铲除其纪念柱，桥头至今保留着四根科林斯石柱中的三根。
- tr: Kahta'daki Cendere Çayı (Chabinas) üzerine MS 198 ile 200 yılları arasında 16'ncı Roma Lejyonu tarafından inşa edilen Cendere Köprüsü (Septimius Severus Köprüsü), harçsız tek bir kireçtaşı kemerle 120 metre uzunluğa ulaşır. Yıl boyunca yayalara ücretsiz açık olan köprüde, İmparator Caracalla'nın öldürttüğü kardeşi Geta'ya ait sütunu kaldırtmasının ardından geriye kalan üç orijinal Korint sütunu halen görülebilmektedir.
- ar: شيّد الفيلق الروماني السادس عشر جسر جندره (جسر سيفيران) بين عامي 198 و200 ميلادية فوق جدول شابيناس في كاهتا، ويمتد الجسر بطول 120 متراً عبر قوس واحد من الحجر الجيري المرصوص دون ملاط. يفتح الجسر أبوابه للمشاة مجاناً طوال العام، ولا يزال يحتفظ بثلاثة من أعمدته الكورنثية الأربعة الأصلية بعد أن أمر الإمبراطور كاراكلا بإزالة عمود شقيقه المقتول غيتا.
- hi: काहता में चाबिनास क्रीक के ऊपर 198 और 200 ईस्वी के बीच सोलहवीं रोमन सैन्य टुकड़ी द्वारा निर्मित जेंदेरे पुल (सेवेरन ब्रिज) बिना गारे के चूना पत्थर के एकल मेहराब के साथ 120 मीटर की लंबाई में फैला है। पैदल यात्रियों के लिए साल भर निःशुल्क खुले रहने वाले इस पुल पर सम्राट काराकाला द्वारा अपने मारे गए भाई गेटा का स्तंभ हटवाए जाने के बाद भी चार में से तीन मूल कोरिंथियन स्तंभ देखे जा सकते हैं।

## Images

- https://tubostravelturkey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/cendere-bridge.jpg — Cendere Bridge – Full view of Roman Cendere Bridge with stone arch and columns on rocky slope. Photo: Zorka Sojka, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
- https://tubostravelturkey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/1200px-Portuguese_Bridge_Severan_Bridge2.jpg — 1200px-Portuguese_Bridge_(Severan_Bridge)2
- https://tubostravelturkey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/cendere_1.jpg — (c)Iza i Jarek Miszczak
- https://tubostravelturkey.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/commons-2-1.jpg — Cendere Bridge – Two Roman columns at the entrance of Cendere Bridge with rocky hillside behind. Photo: Zorka Sojka, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

## Sources

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Severan_Bridge
- https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cendere_K%C3%B6pr%C3%BCs%C3%BC
- https://adiyaman.ktb.gov.tr
- https://www.kulturportali.gov.tr

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